Dropping out of engineering

[Anonymous]

Mechanical engineering background here. Had to retake multi-variable Calc. Struggled through differential equations. Some courses like thermodynamics, "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" on exams was a major class accomplishment. But we all worked together, graduated, and had excellent jobs (including one who went on to found his own engineering company developing remote operating vehicles that was recently bought out).
Your son will be fine. Engineering is a grind. But fun at the same time. Don't switch majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You can’t rely on grit and determination in engineering. That works only up to certain point.

Exactly---which is why the post you're quoting said both grit AND aptitude are needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You can learn to study smarter. Lots of kids are a bit lost at the beginning and figure out the format after a semester or two.

+1

None of us know if OP's kid just needs to learn to study smarter or if he just doesn't have the aptitude for engineering. If it's the former, he can do this. If the latter, it may not be the best path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mechanical engineering background here. Had to retake multi-variable Calc. Struggled through differential equations. Some courses like thermodynamics, "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" on exams was a major class accomplishment. But we all worked together, graduated, and had excellent jobs (including one who went on to found his own engineering company developing remote operating vehicles that was recently bought out).
Your son will be fine. Engineering is a grind. But fun at the same time. Don't switch majors.

What is "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any of you studied engineering in college? I don't mean other STEM subjects, I mean real engineering majors?? I'd like to hear from real engineering majors/engineers.

At my Ivy, most of the engineers went into banking and consulting or maybe Big Tech (which doesn’t really require engineering expertise selling ads etc).

You must have went to Harvard, Yale or Dartmouth then...

They train engineering managers, not engineers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mechanical engineering background here. Had to retake multi-variable Calc. Struggled through differential equations. Some courses like thermodynamics, "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" on exams was a major class accomplishment. But we all worked together, graduated, and had excellent jobs (including one who went on to found his own engineering company developing remote operating vehicles that was recently bought out).
Your son will be fine. Engineering is a grind. But fun at the same time. Don't switch majors.

What is "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" ?

Scoring 25 (out of 100) or higher on an exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mechanical engineering background here. Had to retake multi-variable Calc. Struggled through differential equations. Some courses like thermodynamics, "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" on exams was a major class accomplishment. But we all worked together, graduated, and had excellent jobs (including one who went on to found his own engineering company developing remote operating vehicles that was recently bought out).
Your son will be fine. Engineering is a grind. But fun at the same time. Don't switch majors.

What is "breaking the (suburban) speed limit" ?

At least a 25%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any of you studied engineering in college? I don't mean other STEM subjects, I mean real engineering majors?? I'd like to hear from real engineering majors/engineers.

At my Ivy, most of the engineers went into banking and consulting or maybe Big Tech (which doesn’t really require engineering expertise selling ads etc).

You must have went to Harvard, Yale or Dartmouth then...

They train engineering managers, not engineers.

yup. Don't go to Harvard, Yale or Dartmouth (if you have other choices) to be an engineer. I attended one of them back in the day and my STEM kids are not interested mostly because those schools are weak in STEM.