How to get basic civil engineering formulas?

How do I get the best grades in these engineering classes while being present as little as possible?

• This fall, I will be returning to my engineering studies in an effort to complete my degree in engineering. I would like to get a list of tips/methods to use to succeed in the following classes while earning a high grade and being present as little as possible (because of tuition costs/gas prices/missing work issues since I am required to work 40 hours per week). I must have an engineering degree in order to receive a raise at work, which is strongly related to engineering. Here are the classes: Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Determinate Structural Analysis, Civil Engineering Materials, anything surveying as far as civil engineering goes. I'd also like to possibly get tips for the classes beyond those in the civil engineering classes, as well as for the upper division/graduate level power engineering/software engineering/computer hardware engineering classes in order to succeed in those classes while maintaining my busy work schedule. Thanks!

• Answer:

  I guess you demonstrate the soul of an engineer in your question... it just isn't efficient to go to all the classes! The advice I offer to anyone in school is that you figure out what it takes to get a B. You need to figure out how each class works (points wise) and how much help you need. To some extent this can help you prioritize, whether to take the easy "B" (when you see it) or bust out extra effort to get an "A". Building a good network of friends in your education program. They can clue you in to missed lectures, advise you on the best professor choice for a class you haven't taken yet, and help you out when you need a study group. Talk to any coworkers who've completed similar work recently and solicit advice on order of courses. If you've been out of school a while, use this summer to work on the drafting, math, programming and calculator skills that you'll need. In your first term on campus, invest the time to meet people and learn how to get things done around there. Make friends with other commuters as well as with full-time students. Your real-world experience will be valuable to them (advice on projects, practical examples of theory, etc.), and they will know a lot more people on campus to help you out. It also won't hurt to sniff out your boss' tolerance for doing homework on their time. This would be a great year not to participate in Fantasy Football ;)