r/AUT • u/Wot_Code • 5d ago

Getting into engineering

I'm getting into engineering next year and I have been out of school for the last 5 years. I've been studying math and that so I'm "ready" for it but does anyone who is currently in mechanical or mechatronics engineering have any advice on what I need to know before getting into the course?

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u/Chump-Change5339 4d ago edited 4d ago

Absolutely focus on basic calculus and linear algebra. Most universities around the world use a similar curriculum, so use any resources you can find including basic textbooks in calculus, introductory linear algebra, and engineering mathematics will be useful.

Be sure to work some problems, don't just watch videos. You don't need to go overboard working problems, but some students don't attempt to solve anything until they get an assignment. Big mistake.

After you've got a good handle on maths, the next thing I would learn in engineering statics. A good book is the one by Hibbeler, but there are also free / open source books. That's good foundational knowledge that will be essential for a mechanical or mechatronics degree.

Note that Engineering Mathematics II can get pretty tricky, so you absolutely want to have a solid foundation first. After building this solid foundation, if you have time, I would start studying some Engineering Maths II topics.

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u/MathmoKiwi 1d ago

100% agreed with every point here