Did your kid not pursue engineering because they chose to attend a college that doesn't have an engineering major?

[Anonymous]

My daughter thinks she wants to pursue engineering, mainly because STEM classes are her strongest subjects (particularly physics--she loved the E&M part of physics C.)
However, she really doesn't know what an engineer does in any concrete sense (she's never shadowed one at work and we don't have any in our family).

As we tour colleges she's loved a number that don't have engineering programs and her reply is always "well then I'll study physics or biology."
Case in point: Emory (which has a 5-6 year engineering program with GT but she has zero interest in doing 5-6 years of undergrad and I'm not paying for 5-6.)
Now I have no idea what she'd do with a physics or biology degree (she has no desire to pursue a straight PhD.)

I guess what I'm asking is, if your child thought they wanted to study engineering but then for other reasons chose a school that didn't offer
engineering, what did they study and how did this work out?

Thank you so much.

[Anonymous]

Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?

[Anonymous]

No way. Im an engineer and studied electrical engineering. She needs to find out what the various engineering disciplines lead to career wise and then choose a major accordingly. Mechanical is different than electrical or chemical etc. Physics is good but def not biology if she wants engineering (even bio engineering).

[Anonymous]

plenty of good schools have engineering programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?

How does a kid figure this out? of course she knows what an engineer does in the abstract but she had no idea what they do daily from 9am to 5pm. I don't either. What does an engineer actually do hour-by-hour for 40 hours per week? I'm sure it varies greatly.

[Anonymous]

How old is she?

My son is a white male of college educated parents who wants to go into engineering, and in looking for summer programs that don't cost too much, I have seen a TON of high school engineering summer programs for women, minorities, and first gen. She should try to do those and get a feel for engineering.

If she wants to major in engineering, go to an undergrad with engineering. don't mess around with those 3-2 programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter thinks she wants to pursue engineering, mainly because STEM classes are her strongest subjects (particularly physics--she loved the E&M part of physics C.)
However, she really doesn't know what an engineer does in any concrete sense (she's never shadowed one at work and we don't have any in our family).

As we tour colleges she's loved a number that don't have engineering programs and her reply is always "well then I'll study physics or biology."
Case in point: Emory (which has a 5-6 year engineering program with GT but she has zero interest in doing 5-6 years of undergrad and I'm not paying for 5-6.)
Now I have no idea what she'd do with a physics or biology degree (she has no desire to pursue a straight PhD.)

I guess what I'm asking is, if your child thought they wanted to study engineering but then for other reasons chose a school that didn't offer
engineering, what did they study and how did this work out?

Thank you so much.

I personally would guide my kid towards a school that offers engineering majors. Because with a physics or biology degree, a BS is NOT getting you meaningful jobs or decent paying jobs. Both majors typically require a PHD to do the "real work". And you are correct in that if your kid wants a BS as terminal degree and loves Math/Science, some form of engineering is a very good path to purse. So why attend a school that doesn't have your desired major? Why spend 6 years to get the degree you want or have to get your MS in engineering after getting a BS in Biology? Doesn't Make sense

[Anonymous]

DH majored in Math. Became an engineer.
I’d suggest your DD do more research on engineering jobs. Start with you tube.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?

How does a kid figure this out? of course she knows what an engineer does in the abstract but she had no idea what they do daily from 9am to 5pm. I don't either. What does an engineer actually do hour-by-hour for 40 hours per week? I'm sure it varies greatly.

Of course it does

A mechanical engineer is not an electrical engineer or an aerospace eng or an industrial Eng or a software engineer... etc....

OP for one have your child find a school with engineering programs and have them look at the coursework required. That is the first step.
The second one is to google what they do not a hard concept.

If your kid does not want a job in a warehouse then Mechanical and Industrial are most likely not a major for them.

My guess is your kid should not be majoring in Engineering.

And yes students have careers in Physics again google it. UGH. Parents are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

No way. She "wants to be an engineer" because it sounds good and she has no idea what she wants to be or do.
It seems a bit late in the game but she should start here
https://swe.org/outreach/stem-pathways/
She should also look thru the site to find mentor outreach contacts in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?

How does a kid figure this out? of course she knows what an engineer does in the abstract but she had no idea what they do daily from 9am to 5pm. I don't either. What does an engineer actually do hour-by-hour for 40 hours per week? I'm sure it varies greatly.

Shadow? Google it? Attend a camp? This isn't rocket science.

[Anonymous]

I am a physicist. Don’t become a physics major unless you love physics and pursue a PhD. I love my career and my life. But I needed an advanced degree.

If you are looking at a terminal bachelors, absolutely find an engineering school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?

How does a kid figure this out? of course she knows what an engineer does in the abstract but she had no idea what they do daily from 9am to 5pm. I don't either. What does an engineer actually do hour-by-hour for 40 hours per week? I'm sure it varies greatly.

Of course it does

A mechanical engineer is not an electrical engineer or an aerospace eng or an industrial Eng or a software engineer... etc....

OP for one have your child find a school with engineering programs and have them look at the coursework required. That is the first step.
The second one is to google what they do not a hard concept.

If your kid does not want a job in a warehouse then Mechanical and Industrial are most likely not a major for them.

My guess is your kid should not be majoring in Engineering.

And yes students have careers in Physics again google it. UGH. Parents are ridiculous.

But not many meaningful jobs with just a BS in Physics. The really fun stuff requires an advanced degree, so if you don't want to get your PHD, might not be the best major for that person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter thinks she wants to pursue engineering, mainly because STEM classes are her strongest subjects (particularly physics--she loved the E&M part of physics C.)
However, she really doesn't know what an engineer does in any concrete sense (she's never shadowed one at work and we don't have any in our family).

As we tour colleges she's loved a number that don't have engineering programs and her reply is always "well then I'll study physics or biology."
Case in point: Emory (which has a 5-6 year engineering program with GT but she has zero interest in doing 5-6 years of undergrad and I'm not paying for 5-6.)
Now I have no idea what she'd do with a physics or biology degree (she has no desire to pursue a straight PhD.)

I guess what I'm asking is, if your child thought they wanted to study engineering but then for other reasons chose a school that didn't offer
engineering, what did they study and how did this work out?

Thank you so much.

Mine thought they wanted Engineering, but was not certain. Also loved Chem or Physics or both, and/or maybe math as a minor. They decided best to have all options available: they applied to schools with direct-admit Engineering (only those with interdisciplinary emphasis allowing minors or other studies in the other schools, & easy to transfer into Arts/Sci college if hate it) and also to colleges that do not have direct admission to Engineering but anyone can start taking Engineering classes then see what you think. There are lots of schools that fit: Almost all ivies(Cornell is too divided/not interdisciplinary, Dartmouth is designed to be 5 yrs for the ABET accredited program), Notre Dame, Duke, Rice, Northwestern WashU, UVA, many more.
All of them have outstanding Chem and Physics, easy access to undergraduate research, and have excellent phD and MD placement(both options being considered), and many of them have top access to start-up tech possibilities. They picked one of the ivies and are happy with the incredible Engineering education.
It is far better to start with the option for Engineering rather than go to an undergraduate school where it is not possible, or not feasible in 4 yrs.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Uh. She REALLY needs to learn what an engineer does. She's touring colleges and doesn't yet know?[/quote]

How does a kid figure this out? of course she knows what an engineer does in the abstract but she had no idea what they do daily from 9am to 5pm. I don't either. What does an engineer actually do hour-by-hour for 40 hours per week? I'm sure it varies greatly. [/quote]

It absolutely varies greatly. Ask around and do some reading on careers.
Three family members are engineers:
One has a phD as well as undergrad, well known undergrad and grad school, works for a niche company that is hired by large international companies to handle highly technical training and onboarding. Makes big $: high-up in company now.
One has a mechE degree, BS, and works for small company running the function and design arm of products, Normal 6 figure $.
One has computer Engineering degree from a well known undergrad school for Engineering and launched a startup then sold it and became incorporated into the bigger company: manages teams of software programming and design all day. Huge $, could have retired by 45.