TJ Engineering electives

[Anonymous]

My kids is interested in the Engineering electives at TJ (proto, energy systems, CAD, etc) more than the science electives. Are these +.5 weighted classes considered as “rigorous” (by UVA and other more selective colleges) as electives in the science department such as DNA, astronomy?

[Anonymous]

Comparison doesn't make sense as elective choices are based on interested major. Elective choices of students interested in engineering would be different from those interested in science research or premed

Students should enroll in courses that interest them, not what unknown college admissions officials may prefer. That said, easy electives don't make an applicant competitive when other TJ students would be doing more challenging coursework and also applying at the same UVA and such. Counselor can provide appropriate guidance

[Anonymous]

If your kid wants to go into engineering then they need to take those classes. Otherwise, they will not be taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

My 11th grader is taking the weighted Engineering course now, although not at TJ. He's learned CAD, etc. in the first two levels. They are focusing now on the Engineering design process and problem solving.

They are doing a really cool project where they visit our local Kindergarten classes. They each meet with a kid who provides them a drawing they want to make "real" (a 3D rendering). With 3-4 "customers", the Engineering students have to design, make prototypes, meet with the kids again to review and make tweaks based on the kid's feedback and present a final product. The Kinders then will evaluate the experience, and it counts for a portion of their project grade (within reason of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 11th grader is taking the weighted Engineering course now, although not at TJ. He's learned CAD, etc. in the first two levels. They are focusing now on the Engineering design process and problem solving.

They are doing a really cool project where they visit our local Kindergarten classes. They each meet with a kid who provides them a drawing they want to make "real" (a 3D rendering). With 3-4 "customers", the Engineering students have to design, make prototypes, meet with the kids again to review and make tweaks based on the kid's feedback and present a final product. The Kinders then will evaluate the experience, and it counts for a portion of their project grade (within reason of course).

That is very cool!