8 Must To Do Activities in First Year of Engineering(B.Tech)

Summary

Everyone keeps telling us that the 12th standard is one of the most important years in our lives. Yet, as soon as we are done with that starts a plethora of exams and tests that define which college we get into. The entire time can be quite harrowing and daunting as it puts a lot of pressure on kids, irrespective of what their aspirations might be. For most students, the switch from school to college is a genuine and wonderful experience that serves as a coming of age phenomenon. 

That is why most people ask for tips for engineering students because they know how challenging the road ahead can be. But, students don’t need to be too worried about what is yet to come. Engineering is a fun, rewarding and challenging course that teaches us some very useful life skills. Knowing how a BTech student should study can help make these years a lot more fun and less stressful. So, here’s a look at a few tips for engineering students to help you understand how a BTech student should study.

Is first-year engineering hard?

A common question that most students have when they step into their new college is “ Is BTech as hard as they make it out to be?”. The answer depends a lot on you and how you adjust to your new surroundings. The level of understanding needed is higher than what you needed in school, as this is a professional course. No stream is too difficult to understand or comprehend. In case you feel that the first year is too difficult, you need to change how you study or how you approach the subject. Most often, students get very flustered when they fall behind or don’t understand something. Instead of working more towards those subjects, they get tense and make the situation worse. What makes BTech different from other streams is that it expects children to act like adults and deal with a variety of problems. Since problem-solving is a skill that is inherent in engineers, students need to figure out what method of study works best for them.

How do I prepare for my first year of college?

In case you didn’t pay too much attention to certain subjects in school, you might find those subjects to be a little hard in the first year. Also, if you are going into a stream that you don’t have a lot of knowledge about, it makes sense to read up on it a bit before actually entering the college. Most students get about a month or two after their +2 ends and college begins. The best thing to do would be to read up a bit about the subjects you will be dealing with and clear any fundamental doubts you might have about the subject. Also, if you are joining any computer-related branches and have never coded before, it makes sense to pick up a few books and start learning yourself.

Another important thing that makes BTech different from school is that no longer will all the concepts be spoon-fd to you. There will be times wherein the professor might ask you to do some reading on your own, and pick a few points or some extra knowledge that way. So, you should start learning how to research, gather information and look through reference books on your own. Being able to study on your own is a valuable skill if you are joining engineering. Here’s a quick look at a few subjects you can revise or go through before joining certain branches;

1. Computer Science/Computer and Communications/Information Technology: 

Read up on programming, and try to learn a simple language and gain some experience with coding.

2. Electronics and Communication/Electronics and Electrical: 

Revisit the chapters on electricity, semiconductors, logic gates and transistors.

3. Mechanical/Civil/Mechatronics/Production/Aeronautical/Automobile: 

Go through the chapters on Newtonian Mechanics, Heat and Thermodynamics.

4. Chemical/Metallurgy: 

It would be wise to go through your chemistry books, revisit organic chemistry and mining and refining of petroleum.

5. Biotechnology/Biomedical/Bioinformatics: 

Go through both your Biology textbooks and physics textbooks with interest. If you had dropped Biology in your +2, read up on the basics of cell biology, genetics and biological naming.

8 Must to do activities in B.Tech 1st year

Here are a few tips for engineering students on how they should approach their BTech first year.

1. Learn to explore 

One of the biggest transitions from school to college is that children will no longer be fed information. So, to navigate through BTech, you need to learn how to do your own due diligence, make use of reference books and explore subjects and topics on your own. This is a skill that comes with patience and practice. Also, not every study method or technique you used in high school will work in college. Hence, you need to explore these as well and figure out a system that works for you.

2. Set a Pattern

Mane of you might have gotten through high school by burning the midnight oil and working on the last day of the exam. However, such techniques might not work in college, where the volume of knowledge you need to gain is vast. Furthermore, most BTech colleges have around six subjects per year, along with two or more labs, making the entire year filled and packed with classes. Therefore, it is better you find what works for you in your first year itself so that the rest of BTech becomes a cake-walk for you.

3. Live a Little

Most students have gone through severe stress, pressure and deadlines in their entrance coaching classes to get to college. Therefore, it is only natural that you feel like living a little in your first year. Since many of you might be far away from home, BTech first year is your first time living as an adult, and that comes with learning how to balance your freedom and responsibilities. Remember that you are now in charge of your own life, and so make sure you handle both your responsibilities and freedom with caution and care. 

4. Go Back to The Basics

In most B.Tech colleges, the first year is a time to revisit old topics and revise and cement your basics. Therefore, most students will have to go back to their old books and brush up on their basic knowledge. This will not only help them to understand further concepts better, but it will also help in building a solid foundation for your studies later on. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry from the holy trifecta of engineering, so make sure you go through these again before you begin your serious BTech education. 

5. Look Beyond the Curriculum

Engineering isn’t like school wherein you had to go through the prescribed textbook and learn only what might come for the exam. To be a good engineer, you need to look beyond the syllabus and pick up valuable life skills and knowledge along the way. As a student, this requires you to search for knowledge in reference books, libraries and research papers. You need to try to accumulate as much knowledge as possible through these four years to prepare yourself for a career within your chosen industry. Engineering colleges are built such that they inspire young students to go beyond the books and syllabus and earn more knowledge.

6. Network and Grow

A good part of engineering requires students to build their connections, network and grow as professionals, and this starts in the first year. Make sure you take time off to meet your teachers and get to know them. Having a good professor to back you can make all the difference when it comes to getting a good final year project, research paper or seven some guidance when you feel a little unsure. Unlike in school, the professors in BTech tend to be more friendly and forthright. Don’t shy away from approaching them when you need help, and try to build good relations with them as they will grow to become supports for you throughout your academic life.

7. Join Study Groups and Clubs

Your first-year is also a great time to explore the other activities that happen in your college in terms of co-curricular. Try to join clubs and groups that engage in activities you have an interest in, such as music, dancing, theatrics or even technical skills. Build connections and join a wolf-pack to ensure you always have a solid support system at college. Having a well-balanced peer group can help you get out of tricky and stressful situations while also helping you cope with the pressures of academics. 

8. Enjoy and Grow

In the end, your first year will be a crucial stepping stone into adult life. While you need to be wise and careful, you are also young and carefree. Make sure you set aside enough time to enjoy yourself because you will never be able to relive these days again. Make friends and memories, enjoy to the maximum during fests and competitions and grow as an individual during your engineering days.

Your first year is a time in your life wherein you enjoy a lot of freedom without having a lot of serious responsibilities at home. How you utilise this time to grow as an individual will have a profound impact on the person you become. Utilise and leverage what you have to grow, both as a student and as a person. Make use of technology to enrol in online classes, pick up new skills, earn certifications and learn new topics. In case you ever want to explore more engineering projects, do reach out to us at Skyfi Labs as we have a tonne of courses for you to try out and explore! 

8 Must To Do Activities in First Year of Engineering(B.Tech)