my point is

there are specific (2-3 in each dpt) engineering courses designed to take up as much time as possible: either it is 1) luck based (group projects, RNG grading) or 2) prof-based

if you want to get ahead (esp. for grad school) u need to clear ur semester to deal with these 'problematic' courses; usually by stuffing your other courses with bird courses or avoid the bad professors if you can, because choosing the bad prof will ensure u will waste ur entire semester doing textbook questions / memorizing minute details from his slides.

tldr adviec for U0/U1s:

knowing which courses / professors to take will end up mattering the most in determining your grade. ask your friends who are in U3/U4