Dylan Habijanic: Inside First-Year Engineering at the University of Alberta
Overview
Dylan Habijanic, is currently in his first year of the University of Alberta engineering program, and already feels its rich atmosphere and support networks have proven it a valuable path for those interested in the field. The uniform curriculum provides exposure to all branches of engineering, with first year grades determining placement in specialized programs, such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering.
Admissions
U of A engineering has a very straightforward and streamlined application process involving uploading transcripts and self reported grades, although admission is often highly contested with the competitive average emerging at around 94%.Habijanic had a multitude of extracurriculars from mentoring science fair, to coaching basketball and mountain biking, but unlike many schools, extracurriculars are not necessary for U of A, as they place a higher focus on academics. However after being admitted a minimum of a 2.0 gpa is required to progress into second year as well as a 2.3 gpa required for co-op program eligibility, but for top choices a 3.3-3.6 gpa is often needed. U of A also often provides credits for a variety of high school Advanced Placement courses, with much of the AP physics content overlapping and proving useful in the first year.
Campus Life
Habijanic has spent his first year residing at Lister Hall, where over 2,000 students are dispersed across 5 buildings. Weekly events and gatherings are held with a diverse student body, including supporting the largest dodgeball league in North America. Upper year leaders also host a variety of themed activities every month. Peer tutoring is easily accessible every weeknight and course specific study groups are widely encouraged. A daily schedule often includes 3-4 hours of lectures, 1-3 labs with hours varying from day to day. A typical first year course load includes two Math courses, one Chemistry course, two Physics courses, one design course, an English Course and an introductory Programming course. Although social networks such as fraternities and sororities are present, they are much less prominent than a typical U.S school, and generally viewed as less prestigious, but still provide networking benefits similar to alumni events.
Career Outlook
As of now, some engineering fields face the problem of being oversaturated in Alberta. This has prompted many major companies to begin to relocate to Alberta in hopes of creating new opportunities. To aid in integration into the workforce, U of A provides a wide range of co-op programs, which allows students to alternate their academic semesters with full time employment for 12 months and a specialised industry. This system not only creates a strong employer connection, increasing the likelihood of admittance after graduation but also provides the student with practical real world experience. U of A also helps students plan out their career path through the use of Alumni talks, a virtual or in person session where former graduates share their experiences and career insights. While in first year these meetings often take place online with hundreds of other students, in later years students have in person direct contact with these professionals through channels such as workshops and career fairs and eventually potential company site visits, symposiums and mentorship programs. Resources span Alberta, Canada, and even internationally, leveraging the school’s reputation. U of A also provides mobility while at the school, allowing students to transfer between majors, although this often involves taking additional courses to meet engineering prerequisites and typically results in resetting to first year status within the engineering stream. However students still retain their experience in their previous degree which can prove advantageous for future MBA pursuits.
Advice for Highschoolers
Habijanic has found the typical methods of procrastination and cramming before tests proves ineffective with the heavier workload of university, often requiring students to adopt an early studying approach weeks before exams. He suggests blocking distinct study times with peers and prioritizing labs and online homework not only for the small grade boost but to reinforce the concepts. Habijanic suggests treating coursework as continuous practice rather than last minute cramming, as engineering demands a constant stream of effort. He also highlights that the skills acquired in engineering such as teamwork, time management and problem solving are transferable to a wide range of disciplines, including finance and business. He suggests using high school electives such as APs as a method to gauge interest in a particular topic and potentially ease the transition with overlapping information. He also stresses the importance of thoroughly researching majors to prevent switching mid program, conserving time.
Conclusion
Hard work is universal across all disciplines, so it is essential to choose a major that aligns with your interests and aspirations. However, Engineering is a strong choice due to its strong employability and ability to create a foundation for non-technical careers. Students can find support networks to discover what they are truly passionate about through the wide range of networking avenues provided at the school, but early self assessment in high school can help students make an informed and strong decision, preventing the need to program changes. As Habijanic said, “Everything is hard; choose what you want to do because effort is inevitable.”