or if not, engineering anywhere?
I start at UBC this september, would like to know a little of what to expect.

Do you know what type of engineering? Because that matters somewhat.

You can expect a lot of work, and you can also expect a lot of math and physics classes. If you're good at math and physics and other quantitative stuff like that, it shouldn't be too difficult, but it will still probably be a lot of work. And if you struggle in these types of classes, expect it to be very difficult as well.

You should get done your math and physics requirements done about halfway or so through your time at college, and after that it'll be mostly engineering stuff, and this is when the type of engineering you want to do comes in to play so it's hard to say exactly what you'll be doing, but most likely you'll spend a fair amount of time doing lab work, as well as just spending a lot of time doing more technical work related to the type of engineering you're in.

btw, I'm in chemical engineering, so if you were thinking of doing that, or something similar to it like bioengineering or materials engineering, I can answer more specific questions if you have them.

well engineering at UBC has a general first year, you have to choose a specific branch at the end of 1st year. I would consider myself fairly good at calculus/math/physics, but im curious as to how much free time I will actually get to socialize, party, etc. I hear chem eng in particular is very time consuming, that these students are required to study nearly every waking moment. How accurate is this? Im also wondering how much free time I would get in first year, but it seems your school doesnt have a general first year.

No, my school does the same thing, you don't choose until after the first year or so usually. I'm a junior though, so I've been in chemical engineering for a while now, and I knew I was going into this major from when I was in high school.

Your first year shouldn't be too bad, and even after that when it gets a lot harder, though there's a lot of work you can still have time to party and hang out with friends and so forth, you just gotta budget your time well during the week so you have free time on the weekends. Keep in mind I'm comparing this to my friends in a business or communications major who seem to never be doing work, so any work I do kinda seems like a lot.

Chem eng is tough, but its not more math or physics than the other engineerings, it just gets a bad rap because you need organic chemistry and physical or analytical chemistry, both of which can be really hard if you're not good at chemistry. I definitely don't study every waking moment though, and I have enough time that I'm doing a double major in math, although I do spend more time on engineering work than on math.

As for choosing what branch of engineering you want, very broadly I would recommend if you're more into physics, especially mechanics, then something like mechanical or civil engineering might be best. But if you've taken or will take chemistry and you like that then maybe chemical or bioengineering(which is growing very fast now) will suit you better. Of course that was very broad, and you should probably talk to an advisor or something to decide.

I'm doing Mechanical Engineering at UIC this fall. It's my first year though so I'm in the same boat as you but from what I've been told at orientation and from anyone i know who is an engineer these two summed it up pretty well.