So I planning to take the civil PE exam (Geotechnical) in April 2012. I have already started studying for it back in August and I am feeling overwhelmed. I have the CERM, have the six minute solution for water/transp/and geotechnical. I worked through the six minute breadth problems for water and have started working through the CERM companion problems. I guess my thinking is there is no way I can do a chapter of these a night. I have a full time job, a baby, a preschooler, hubby, house and a hr commute each way. It takes me an hour or two each night to just do four problems in the CERM companion. I want to read the chapters of the CERM but I don't know when I would have time. I bought the All-in-one by Goswami which seems to be much more manageable, but then I am afraid I will be under prepared. I hope to have the morning completed by December and then work on the Depth the rest of the way through. I have the Lindeburg practice exam and the NCEES practice exams (2 of them) plus the Das books, Navac, Chelapti, 201 solved geotechnical problems, that I plan to go through from Dec-March. I guess I just feel I am not going to make through all this. I have the NCEES outline and I am trying to focus only on the chapters it covers, but I am already feeling behind. Did the rest of you feel like this and how did you manage it?
:wv: , I hear you. I understand the feeling. But, if I had to guess, I'd say you are going to make it. It sounds like you are doing fine (if a bit overwhelmed).
If this helps at all:
You don't need to know everything! I skipped plenty of topics in my studies. I am not a Structures person. I hardly studied anything Structures. I hate environmental(chemistry) type problems. I skipped those. If I didn't like or grasp a topic, I moved on. Study your depth topic hard and hit on the AM topics you understand. You don't need a 100%, you just need to pass. I passed the 8-hr (Transpo) this past April.
Most of the practice problems, like you, were taking me 20+ minutes each. Don't get discouraged. I think most of the practice exams/problems are harder than the actual exam. Still do them, but don't beat yourself up when they take over 6 minutes. The NCEES exam is pretty accurate.
It sounds to me like maybe you have too many resources? That in and of itself can be overwhelming. I'd try to narrow it down to a select few, if you can.
Print out and follow the NCEES syllabus for Geotech and stick to it like glue. Don't spend one minute studying a topic not on that syllabus (Ex. I wouldn't do the Water/Transpo 6 minute depth problems if I were you).
I know not everyone can do this but, so that I limit the disruption to my family life, I start studying after my wife and baby go to bed (10-11ish) and I study until 2am (and up at 6:30 - ouch). I do this 6 days a week. (I am still studying for the CA-Seismic.)
You can do it. And you have time too. Keep at it consistently and you'll feel better as the time grows nearer. Good luck.
P.S. bump this thread after Aril 2012 to tell us you passed, ok?
