Many previous studies indicate that high-school Math grades are an important indicator for success at engineering university programs, while others mention that first-year and foundation outcomes are actually a better predictor for successful graduation. So what’s the truth? Can you study engineering if you are bad at Math in high-school? The answer is: yes, you could.
Before we start, it must be noted that some sort of Math will be necessary for engineering. All engineering programs teach it to some level, so if your goal is to avoid Math completely, then engineering is not the right choice for you. Also, in Hungary, no universities accept failed grades in your high-school diploma, so that should be taken into consideration. However, if you are not absolutely opposed to Math, we have a couple of suggestions for you.
Some engineering programs are lighter on the Math
These programs are usually very practice-oriented and the theory is filled with other life sciences besides Math, so you’ll likely have some Math, some Chemistry, Biology, Herbology, possibly Animal anatomy and so on. It’s not a classic engineering field, but a smart choice for people who are still interested in machinery, drone technology, AI and want to land a job in a field that will always feed people.
A really popular program these days, and surely will be for many years to come. Topics like energy consumption and trash reduction are here to stay, so Environmental engineering is definitely a smart choice for future investment. And the Math? It’s rather light, compared to other programs- For example, the Óbuda University Curriculum only mentions 2 semesters Mathematics. Everything else are other life sciences and practical engineering courses.
3. Industrial Product Design Engineering
A program on the edge of engineering and design- so much so, that it comes with a design portfolio requirement and yes, you guessed it: it’s super cool. Only 2 semesters of Mathematics at ÓU again, and a ton of other exciting courses.
Can you study classic engineering (mechanical, electrical etc.) if you are not good at Math?
Yes, of course you still can- if you are willing to turn that around. According to some studies and based on university admission requirements and foundation-year outcomes in Hungary, high-school Math results, while indicative, are not the best predictors or engineering study success. They found that first-year college results (like pre-calculus) are much better predictors of successful graduation. What does this mean? It means that if your results have been weaker at high-school, you can still turn that around in college if you put in the prep work. And for this reason, our engineering & IT foundation is a beloved program for many: we’ll prepare you so well that you can even enrol to your dream program even if you thought it was not possible.
