I'm sure many people have already told you this but the 2nd year low spot you're in is completely normal and it's very common in both Sci and Eng. I know my lowest grades are 2nd year 1st semester. Most people say the subjects were hard and lectures were dickheads but I kinda disagree. It was more that we had to start doing things the proper way. What I mean by that is that at 2nd year you have to start thinking, writing and processing information the way a scientist is supposted to. All those things you didn't think you signed up for like Lab reports, literature reviews, calculations, proofs and journal/article gathering are essential skills which all scientests need to perform in their job well.
That's the key here, to perform a scientists job well.
No longer are you learning just for your own enjoyment and curiosity (i.e. high school science subjects/wikipedia) but you're learning how to use your knowledge and thinking power to produce significant work which will benefit your boss/your company/your university/socioty/technology and yourself. To do so you have to learn those boring skill which you didn't sign up for. That's just how it works.
After second year, you get the basics of those skills and most importantly what you need to achieve. After third year you refine those skills and 4th year or honours your laughing. That's why people say after second year it gets easier.
In terms of job prospects the only advice i can give is talk. Talk to EVERYONE. The more people you talk to the better. It's a subject which no one wants to start talking about but everyone has a story to tell.
My path BE (Materials), Bsc (Chemisty) -> Solar Cell research (Vacwork) -> Titanium alloy reserach (FYP) -> Vac work in oil and gas industry -> About to start program in oil and gas industry
That's the key here, to perform a scientists job well.
No longer are you learning just for your own enjoyment and curiosity (i.e. high school science subjects/wikipedia) but you're learning how to use your knowledge and thinking power to produce significant work which will benefit your boss/your company/your university/socioty/technology and yourself. To do so you have to learn those boring skill which you didn't sign up for. That's just how it works.
After second year, you get the basics of those skills and most importantly what you need to achieve. After third year you refine those skills and 4th year or honours your laughing. That's why people say after second year it gets easier.
In terms of job prospects the only advice i can give is talk. Talk to EVERYONE. The more people you talk to the better. It's a subject which no one wants to start talking about but everyone has a story to tell.
My path BE (Materials), Bsc (Chemisty) -> Solar Cell research (Vacwork) -> Titanium alloy reserach (FYP) -> Vac work in oil and gas industry -> About to start program in oil and gas industry
