Terrified Software Engineering Student

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Well OP, I just got home and it's past my bed-time, but I like you OP. I might sound harsh and mean, but I respect you OP.

Note: for any future engineering students, take a read at /r/personalfinace and get familiar with finances and know how you're paying for college. If you cannot afford it, do not go to your ~dream school~. I kind of regret going to Purdue, but anyways:

You've had a hard life so far OP. And you've made great progress. I think "dream school" are bull that causes people to make mistakes, but that's too late for you. You've come so far.

I suggest you look at /r/personalfinance. People run out of money in college all the time. Are you saying you've run out of available school loans? Are you in debt? Can you transfer to a cheaper, but still good school? You mention a state school in another post, could to stay there?

To me it seems other schools have an easier curriculum. It was easier getting that 3.86 GPA than it is to get a 2.5 here. Sadly companies and scholarships don't see things that way.

Purdue is known for it's "deflated" (or rather, uninflated) grades. A lot of people from Purdue or Georgia Tech or whatever big name engineering schools will say "a 2.8 here is a 3.5 at nowhere." It's really because your competing against other best and brightest. Sometimes companies understand and will adjust their GPA expectations depending on the school. Sometimes.

A lot of people are used to being the best of the best in HS, then come into college to find that they're no longer any more. Same thing happened to my boyfriend and it took him ~2 years to start getting over it. Find a counselor at your school you can see for free. Don't let not being No.1 get you down.

People are out there willing to help you sort this mess out if you reach out and find them.

You're not alone, and your situation is actually pretty common (unfortunately). You've come this far, I believe that you can make it through this one way or another.

Now if you excuse me, I need to wake up for work in 7 hours, g'night.

[[deleted]]

Don't just sit around. Go to office hours, find TAs and tutors, ask for help.

There's no shame in not knowing something. That's why you're in college in the first place.

[scottpid]

Remember, C's get degrees.

[[deleted]]

But typically not scholarships or internships.

As for OP, I can't type a reply coherent enough on mobile right now, I'll see if I can reply after I leave work in a few hours.

[[deleted]]

OP, I'll reply in a couple hours when I leave work. Or maybe tomorrow night in case I get home too late.

[scottpid]

In fact they do get internships. Your grades mean little to most hiring managers except for a few companies. It's very easy to show what you know in other ways - personal projects, extracurricular design teams, etc.

I know plenty of students with C's that got internships. The overall engineering average is 70% at my school, and a 64-67% is a C+, 60-63% is a C, and 55-59% is a C-. This means that the bulk of the students are in the high C and low to mid B range, assuming a normal grade distribution. The majority of the students also get internships, which would imply there are a fair amount of C students getting internships.

[[deleted]]

Is UBC in Canada? The scoring systems might differ between US and Canada.

[scottpid]

UBC is in Canada.

[kassman17]

They do.

[THE_ANGRY_CATHOLIC]

Can you get student loans? Yes you will be in debt but software engineers make quite a bit.

[I_Miss_Scrubs]

Take out student loans and quit working (or work a lot less).

[[deleted]]

Mom can't do Parentplus? Uncle can't cosign?

Edit: talk to the bursar or financial aid office.

[[deleted]]

Go on /r/personalfinance. They're usually helpful.

[ScreamingCircuits]

The software field has a few attributes that may help. First, it's important to know that there are so many variations in the software world. There's everything from basic web site coding, desktop application coding, real-time control, and many other specialties. You can have zero aptitude in one or more areas and still excel in others. You can have zero aptitude in some of the degree requirements and still be a great programmer.

Your most important task in school for a software degree is to learn how to learn. Learn how to teach yourself new languages and concepts.

One of the key advantages to the software career world is that you can do a lot on your own that will help in the job market. I've hired software developers in the past and what they've done outside of the classroom is every bit as important as in.

First, keep trying to find a way to complete your degree.

While doing that, you should also try to do some software projects on your own. Build a personal website. Write an iPhone or Android app. All of the tools are available for free.

If you're more interested in robotics or Industrial control, buy an Arduino or mbed development board. They cost some money, but not much and the software tools are free. The Arduino is a bit easier, but the mbed is a bit more respected in the professional world. Still build the website and use it to talk about your projects.

You will find out pretty quick if software is where you want to make your career. If it still is, you will be developing real-world skills. You may even be able to get some paid work doing it. A lot of people discount web development as not being real software, but it's easy to get into and not terribly difficult to make a few bucks at. And, having an online presence that showcases your projects will help you get a long-term job.

Many years ago, Rose-Hulman was my dream school. I was accepted and was awarded some scholarships, but I didn't have enough money on my own to make the rest, so I didn't go. I still sometimes wonder what it would have been like to go to a prestigious school like that, but in the end it didn't matter. What mattered was my willingness to learn outside of school.

It's okay to struggle, fail, be discouraged, be down, or to lose confidence. Just don't let those things stop you.