Hi, i'm going into first year engineering.. I got an email with a pdf file attached to it, and it is an outline of what i am to expect for first year engineering courses. It also includes a list of the required materials and pages to read, but here's the problem: how am i supposed to read the chapters (to be ready for the first week) if I dont have the textbooks till the following week (i plan on getting them from the textbook swap thing on september 9th). Any suggestions? Should I buy the iclicker first? should i wait till my first lecture is finished to actually by my books and required material?

How should I prepare for my first classes?

Thanks a lot

Dont worry about reading textbook before class for the first lectures cause most of the classes will just be an introduction to the course and MAYBE some grade 12 review. Once you get ur textbooks you should try to read lectures slides/ chapters before goin to class.
Same goes with the iclicker, dont worry about it for the first day but you should buy that ASAP because it counts for attendance in physics 1d03 and some other courses use it.
For your first classes just print off the lecture or bring a notebook to write down notes/ important info about the course. other than that, i cant think of anything else you reallly need to bring to classes :p

Did they cancel the Math and Aptitude test this year? If not, that's what you should be worried about.

PLENTY of people sell full packages of first year books. Go on facebook and find mcmaster used textbook groups (there's two) and macinsiders marketplace.

If you want to prepare yourself, just review gr12 stuff. Go online, find online resources but gr 12 is majority of first year stuff.

Go to every class before you buy the book. Don't panic if it sells out. Ask online if that book is necessary. Since it is first year class, many people can answer your questions and there is a huge volume of 1st year books

Probably a question most first years have, for the Engineering Welcome week there are many events that are mid day (ex. bbq thursday at 2:00pm, the bus pull is at 10:30am on friday) what if we have class during those times? Is it common to skip those classes to attend those events or is it mainly up to the individual to decide whats worth more?

Originally Posted by DigitalE

Probably a question most first years have, for the Engineering Welcome week there are many events that are mid day (ex. bbq thursday at 2:00pm, the bus pull is at 10:30am on friday) what if we have class during those times? Is it common to skip those classes to attend those events or is it mainly up to the individual to decide whats worth more?

I recommend going to the welcome week events and skipping class if you do have a conflict there. You're going to be encouraged by the red suits to do so as well. The people you meet and fun you'll have are well worth it. It's usually just syllabus hand outs, which you can get online anyway, and course goals on the first day.

Originally Posted by DigitalE

Probably a question most first years have, for the Engineering Welcome week there are many events that are mid day (ex. bbq thursday at 2:00pm, the bus pull is at 10:30am on friday) what if we have class during those times? Is it common to skip those classes to attend those events or is it mainly up to the individual to decide whats worth more?

Throughout your 4+ years at McMaster, you will learn that just about anything can be turned into an excuse to skip class if you put your mind to it

Throughout your four or five years here you won't need to read anything to prepare for the first lecture, aside from maybe the syllabus. In the first lecture the prof will tell you which textbook is required or suggested for the course, and you can choose to purchase the book after that class. At the bookswap you'll find that many books being sold are older versions, so make sure the prof explicitly says that's fine. Sometimes the questions and answers are different or out of order (the professor may provide question lists for several versions of a textbook).

Check with students that have taken the course previously to see how useful the textbook is for the course. Often it is used to supplement your learning, and you may find at the end of the term you have a book you never opened that you spent $100 on.

Originally Posted by MrPlinkett

Did they cancel the Math and Aptitude test this year? If not, that's what you should be worried about.

Don't stress out the kid like this. Its not a real test, its just a prank type of thingy that they do each years. Just come and enjoy it. Don't need to study for it. After the prank, they just take you out and do engineering social related thingy.

Originally Posted by Leeoku

t review gr12 stuff. Go online, find online resources but gr 12 is majority of first year stuff.

The one thing I find students struggle with is math. Make sure you review basic stuff. They even have a website with the important concepts you should know.

http://ms.mcmaster.ca/lovric/rm.html

I should include Patrick jmt has everything for first year calc (and saves you). Start there. Physics/chem also.

As about the events, skip class and go to the event. I was all worried and didn't go to event, regretted it. You only get the syllabus, read the syllabus and leave. Syllabuses are also available for like the first full week

Don't stress out the kid like this. Its not a real test, its just a prank type of thingy that they do each years. Just come and enjoy it. Don't need to study for it. After the prank, they just take you out and do engineering social related thingy.

A prank? Yeah, you keep believing that kid.

Originally Posted by MrPlinkett

A prank? Yeah, you keep believing that kid.

OP, do not listen to this individual. He is continually trying to mislead you.

Further proof that this so called "test" is just a prank can be found in older threads on MI.

http://www.macinsiders.com/showpost.... &postcount=93

http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...31208& page=7

PS: I won't even recommend you go to these events. All they do is teach you to bash other faculties, especially on Humanities.

OP, do not listen to this individual. He is continually trying to mislead you.

Yes.... or you are?

Yes one guy said it was a joke. So he was prepared and found it easy I guess, so you better prepare for it as well. After all, you can't afford to fail your first test in your university career, can you?

No trolling. It's a legit examination. Why would everyone else be taking it then? Eng is rough so you gota be gauged on your skillz.

Originally Posted by AvacadoLover

OP, do not listen to this individual. He is continually trying to mislead you.

Further proof that this so called "test" is just a prank can be found in older threads on MI.

http://www.macinsiders.com/showpost.... &postcount=93

http://www.macinsiders.com/showthrea...31208& page=7

PS: I won't even recommend you go to these events. All they do is teach you to bash other faculties, especially on Humanities.

Man, stfu.

Every year you humanities kids go around trying to trick first year engineering students into thinking the test is a hoax. It's used for gauging what level entering engineering students are at so that the difficulty of the first year math and physics courses can be set accordingly.

When you trick students into not studying, all it does is dumb-down the classes, cause inflation of grades, and ultimately devalues the engineering degree as whole.