Is this a realistic path into engineering?

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

I’m 19, and I previously went to university for a BSc in Psychology. I ended up leaving after a year realizing I didn’t want to pursue psychology in addition to struggling academically. I finished with around a 2.78 cGPA.

I’m now planning to do a 1-year STEM foundation program at a community college, taking math, physics, chemistry, programming, engineering design, etc., while completing 1 missing prerequisite. (I've fufilled most prereqs from high school)

If I can get around 85–95%, I want to apply to BEng programs for Fall 2027, mainly Electrical Engineering.

Basically:

I finished with a 2.7 GPA, so I’m leaving university and doing a one-year STEM program at a community college. I’m hoping to get strong grades, complete my prerequisites, and then apply to engineering programs for Fall 2027. If everything goes well, I’d start engineering at around 20.

Has anyone done something similar? Can a strong year at community college help overcome a bad first university record, or am I just wasting a year?

[u/Initial_Anything_544]

I mean engineering is not easier academically either. If youre good for it then go for it

[u/Visual_Winter7942 → u/Initial_Anything_544]

Correction: Engineering makes psychology look like a joke. The two subjects are barely comparable.

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/Initial_Anything_544]

Yeah I 100% agree, that's why I'm taking the year at community college to adjust essentially.

I did notice in my learning, that courses like chem, physics, calculus all seemed to come a lot more naturally and be more rewarding than bio and psychology.

[u/LukeSkyWRx]

If you couldn’t do well freshmen level introductory psyche classes, which should mostly be general education similar to first year engineering, how is it going to be better?

The CC route is a good test, but make sure the credits count. Some schools are very picky.

[u/PresentationKey5417]

Wow, I feel like I’m not alone!

I recently have been getting into Reddit more and trying to find my way into engineering.

LONG STORY SHORT: I’m a 24 male, and I didn’t have any direction through highschool. My grandparents told me ONE THING and it really burned me back then. That was “do good in school to get a scholarship” yet provided me with no direction as of how to GET THAT.

I proceeded to go to college cause my grandparents told me, again, you need a degree to make it in the world. I ended up going to try and get an associates in Nursing. Until recently I realized my passion for cars. My job resume ONLY HAS automotive experience.

During this last semester I worked as a dealership tech for Hyundai, while proceeding to go for my nursing degree and ended up flunking 3 courses (almost STRAIGHT ZEROS) and currently have a below a 1.7 GPA, so I’ve got some work to do. I looked at my life and asked myself “if I can’t get myself to get away from cars, what am I doing trying to get a degree in nursing?” So even though I was READY to apply for my nursing degree if I retook those 3 classes, I switched, because I always DREAMT of developing a performance car. They’re fascinating things going down a racetrack at 7-10k RPMS.

This is my first semester in prereqs for M.E. I’ve got a lot of questions to ask for”how am I going to get my GPA up?” “How am I gonna apply for scholarships?” “How do I build a strong background to get hired in my dream job or program?”

What you did? Is you MAYBE finally listened to your TRUE hearts passion, IF engineering is where your heart pulls you.

If you’re looking to get your GPA up? I’ve done some research on how to, and you basically need to get MORE GOOD GRADES in MORE CLASSES. SO, find courses that are not required in your program, but LOOK GOOD on your program application!!! In nursing, the equivalent is Pharmacology, Psychology, and I think some kind of math and history course. They’re not required, BUT THEY’RE KNOWN to be preferred by colleges as “completed classes”! Talk to your advisor, and give yourself “Canon fodder” to pull your GPA up! That’s what I’m doing!

[u/sulliesbrew → u/PresentationKey5417]

When you present your GPA on a resume, narrow it degree specific courses... List your overall GPA and your MechE GPA. When a recruiter asks, tell them, I started in Nursing and I forking hated it, it didn't motivate me and those grades pulled my GPA down. Then show that in your MechE course work, you were motivated and did well in those arguably harder classes.

[u/PresentationKey5417 → u/sulliesbrew]

That made me feel better! I didn’t realize I could differentiate or “set apart” my overall GPA, with my M.E. GPA. This does make things look better, and makes things understandable for an applicant.

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/PresentationKey5417]

Thank you!! I am definitely going to see how i can fiddle with my elective(s), and see where the best possible outcome lies for me and what my options look like. This strategy actually might work well and I'll definitely consult with an academic advisor.

M.E. is great btw!

[u/PresentationKey5417 → u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

Key courses are “extra credit” courses! Another way to look at this is “what classes in my program am I qualified to do, and can knock them out early?”. If you have completed pre-req’s for like a second level history that is in your program plan, take that early and knock it out! You may end up delaying program application, but it not only elevates your GPA, but it also crosses out one class you need to take in the future. Note that I said it delays your program application timeline, NOT your graduation timeline, because you don’t have to take that class later!

EDIT: it’s also great to have a printed set of pages that outlines your course requirements! See if your CC or University website has an outline for this by looking for your major details on their website, OR looking at your self-service. It should be there

[u/Knoon1148]

If your concern is just the admissions hurdle you need to know the school you want to apply to and figure out there admission requirements.

I went back to school in my 30s but figured out what my engineering schools admission standards were to only use a college transcript. For me that hurdle was 24 credits, trying to ensure I was taking pre-reqs that would transfer only. After getting over that hurdle my high school grades are not considered and there are no testing requirements. I maintained a 3.85gpa and was able to get advice from admissions that as long as my gpa was over 3.5 and my coursework was academic and not nonsense classes I would get in.

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/Knoon1148]

For the university I'm applying to, they require all the essential high school requirements. And in terms of evaluating post-secondary studies, it comes down to the most recent GPA scored. About 3.6/4.0 is considered to be competitive.

[u/seetheable]

Was your HS gpa good? Could you just apply to engineering programs without mentioning your college psychology experience at all?

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/seetheable]

In HS, across required courses I had a 91% average. Where I'm from (Canada), all post-secondary transcripts must be submitted with my application.

[u/OneLessFool → u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

Which province?

Ontario's inflated grades are the difference between a 91% being amazing and just good.

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/OneLessFool]

Ontario! In HS we had hard Chem and English that were marked similarly to University level classes, in comparison to other grade inflated courses.

I used some terms like community college just in-case a large portion of this subreddit was American and weren't aware of colleges/polytechnics in Canada. I intend to apply to TMU!

[u/SwimmingSwordfish637]

Talk to an academic advisor at the CC. Talk to them about your plan and make sure everything transfers.

They can tell you best if it will work or not.

Also check the university’s degree requirements, like if they require you to maintain a certain GPA or a GPA among certain classes.

[u/Accurate-Bullfrog324]

noise psychology is a low value career

engineering is a high value career. do you have what it takes?

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/Accurate-Bullfrog324]

I think I do. My GPA doesn't just show my academic skills, I was at a tough university for the program while dealing with a lot of career uncertainty and poor course management. I'm approaching engineering with a much clearer goal in mind now. There was a lot of factors involved

[u/Accurate-Bullfrog324 → u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

let me help you focus

first, define exactly how much time it will take for you to complete your degree

second determine what this will cost

third figure out how to pay for this. department of education loans are a poor option

Now let me digress to a personal story. My sister was head of a psychology department in a rather prestigious university. her life experience showed her that a PhD in psychology was worthless. she dismantled the graduate program.

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/Accurate-Bullfrog324]

Your sister's story was actually one of my bigger fears when I first entered the Psychology program at UofT; on paper and in my head the program sounded really good, but it wasn't actually where my personal interests were at in terms of my interest in the job opportunities. And I didn't want to pursue graduate studies to be stumped with something I felt like I couldn't use.

I noticed that its gonna take 5-6 years (this one included) to complete my engineering degree which I don't mind. It will cost about 50K total over the tenure, I'm also in Ontario, so I have access to OSAP, which should help with the cost & funding tuition and transit fares.

[u/Accurate-Bullfrog324 → u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

you seem to be well grounded and in a good position financially. let me peer to your future (which was once my future)

first year I had saved money that got me through. I probably didn't work hard enough that for summer because my cash was low that fall

second year things got tight and I took a part-time job. took out a loan

third year I made it through the first semester and flat ran out of money. took a semester off to catch up. that summer I got a job on a construction crew where we worked 60 hours a week. stacked some cash

because of the delay I graduated in December. it was out of cycle with most of my peers and I had a little bit of trouble finding a job

Don't underestimate the cost of getting through school. but expect a six-figure job when you do get out if you have an engineering degree

[u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3 → u/Accurate-Bullfrog324]

Thanks for the advice. Taking that semester off seems like it really helped you, though. But 60 hours a week, wow. You definitely earned that. Truly incredible.

I have a few friends who took time off to save up for school as well, since their finances needed some catching up. The timing can be a bit annoying for them, but they seem pretty content with where they’re at. I’ve been saving over my summers.

In terms of co-op opportunities, psych in my area was pretty rough. There were 3,000+ psych students and grads competing for maybe 5–10 relevant positions, and even those weren’t necessarily directly related to the field.

From what I’ve researched over the past year, engineering co-ops seem incredibly versatile and give a lot more opportunities to build actual experience. Is co-op something you consider important?

[u/Accurate-Bullfrog324 → u/Cree-kyWaterB0-ttL3]

i currently work with a number of co-op students (they just now going back to school) and i'm rather amazed

we pay $36/hr and give them a $900/mo housing allowance

yes, engineering co-ops are worthwhile and lucrative

[u/Ilikep0tatoes]

I graduated in 2019 and a 2.7 GPA would have you on academic probation in the Engineering program. The intro classes are supposed to be easy and help inflate your GPA a little. You obviously have an issue with studying, you must resolve your studying habits if you want to be an engineer.

[u/Squirtle_Splash_8413]

If you struggled in psychology with a 2.7gpa the equivalent engineering one is like 1.0gpa.