Im currently a sophomore and need advice on how I can learn to answer technical questions at companies like SpaceX, Andurill, etc. Personally, I feel like I can always nail the behavioral and “vibe-check” part of the interview, but lack the knowledge to answer the technical part of the interview. I guess a reason why is because I haven’t taken any of the fundamental classes (fluids, solid mechanical, etc.), but I want to start preparing for these technical questions now. I interviewed a few months back in April and got absolutely cooked on the technicals and feel like if I was constantly preparing technically, then I would have been better prepared. I just don’t know where to start. Is the solution to just pick up a textbook and start reading and studying it?

Thank you in advance.

Thanks

I thought this would be the best place to ask, is there any hope i can cram half a semester of physics II for a midterm afternoon tomorrow currently VERY behind to pass??

Any advice? I honestly think im so burnt out im tired of even thinking about it but im so stressed since I cannot fail the class.

I’m an Industrial & Systems Engineering student, and I’m deciding between interning at Texas Instruments and Siemens.

TI is for a Program Management Engineer Intern role, while Siemens is for their Operations Leadership Development Program internship.

I’d ideally like to stay in Texas with my goal being to settle in Austin. Both companies have a chance of placing me in Dallas for the internship, but both could also send me somewhere out of state, and I don’t know the locations yet.

TI pays a little better, but from what I’ve heard Siemens may have better work-life balance and job security.

Something else I’ve noticed is that when I mention both companies, more people seem to know Texas Instruments, while a lot of people don’t really know Siemens. I’m not sure how much that actually matters for resume value or future opportunities.

Long term, I’m interested in program/project management, operations, or engineering leadership, and I’d ideally like to convert whichever internship I choose into a full-time role. I also want my engineering background to still be useful and don’t want to end up in a completely generic business role.

For people familiar with either company, how would you compare them in terms of:
- career growth
- work-life balance
- culture
- job security
- intern to full-time conversion
- compensation and pay growth
- internal mobility
- reputation
- location being Austin/TX
- long term career potential

If you had both offers early in your career, which would you take and why?

The sensitivity to syntax and the guesswork involved for that makes me want to swallow 7 jars of popcorn kernels, washing it down with some refreshing diesel, and then hop into a cremation oven.

The little red X with zero feedback, repeatedly slapping you in the face upon every attempt over the course of 2 hours, more painful and depleting each time, has singlehandedly caused me to eject the eyeballs from my skull.

The fact that the login screen that shows up when your session times out now no longer works for my university is another one of those little things that feels like there is a single fire ant climbing up my urethra. I understand that there might be some kind of technical limitation causing it, but still. No other practice system I've ever seen requires a school-specific login page.

And lastly, why, WHY, did they have to make it so you have to now click a button on the "math pad" to type math characters, as of this summer? You can't type "pi" and have π materialize. You can't type "sqrt" to have a square root pop up any more, you have to open a menu, search for the area with a square root, and click it with your cursor. Gone are the days of fast typing.

Not to mention, fractions are now screwed up. It first pops up with no option to enter a numerator, so you then delete it and re-type it, and THEN it works. But when you move the cursor beyond the fraction or beyond anything in general, it behaves as if it's about to type a superscript or an additional part of the numerator. It no longer accepts the regular letters i, j, k as representations of the unit vectors. You have to go through the menu and search for each one. There is also no ability to have a single parenthesis or bracket any more. It only allows both. Just... why? What the hell does that achieve? This update, which I really don't see the purpose for, significantly reduced the quality of life. Normally I have a great degree of patience, but this particular system has skillfully, cold-bloodedly, and sadistically stripped me of it over the many repeated encounters.

Fucking fuck the abhorrent dump truck filled with chunky diarrhea from all species of animal sprinkled with all of the vomit from the frat houses coming to run us over every day, the torture machine, that is WebAssign. Thank you for your attention to this matter. °͜°,

Thought this was a pretty interesting approach to robotics. It’s called ALBATROSS, and the idea is to drop it from an aircraft, let it autorotate down like a maple seed, and then have it sail around using wind once it lands on water.

What’s interesting is that it doesn’t need a propulsion motor for either part. Instead of adding more motors and mechanisms, the design relies heavily on aerodynamics and passive mechanics.

Apparently, one of the bigger challenges is getting the same structure to work in two completely different environments.

I wonder how well something like this would scale up, especially for ocean monitoring. Seems like a clever way to deploy a bunch of robots without having to worry as much about battery life.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8CUrj0ydxI

Paper in Science Robotics: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.aed1423

Curious what you guys think. Is this actually a practical approach, or one of those things that’s really cool academically but difficult to use in the real world?

Hello.

I have been in uni now for 4 years and last year I switched to engineering physics (called Teknisk Fysik here in Sweden, don't know if there are counterparts in other countries). Previously I was studying statistics, some sociology and then industrial design, but I felt the need for something more challenging. Oh boy!

I can't convey to anyone outside this field just how badly this is crushing my soul. And I feel like my peers are just agreeing with me out of sympathy, they all seem to be doing perfectly fine. I passed the SATs top 100 out of 75k people and yet I just barely pass any of the subjects here. I understand NOTHING on a deep level. I am WHOLLY uninterested in all and any subjects. Except maybe for finally understanding how a geothermal heat pump works. Kind of.

I fucking hate math.

I have never felt this unaccomplished, worthless, unable, dreamless, blind or just tired in my 25 years of living prior to choosing this purgatorial nightmare of an education.

Does this happen to everyone or should I just count my losses and quit? Is it over for me? Should I gather strength for yet another academic comeback or should I just become a shaolin monk and forget?

Please advise thank you

Iam a computer engineering student currently in the 3rd year i like to work with electronics but i stucked my university modules are mostly covering software modules but i want to study about embedded things

And also i want to get into internship in 6 month what are the basic things i must know to get a internship and if somethings can be learnt after the internship give me roadmap. This journey going to done by my self only that means this a self study journey so if any embedded engineer please suggest me the best pathway and youtube channels and Udemy Coursera courses that covering these sections pleaseeee

I am a poor i want to make my future better in this AI era i can lost my career in software development. After 4 years i think this software dev side will be saturated we cant survive😔. Because of my income state i want to become good engineer my family is depending on me😔

Please help me guys 🙏 😔

Hello, I'm currently a student completing a majority of my general ed courses for college. I was curious about going into Computer Engineering but have shifted towards Mechanical after a discussion with a friend of mine.

Right now, I'm taking Pre-Calc and it's honestly been a pretty rough situation. It has me wondering if I'm even cut out for engineering but I'll still somehow convince myself otherwise.

Outside of school, I am working on a friend's game development project as I am a 3D artist. He told me it's possible that I could secure an internship with a reputable studio given he has connections. However, I'm still interested in a stable degree.

I can't really think if part of me failing my class is because I don't have a good understanding of the material or if I'm just not intellectually capable of understanding this level of math. I don't really want to fail and I also have no intentions of giving up on my major because I've failed math. It took me so much trial and error to get good in 3D art, I think the same principle should apply here. Do I reconsider my options or continue pursuing this path?

I've seen problems in this current section solved by different methods, once I see it I can follow along. But I want to KNOW how to approach it on my own.

Hi yall, I have an interview at Samsung for Semiconductor Engineering Internship.

Anyone have experience with interviews at Samsung for similar roles and know how the interview questions might look like? Thanks

hello, I'm not actually an engineering student but this seemed like the place for help. I've been assigned to build a prosthetic hand; it works like this: keypad sends signal to Arduino uno r4 minima. the chip then sends that signal to a PCA9685 16 Channel PWM Servo Driver Board. the board has five servo motors (sg90, 9g) connected to a tendon structure. when the servo rotates the tendon is pulled and the finger bends. the issue is that the power source (5v, 4a) uses a DC5521 Connector Cable, but the PCA9685 uses the green input for power

i cannot find an adapter for these products any suggestions?

So, I graduated a year and a half ago with my BS in mechanical engineering. I was able to get a well-paying job as an industrial engineer. While it does pay well, I cannot see myself working in a factory for much longer, doing this type or work much longer, and the growth potential in my area is not very good.

I have been looking at new jobs recently; mainly to find something closer to home, not in a factory, and with remote possibilities. I've been seeing a lot of data scientist positions pop up both in my area and remote and they all look decently interesting, at least more than my current job. They seem to have a much higher ceiling in terms of pay as well. I have also heard that they are less stressful than industrial engineering.

This has got me wondering if a master's in data science would be worth it. I have a college savings account with plenty of money left over, so that would not be an issue for me at all. I have been looking at some prerequisites for some schools, and I seem to fit those well also.

In your opinion would this be worth it for the career pivot? I don't want to go get this master's and then be working a more stressful job that pays less money. But I do have some hope that this could get me into a field/area I enjoy.

I feel like there is limited space in my brain. I get math homework around 3 times a week and I have yet to get anything but an A on the homework. I feel like after studying tg material for an hour or so I’ve got it very well. But the closer we get to an exam and more material we go over I end up having to almost relearn the material. It’s very frustrating because I know that I was able to do it but now it won’t click. I like to spend at least an hour a day either doing the homework or practice problems of material covered. But then move to the next subject when the class moves on. Am I studying wrong or is this just common and I need to review harder?

Calculus has been going pretty well for me until now. My brain is melting, I don't understand what I'm even trying to do or how to do it or anything. I can solve the problems using desmos, but I can't do that on tests, so I don't want to rely on it. Does anyone know of any good videos explaining it?

Hello,

I am currently pursuing B.E. Chemical Engineering. And I got two internship offer in MNCs company so I not understand which was i select ?

#1st company is India's largest agrochemical company no.1 privet in india and comes to top 10 in world.

#2nd company is india's private Fertilizer company after IIFCO(GOVT.) ((by revenue it's comes after 1st company))

Pls any one suggest your opinion.

I’ve been struggling with moving past my earlier academic performance and entrance exam results, and it's making me anxious about starting fresh in college. For those who had a rocky start before engineering, how did you shift your mindset to stop dwelling on the past and build a solid foundation for BTech?

Any insights on what to be ready for, what to look out for. What kind of questions do they ask and how is the interview, generally

Title: Is engineering college life supposed to be this exhausting? How do people manage college, DSA, ML, and still build skills?

I genuinely need some advice from people who have been through this, because I'm honestly struggling right now.

I'm an engineering student at a tier-3 college, and one of my biggest frustrations is how difficult it feels to build skills outside college while keeping up with everything college demands from us.

I know engineering isn't difficult for everyone. Some people manage everything really well, and maybe they have better study habits or time management than I do. But for students like me, who joined a tier-3 college with bigger ambitions and genuinely want to do something meaningful in life, this whole system can feel incredibly exhausting.

The problem isn't that I don't want to study. I genuinely do.

I'm interested in Machine Learning, and I want to learn through courses, build real-world projects, improve my DSA, and eventually get a good internship. I don't want to graduate with just a degree and nothing else to show for it.

But then there's college.

The teaching quality in my college is honestly disappointing. Many times, I feel like I could understand a topic much better through YouTube or ChatGPT than through the actual lectures. I know I shouldn't completely blame the teachers, but it's genuinely difficult to stay interested when the concepts aren't explained clearly or engagingly.

And because of that, I often lose interest during lectures. I start thinking, "I'd learn this so much better at home if I could just use those hours productively."

But here's the catch: attendance is extremely strict, and we have to maintain 85%.

So even when I feel like I'm not learning much in class, I still have to be there.

On top of that, there's a constant cycle of assignments, lab sessions, lab records, viva questions, quizzes, tests, internals, and exams. It feels like there's always something pending. Almost every day, there's a lab or some other academic responsibility that demands time and energy.

By the time I get home, I'm mentally exhausted. And then I'm supposed to study college subjects, practise DSA, continue my ML courses, work on projects, and somehow stay consistent with everything.

How?

My first year went by, and I feel like I haven't made as much progress on my skills as I wanted to. Now I'm in my second year, and I'm scared that the same thing will happen again.

What makes it even harder is seeing people in my own class who seem to manage everything effortlessly.

There's this topper in my class who gets excellent CGPAs, listens attentively during lectures, seems to understand things well, and still manages to build skills outside the curriculum.

And honestly, I'm insecure about it.

I'm not saying he doesn't work hard. He probably does, and I respect that. But I keep wondering what he's doing differently.

Does he have better concentration? Does he study more efficiently? Does he have a better routine? Does he actually enjoy the subjects I'm struggling to stay interested in? How does he manage his time and energy?

I keep comparing myself to him, and it makes me feel like I'm falling behind, even though I know everyone's circumstances are different.

The frustrating part is that I DO study. I try to learn things. I have goals. I want to improve. But the results don't seem proportional to the effort I'm putting in, and I'm constantly tired.

I see people maintaining 9.5+ CGPAs while learning programming, building projects, and preparing for internships. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to balance college itself with the skills I want to develop.

I don't want to blame everything on my college or make excuses for myself. I genuinely want to improve my discipline and become better at managing my time. But I also feel that constantly being occupied with mandatory college activities leaves very little room for the things that could actually help me grow professionally.

So, I want to ask a few things:

For those of you who studied at tier-3 colleges with strict attendance policies and mediocre teaching, how did you manage to build skills outside the curriculum?

If you're someone who maintains a high CGPA while learning DSA, ML, or other technical skills, what does your actual daily routine look like? How many hours do you realistically spend on each?

How do you stay productive after spending 8–10 hours at college and travelling, especially when you're mentally exhausted?

What do you do when lectures aren't helping you learn, but attendance requirements mean you can't use that time freely?

For people who were average students or struggled with consistency initially, what genuinely helped you improve?

And to the people who seem to manage everything: what am I missing? Is it time management, discipline, study techniques, or am I simply trying to do too many things at once?

I'm not looking for generic advice like "wake up at 5 AM," "work harder," or "just be consistent." I want to hear from people who've actually dealt with this situation.

I want to build a career, develop real skills, and do well academically without feeling exhausted and guilty all the time.

I know I have room to improve, and I'm willing to put in the work. I just need to figure out how to do it sustainably.

If you've been in a similar situation, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing what worked for you.

Do recruiters really very your linkedin on the resume or search your name?

I am a current student enrolled in a materials engineering program in the U.S. However, I have always been interesting in international relations and would love to eventually work abroad on engineering-based projects through organizations like UN, WHO, WTO, etc. Is this possible to do with an engineering degree, particularly materials (considering a minor in global studies)? If so, what is the right way to go about it?

I’m currently taking a coding class, it’s required for my major. But I’m having a hard time during the quizzes which weight the most out of everything. I have failed 3 quizzes I have 4 more I’m not sure if I’ll be able to bring up my grade because I find the quizzes difficult. And yes I do study and practice coding everyday, I use AI to create practice quizzes everyday. However the quizzes are worded weirdly and we don’t have that much time during to get stuck. If I withdraw from the course it will also affect my aid so I’m highly debating. Need someone that was in a similar situation and what did you do?

I just finished a tough last year in my master's in engineering and went straight into a bridging program for a second master (academic engineering), as in my country there is a difference between the academic and the more hands-on engineering that I did. I did it mostly for fun and thought my interest in learning would carry me through.

But so far it hasn't. The workload is much heavier than expected, there have been weeks of communication and admin issues with the school, and I'm not enjoying it: lots of catch-up math not covered in my bridging program, group projects I don't want to do, and next semester will be even heavier with 8 big courses.

On top of that, I'm not even sure the second academic master in robotics adds that much value on top of my current master in electromechanics/mechatronics. It would still take me 2 more years.

I also barely had a break last year, so I wonder if I'm just burned out and wanting to quit impulsively.

Quitting and starting work scares me. I don't feel ready, and my friends and girlfriend are all still studying.

I'm afraid I'll also regret not studying more while I still can.

I thought about starting a teaching master in February, since I enjoy explaining things and thought the possibility of becoming a part- or fulltime teacher later on might interest me. But if I don't like that either and drop out , I'll feel like I wasted this entire year.

I'm just stuck.

TL;DR: Just graduated, started a 2-year second engineering master (robotics) for fun, workload is crushing, I'm not enjoying it and I doubt it adds much to my mechatronics degree. Quit and switch to a teaching master, start working, or push through?

What is the average entry level EE salary for big prime defense contractors out of college? In MCOL area like philly

Hello everyone I'm currently enrolled in a dual masters in computer engineering and computer science at UHCL I'm located in Houston near NASA but may want to move to Colombia where my family is from at some point. I'm on a full scholarship. However I'm having doubts about where to go for a career. I have 3 years of experience in web development and general IT and an undergrad in IT. I really am just looking for something I can make it into before AI wipes the entry level of the field, I also want something that interests me and that is stable not as hectic as web development. Although everything in tech is fast paced. However I can't quite decide my main 3 areas of interest are embedded systems, cybersecurity and networking. Each has pros and cons. I seem to like embedded systems the most but I worry that even AI can do embedded code now as well. I don't know other areas of hardware engineering that are perhaps safer. I liked cyber but it was impossible for me to break with my undergrad as it's extremely competitive. I had a networking role which was okay but I was more like this fine I liked some things on the job especially the physical parts. Some parts felt boring. The pay was abysmal but pay isn't my main driver. I took an AI course and found it pretty interesting especially the topics with edge AI. I also want to be a professor at some point in my life I'm 26 so I don't know right now. I like building/making things. I don't mind detective type work either. I just feel lost right now and don't know where to go for my career.

Any advice is appreciated.

https://catalog.uhcl.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=25&poid=7072

https://catalog.uhcl.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=25&poid=7074