FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I apply to the Mech Department and take Mech 2?
The most important advice: "Follow your heart." All UBC engineering departments offer excellent educational programs; your primary choice should be to join the department that most closely fits your personal interests and aspirations. That way, you will be most successful and happy. Should your interests be in Mechanical Engineering, then welcome, please apply to join our committed group of students and faculty. We promise to do our best to give you an excellent learning experience. The introduction of Mech 2 is just one of several steps in our ongoing endeavours to advance our undergraduate program. For your part, we require that you work hard and that you learn and experience what it takes to become a skillful and ethical Mechanical Engineer. Mech is one of the engineering departments in highest demand at UBC. It is our objective to continue to enhance our programs and teaching to make Mech even better.
- What are the requirements to get into Mech 2?
There are two routes by which you can join the Mech Department: GPA-based admission and broad-based admission. GPA-based admission is the system common to most engineering departments and represents about 90 of the 120 spaces in Mech. The Department also understands that marks do not fully indicate a person, and so there is an additional Broad-based admission procedure. It is designed for students who fall below the GPA cut-off but are able to demonstrate a strong potential to succeed in Mech. Applicants are evaluated based on all-around ability, achievements, and interest in mechanical engineering. There are 30 places reserved for broad-based admission. Last year, the GPA cut-off was about 75%, with most broad-based admissions within the range 70-75%. You do not need to apply for broad-based admission in advance. You will be invited by e-mail (in June or July) should your GPA place you as a candidate for broad-based admission. Be sure to keep your UBC e-mail listing up to date!
- Do I have to apply separately for Mech 2?
Students entring second year Mechanical Engineering are automatically enrolled in the Mech 2 program. There is no separate application required.
- What should I do if I'm missing PHYS 170, ENGL 112, or some other required course for Mech 2?
First, contact Dr. Peter Ostafichuk and identify yourself and the course(s) you are missing. Generally, if you are missing only one prerequisite, depending on the course, it may be possible to make that up during Mech 2 or in third year. If you are missing two or more prerequisites, or you are missing a core prerequisite such as PHYS 170, we generally recommend that you take an extra year to complete those courses before returning to Mech 2. While completing the missing prerequisite courses, you may be able to complete some of the complementary studies courses that would normally be taken in senior years. For complete information, please see Prerequisite Requirements.
- When do Mech 2 classes start?
Mech 2 classes start one week before most UBC classes. In 2009, classes will start on Monday, August 31. Please review the First Day FAQ for details on what to expect and how to prepare.
- Is there any review I should do before entering Mech 2?
We strongly encourage students to come to Mech 2 with a firm understanding of the material covered in high school and first year. Physics and math are the two most important areas and are worth reviewing over the summer. We have prepared a list of study resources beyond your grade 12 and first year notes for incoming students to use to ensure they are ready to learn at the start of Mech 2.
- I am staying in residence with UBC Housing, are there any special arrangements I need to make?
Since Mech 2 classes begin one week before the official start of Term 1 at UBC you need to make special arrangements with UBC Housing for early arrival. Please refer to the UBC Housing site complete information.
- When and where do I go on the first day?
Mech 2 is currently scheduled to start at 9:00 am on Monday, August 31, 2009, one week before most UBC classes start. Please refer to the timetables below for the most recent information:
- Do I have to attend the first day?
Yes! We will hit the ground running. Mech 2 instruction begins on the first day and you will also receive important information about Mech 2 as well as what you will be doing in your MECH 220 project. There will also be a Review Quiz (see below) that afternoon. Finally, the first day will be a chance to meet your classmates as well as the Mech 2 team of instructors and TAs.
In the first four weeks, you will complete four workshop-style modules on practical topics in engineering. You will have four or five days to complete your first module so missing the first day will set you back at least 20% compared to your classmates and in some cases you may not even be permitted to begin your module (for example, without the safety training on the first day of the machine shop module, you will not be allowed to set foot on the shop floor).
- Why are there conflicts in the timetable I get from UBC Student Services? Where can I find a correct timetable?
The University timetabling system is not designed for a program like Mech 2 where classes and rooms change from week-to-week. Referring to the four-letter designations that UBC uses for the Mech 2 STTs (MEAD, MEAN, MEEK, and MEET), you can view the current Mech 2 schedules using the links below:
- What is the "review quiz" on the first day?
The Review Quiz is a computer scored quiz covering material essential to success in Mech 2 and mechanical engineering. As the name suggests, the quiz is based on review material which you have already covered in first year engineering and high school. We have carefully developed the quiz with the purpose in mind of helping you identify your areas of strength as well as any areas that would benefit from review. On the days following the review quiz, we will provide review lectures and supplementary material in MECH 220 to help you work on any areas of deficiency and to ensure that you are ready when MECH 221 starts on September 22. There is a second quiz on the review material on the last Friday of MECH 220; only the highest mark of the two quizzes will be recorded as part of your MECH 221 grade.
A detailed list of review topics, along with suggested readings and problems and a practice quiz, will be posted online on soon on Vista (in case you would like to get an early start on your review). You should have access to Vista by mid-August, once the system administrators have set up the site. Until then, you may wish to review this list of study resources . Reviewing concepts and trying problems from your first year texts is also a good way to prepare. Keep in mind that these are just some of the avenues open to you. Ultimately, it is up to you to determine where your personal areas of weakness are and where you should be spending time in review.
The types of topics you can expect on the review quiz are:
- Math: Sketching functions, derivatives, integrals, complex numbers, coordinate systems
- Linear Algebra: vectors, matrices, dot products, cross products, planes and lines, coordinate transformations
- Kinematics: free body diagrams, motion in cartisian coordinates, motion in polar/cylindrical coordinates
- Statics: free body diagrams, constraints, trusses, beam diagrams
- I am not registered in MECH 220 because I completed it last year - do I still need to write the review quiz?
The review quiz and review lectures take place during MECH 220 but they are in preparation for MECH 221. All students in MECH 221 must write at least one of the review quizzes during MECH 220 as the quiz mark counts towards the MECH 221 grade. Likewise, all students in MECH 221 are strongly encouraged to attend the review lectures during MECH 220, but attendance of these lectures is not compulsory.
- What do I need to bring on the first day?
For the first day, you will need to bring a pencil for the review quiz (No. 2 type pencil is best - pen will not work with the computer scored quiz). Texas Instruments TI-30XII (or TI-30XIIs) calculators are permitted for use on the quiz. This calculator is the only calculator allowed for Mech 2 quizzes and exams. This calculator is available for approximately $20 from most office supply stores.
- What else do I need to do to prepare for Mech 2?
- The Machining portion of Mech 220 requires special safety gear. In particular, you will need steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and coveralls when working in the shop. You can purchase these items at local retailers, such as Marks Work Wearhouse or most department stores.
- Please ensure you have a valid email address entered on the UBC system. To do this, log on to the UBC Student Services Website and then select "Email Change" under the Personal Information section on the left menu. Some important Mech 2 broadcast messages will be sent by email so you should check your email regularly. Important announcements will also be posted under announcements on this site.
- Please ensure you have a valid Campus-Wide Login (CWL). WebCT Vista is used extensively in Mech 2 and you will need your CWL to access Vista. For further information about setting up your CWL, please see the CWL Site.
- What options are available in Mech?
In addition to a general (non-specialized) stream, the Mechanical Engineering department offers Options in Mechatronics, Thermofluids and Biomedical Engineering. The Faculty of Applied Science also offers Minors in Commerce, Honours Mathematics, and Information Technology (note: Information Technology Minor not available in the Mechatronics Option).
- How do I apply for the Mechatronics Option?
Students must apply to the Mechatronics Option concurrently to applying to the Mechanical Engineering Department. There are two rounds of placements: round one applications (from UBC first year engineering students) are due March 31; round two applications (transfer students, first year students with significant academic improvement in term 2) are due June 1. Please see the Mechatronics website for more details.
- How do I apply for the Biomedical or Thermofluids Options?
The Biomedical and Thermofluids Options are third-year entry options - students must successfully complete Mech 2 prior to admission. For more details on either program, please see the Biomedical Option and the Thermofluids Option websites for more details.
- How do I apply for a Minor?
The Minors in Commerce, Honours Mathematics and Information Technology are coordinated by Engineering Student Services. Please see their website for details.
- How does Mech 2 fit with Co-op?
To begin, Co-op is an excellent and very important program which you should join independent of the engineering department that you enter. Co-op involves a series of four- and eight-month paid work terms with engineering companies. Co-op gives you valuable practical engineering experience, it introduces you to the working world, it shows you work types that fit and do not fit with your personal preferences, and it also provides some useful income. The practical nature of Co-op directly complements the "hands-on" character of Mech 2. The first Co-op work term starts in the summer, after the end of Mech 2, so it does not interfere with your classes, and the Third and Fourth years of Mech are structured around the Co-op work terms. In the past few years, almost all second-year Mech students have enrolled in Co-op. We strongly recommend that all Mech 2 students join Co-op.
- How are the requirements to pass a course in Mech 2 different from other courses?
Mech has a high admission requirement, so everyone accepted into the Department is expected not just to pass but also to excel. It occasionally happens that a student needs a bit more time to adjust to engineering studies and to get more experience of the engineering world. In such cases, their course marks may fall short of their potential capabilities. In order to pass a course in Mech 2, students must achieve a grade of at least 50% overall and in each of the subject areas in that course (there are between 3 and 5 subject areas in most Mech 2 courses). If a student exceeds 50% overall, but achieves less than 50% in a minority of the subject areas (up to 1 of 3, or 2 of 5), they will be allowed to continue with their studies, but will be required to take supplementary course(s) to rectify the deficiency.
- How do the exams work in Mech 2?
In each Mech 2 course, quizzes are typically held every week. Each quiz carries a low mark weight and thus the effects of having a "bad day" are minimized. There are also several final exams for each Mech 2 course; this gives students multiple chances to display what they know and means that they do not have to worry as much about one bad exam. A nice feature about the exams in Mech 2 is that they are well spaced because we are able to specifically schedule each one.
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Last reviewed 
10/30/2009 10:16:02 AM