My point in posting this here is not to brag, but to point out that a college education doesn't have to consist of memorizing formulas. If a particular college program requires that, there are better choices.
Being able to derive the formulas means one knows their limitations. It also means that one can derive a needed formula when it is not in the book. This means that one can solve a significantly larger set of engineering problems.
In aircraft design, this leads to lighter and less expensive parts without sacrificing strength or utility. It's an objectively better design.
Making one who can do this objectively a better engineer.
What is relevant is if one's engineering class consists of memorizing formulas, find a better class that emphasizes the how and the why. Math is a big part of that.
It was just a school, man, relax, you're not actually better than other people.