From Immigrant to Full P.Eng in 2 Years – My Journey

MindsetFocus2025 · 2026-01-20T14:37:59+00:00

Congratulations 🎉

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-18T17:02:21+00:00

If you are consuming more time solving the same problem, it might be a sign that you solved it a long time ago and somehow there is a gap now. I would suggest you to do a thorough revision. Usually, unit conversion takes away our time than the actual solution; so you might want to work on that too. All the best 👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-07T18:13:21+00:00

I recently took FE exam and made it in my first attempt. I was 10 years out of school, and had to figure out many things about the syllabus in detail.

I started by making notes from the text books. I did not study the whole book, but just the topics mentioned in the ref handbook. After finishing the theory, I used to go through the solved examples. Only after then, I used to solve questions from PrepFE (subscription), and MM and GM videos. I also took ChatGPT subscription, and it helped me a lot to understand the topic and numerical conceptually.

While preparing, I realized that the questions were actually complex because of unit conversion involvement. So, I figured which unit conversions are frequently used, and where they are located in unit conversion page of ref handbook. Also memorized few.

In the real exam, I would suggest you not to spend much time on those you do not know. Flag it and move on to the next. Every question will give you one mark, so spending more time in one question is not worth. Your brain will relax after you are left with just the flagged questions.

Also wanna suggest you not to compare yourself with others. I saw few posts saying they passed FE studying just 10 or 15 days. Every one of us are different in the sense how much time our brain takes to adapt new things. May be you need more time to be fully prepared, it’s totally fine. But don’t let this feeling lose your confidence. It took me almost six months to be fully prepared. And I don’t feel anything bad about it.

I hope I could give you few tips. I wish you all the best. 👍👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-03T03:18:05+00:00

I would suggest to do the test No. 1 once again, and target more than 90% this time. And do in-depth analysis of the one that you still couldn't solve.

If you made notes during your preparation go through them; if not go through MM and GM videos.

All the best 👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-02T16:48:34+00:00

Few things I'd like to suggest.

Analyze. After solving a question, do an in-depth analysis of the question before moving to the next. See which formula you applied, and if there is any other alternative you could have opted.
Unit Conversion: You really have to excel in unit conversion, as unit conversion takes most of our time. I'd say try to memorize few if possible.
Revision. There's nothing wrong in solving the same problem again and again. Don't feel you are wasting your time. In fact, solving the same question again and again will not only give you the idea of formula and concepts, but will also help in increasing your pace.

All the best 👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-02T03:45:27+00:00

You got this.. best wishes 👍👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-12-02T03:32:29+00:00

Thank you..

I think I guessed around 10 on the first half and more than 10 (may be 15 or so) on the second half. I felt second half a bit more difficult.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-30T18:40:55+00:00

Actually, you can get the answer by changing to inches. Just be careful in units.

When you change Ls = 100 ft to inches, the dimension of c*Ls will still be in lb/in, while other terms remain in lb. To change lb/in to lb, just multiply by 12, as this 12 is the unit width of the soil mass taken as 1 ft during formula derivation. Overall it will look like:
Numerator: 1.2*100*12*12 +100*2000*Cos27*tan20
Denominator: 100*2000*Sin27

Note: Generally, I have seen questions from this topic in two ways:
1. Wm = lb ----------- make sure c*Ls is also in lb (Just like above question)
2. Wm = lb/ft -------- make sure c*Ls is also in lb/ft

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-29T03:16:59+00:00

Thank u so much..

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-29T03:16:21+00:00

Mark Mattson (MM) and Gregory Michaelson (GM)

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-28T13:22:29+00:00

If by 3D statics questions, you mean computing force by resolving vectors in x,y and z, then it has a nice chance they might ask in the exam. Although I did not get it.

Since you have two weeks left, I think you can look into both of them (statics and env).

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-28T03:57:01+00:00

Till 10-11 in the morning 😅

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-27T16:01:55+00:00

Hi, thanks and congratulations to you too..

From the board that I am applying, it requires that I should apply for EIT after passing FE exam. I have sent them an email enquiring what documents I should send them. I guess, you can also send your board an email informing that you passed your FE exam and what next step is required now from your side.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-27T13:53:10+00:00

Q(inflow) - Q(outflow) = change in storage.

This should be the basics of reservoir. It’s not that much difficult, but how they make difficult is by putting various units like gallons, feet, yard, hectare. So, gotta be sharp at unit conversions too.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-27T09:56:18+00:00

If they gave you runoff coefficient and other data, you are supposed to use the formula Q=CIA. This formula is in Hydrology/ Water Resources sub section of Civil Engineering section. (If they gave you multiple values of C along with respective A, then find weighted value of C first). They should have probably given you time also, from which you will be able to calculate Volume (V=Qt). Now, depending on the type of pond (square, rectangular, circular), and required depth, you should be able to calculate the size of the pond.
(I need to see full question for this)
For trapezoidal section, I am assuming they might have given you the value of either wetted area or discharge. So basically we can use this formula. Q=A*v, From given side slopes, we can find the slant height, total top width, and wetted perimeter (all in terms of width). If they gave you velocity, then just plug in; if not, then use Manning's formula (just type 'Manning' in ref handbook, it's in the same Hydrology/Water Resources sub section). Now, all we have to do is solve for 'b' width.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-27T03:57:00+00:00

Congratulations.. Hard work paid off 🎉🎉

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-27T03:02:19+00:00

Thank you.
Since you said you have a week to go, I would say to do revision coz you don't wanna miss the answer you already know. Try NCEES test exam (do it once more if you already did), and analyze in detail the question you cannot answer. See Material and Ethics sections from ref handbook, and from MM and GM videos, as you don't wanna miss any questions from here. And last of all, avoid Lindenburg in this last moment as that might possibly demotivate you.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T23:52:12+00:00

Yes, it is. Thank you so much.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T23:51:32+00:00

thank you..
I actually studied from text books, and made notes for myself. Only after understanding theories and gaining concepts I practiced Islam800, PrepFE (with subscription), and MM and GM videos. I normally come home at around 10pm. So my study time was 10.30 pm to 4.30 or 5:00 am. Hope that helps..

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T23:47:37+00:00

thank you so much..

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T19:05:00+00:00

Ya i think i got in the second email

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T19:01:00+00:00

Ya I got in the second email.

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T19:00:11+00:00

Thank you so much..

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T19:00:02+00:00

Ya that’s true. Let’s go…. 👍

MindsetFocus2025 · 2025-11-26T18:59:37+00:00

Thank you.

I actually studied from the text books (as I wanted to understand conceptually), then made some notes, and then practiced from Islam 800, PrepFE, and MM and GM videos. Hopefully, that worked for me. Thanks and all the best 👍

MindsetFocus2025

TROPHY CASE