FIRST SEMESTER
YOUR CLASSES
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APSC 101
Get ready for this one… it’ll test your team skills, critical thinking, and most of all, your sanity. But seriously, despite the disproportional amount of hours you will spend trying to get your project to run, APSC 101 is by far the most applicable class of first semester!
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APSC 102
Wondering why so many of your classes don’t seem to have labs? It’s because this class is entirely LABS. Just LABS. If you’re not into labs, it’s not so bad… it’ll be max five hours of work a week.
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APSC 111
Mastering Physics, Qlicker, and 4/12 on MC… all terms which will become an essential part of your daily life. Considered as one of the hardest courses of first semester, learn more about what to expect and how others have succeeded in the past.
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APSC 171 - Calculus I
Integration, integration, integration! You’ll also be doing a lot of graphs, rate applications, Riemann integrals and more!
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APSC 131 - Chemistry of Eng. Materials
Formatted in more of a unique way compared to other chem classes you may have had in the past, get ready for some application-based questions where you will combine chemistry principles with engineering scenarios.
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APSC 151 - ROCKS
Okay the real name of the class is actually “Earth Systems Engineering” but nobody calls it that. You’ll be reciting the creatures from the Archaen Eon in no time. You’re missing out on this class if you’re in Tron!
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APSC 141 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
Coding, loops, and logical statements. While it's only four weeks long, this course serves as a good introduction to programming.
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APSC 162 - GRAPHICS
Oops, almost forgot about this one. Although it may be considered one of the “lighter” classes in first semester, learn why SOLIDWORKS might just be the death of you.
GENERAL ACADEMIC RESOURCES
GENERAL ACADEMIC RESOURCES
Extended PRogram (previously CALLED j-section)
Although you might be hearing people say Smith Engineering is attempting to “weed you out”, the Extended Programs is actually the entire reason the first-year failure rate at Queen’s is an impressive 2%, according to their website as of August 2024. Essentially, if a student does not pass Calculus (APSC 171), Physics (APSC 111), or Chemistry (APSC 132), they have the opportunity to retake these courses after the December Examination period. Learn more about it on the Smith Engineering official website.
ENGSOC SERVICES
Visit the EngSoc page of this website to learn more about EngLinks and iCons, both amazing student-run services for students. For EngLinks, learn more on their official website here. You can Learn more about iCons on their Instagram page.
OFFICE HOURS (THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF ALL)
I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ONE ENOUGH! If you’re not the type of person to ask questions during or after class, you should be heading to office hours as often as you can (not to mention it’s a free service)! Not only will this help you understand difficult topics more easily, have a better sense what’s on the exam, and seek help with practice problems, but it will also help your professors know who you are, which is essential for references and scholarship applications (if that’s something you’re into). Professors want to help you, and office hours is the best way for them to do that as efficiently as possible! To learn more about office hours for each class or how they’re formatted, visit the OnQ page for each of your classes (typically under ‘Announcements’).
MY OPINION ON OUTSIDE COURSE PREP RESOURCES
Every year, there are outside groups/companies that advertise their services/exam prep for courses. While I think the prep is helpful, I think it’s far better to try and avoid the prep unless you really really really need it because a) cramming for a course in two days is not going to help you succeed on an exam and b) the prep sessions can be EXPENSIVE. While I found my study time was better spent reviewing official course material, I know others who appreciated the extra help. So it’s up to you to decide: I would recommend attending a free session/free resources and see if it made a tangible impact on your output.
