Engineering Major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is every engineer you talk to says they rarely use Calculus or Physics in their every day job. Yet these colleges weed out these kids based on those two courses

This is complete nonsense. Those who say that are probably in management.

Signed,

An Engineer

Programmers do not need calculus or physics. They actually don't need college.

I fixed your signature.

Programmers != engineers

It does now... computer engineering and requires calculus and there is lots of talk about letting go of that requirement.

computer engineering != computer science

Hey look it's an ISTJ.

Analysis paralysis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

DC wants a collaborative environment instead of a cut throat one like VT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is every engineer you talk to says they rarely use Calculus or Physics in their every day job. Yet these colleges weed out these kids based on those two courses

This is complete nonsense. Those who say that are probably in management.

Signed,

An Engineer

Programmers do not need calculus or physics. They actually don't need college.

I fixed your signature.

Programmers != engineers

It does now... computer engineering and requires calculus and there is lots of talk about letting go of that requirement.

computer engineering != computer science

Hey look it's an ISTJ.

Analysis paralysis

Sorry - ESTP w/high EQ.

And these are just basic facts. Difficult for some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

This is such a BS answer. Education should not be an exercise in culling.

Genterally, students that go into Engineering are used to getting high grades. Once they get into Engineering and 46 is a A+, they feel like a failure and quit. Not because they can't do it but because of the perception. Of course they will find dolts like PP who think GPA is meaningful.

No hiring manager is ever, ever, ever going to ask for GPA.

Also, let him graduate in 5 years, or even 6. Sure it's hard to handle 4-5 sciences at a time. Find a way to take it slow and steady.

Also, there are jobs that require the engineering knowledge without being an engineer... like patent attorney or medical equipment sales.

You should look at 2nd tier programs with good graduation rates and be the parents that don't freak over a 2.5 GPA.

I think you are getting me confused with other PPs. I am the pp you responded to and I haven’t said anything specific about GPA. But I have to agree, I would not entertain hiring 2.5 gpa engineers. It just shows they don’t have min required knowledge to get the work done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

[Anonymous]

I have an engineering degree. In EE. From lofty "Delaware" J/k. 43 people started Electrical Engineering, 15 finished. I was 2 or 3 in the class. It was a good value then, even out of state tuition. Not so much now. They did get us out in 4 years though.

Math was always a struggle for me. I had to bust my butt to understand it, and some of the math classes (diff eq, field theory, signals and systems) made me want to crawl in a hole and die. I persevered. I made up in quantity what I may have lacked in quality. I had little time for socializing, I survived.

I got my degree, went to work for a military lab, and used about 5% of what my courses covered. Got a masters in engineering management, and now I do program management. A non-supervisory GS-15. Its a good gig. I'm not as technically smart as many people at my base, and there are some real giants of mental power for sure, but the flip side is someone has to make sure money gets spent and plans get done. I fill that niche well. And for the fun electrical tinkering and projects (hello, Arduino!) I have time at home for what has become hobbies.

An engineering degree can take you lots of places. Whether you use those classes or not, you've proven you can get through them. Apparently thats a thing. Lots of folks turned into CS majors when they couldnt do the math or electronics classes. They went on to have great lives too.

If you're doing engineering because you like math, go do finance. You'll make more money. You really need to be into hands-on stuff and be passionate about it. Not afraid to dig your hands in. Sadly the place I do that now is at home, either on my home or on hobbies. The lab job I did simply didnt pay for the 3 kids I ended up having, and allow my wife to be a full time mom for now which she is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

Lol. Got it.

No shame in saying you are not. Maybe you are taking this too personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

Lol. Got it.

No shame in saying you are not. Maybe you are taking this too personally.

Not taking this personally, just staying on topic, as opposed to making judgments about background.

Choosing a school is hard. I do think it is ridiculous how hard a person has to work to discover the real differences between schools. That should be easily learned by anyone about to "purchase" one of these educations. I try hard to make my posts informative and useful to people a year behind me with my oldest. I also try hard not too offend. Can you say that?

[Anonymous]

We visited Northeastern CoE last summer for an Open House, and there isn’t a weed out. Once you’re in, you’re in. They work hard to help you find the discipline that fits best, and give the tools the students needs to succeed. There aren’t quotas per discipline either, and you can switch out of engineering if you find that it’s not the right fit.

All freshman CoE take the same classes, except for a few that are dependent on AP credit (math for example). Also, double majoring or minoring is highly encouraged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is every engineer you talk to says they rarely use Calculus or Physics in their every day job. Yet these colleges weed out these kids based on those two courses

This is complete nonsense. Those who say that are probably in management.

Signed,

An Engineer

Programmers do not need calculus or physics. They actually don't need college.

I fixed your signature.

Programmers != engineers

It does now... computer engineering and requires calculus and there is lots of talk about letting go of that requirement.

computer engineering != computer science

Hey look it's an ISTJ.

Analysis paralysis

Sorry - ESTP w/high EQ.

And these are just basic facts. Difficult for some people.

Sure you are. You are exactly who Spearman was talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

Lol. Got it.

No shame in saying you are not. Maybe you are taking this too personally.

Not taking this personally, just staying on topic, as opposed to making judgments about background.

Choosing a school is hard. I do think it is ridiculous how hard a person has to work to discover the real differences between schools. That should be easily learned by anyone about to "purchase" one of these educations. I try hard to make my posts informative and useful to people a year behind me with my oldest. I also try hard not too offend. Can you say that?

This people is an "engineer: trying hard not to offend.

Just imagine if there were social skills classes when you were growing up.

I know introspection is not your strong suit but you are not only ill informed but you are rigid and missing the big picture.

But this is not the 1st time you have heard this.

This is why we have a rule at work... don't let the engineers talk to people and why technical people with social skills make more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

Lol. Got it.

No shame in saying you are not. Maybe you are taking this too personally.

Not taking this personally, just staying on topic, as opposed to making judgments about background.

Choosing a school is hard. I do think it is ridiculous how hard a person has to work to discover the real differences between schools. That should be easily learned by anyone about to "purchase" one of these educations. I try hard to make my posts informative and useful to people a year behind me with my oldest. I also try hard not too offend. Can you say that?

Hard to take you seriously because you are taking about something you have no experience in and you are not even an engineer. I mean it’s like saying “I play a doctor on TV”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What engineering programs are recommended where DC isn’t constantly worried about not making the cut. It sounds like Pitt is accommodating, any ithers?

No such thing. Engineering is a demanding major. If your kid cannot handle, it’s better to find out early than later. Also, that probably means your kid won’t enjoy career as an engineer. I would not push it.

The BS part of that is that a single trip-up freshman year means a person can't handle an entire career. There are just too many examples around of successful people who stumbled at the beginning.

Yes, engineering is demanding. And certainly some students should move on. But that doesn't change the facts:

* some schools are using the weed-out process differently than others.

* an engineering student with a 3.2 freshman year is very different from one with a 2.2. At most schools the 2.2 kid will probably need to move on or regroup. As for the 3.2 kid... at some schools the kid can move ahead to sophomore year and at others it is "thanks for all the money, now see ya."

And yes, there is a budget element - at one school I talked to in a state facing budget cuts, the state forced the school to increase the number of engineering students so they increased the number of freshman engineering students. but not sophomores.

And for a bunch of people claiming to be engineers (and have statistical training) - y'all seem oblivious to the fact that your GPA is endogenous. If you are at Brown and score at the 50th percentile on the calc exam, you probably get an A. If you are at many public engineering schools, you get a B-, if that.

Parents: read the portion of the school websites for CONTINUING students, and discuss some of the weed-out issues with your kid. I would much rather my kid be a mechanical engineer out of Pitt (even at full fees) than an economics major out of VT (a major he might choose after the weedout.)

Are you a practicing engineer? I am guessing not.

Something very similar and equally technical.

Lol. Got it.

No shame in saying you are not. Maybe you are taking this too personally.

Not taking this personally, just staying on topic, as opposed to making judgments about background.

Choosing a school is hard. I do think it is ridiculous how hard a person has to work to discover the real differences between schools. That should be easily learned by anyone about to "purchase" one of these educations. I try hard to make my posts informative and useful to people a year behind me with my oldest. I also try hard not too offend. Can you say that?

Hard to take you seriously because you are taking about something you have no experience in and you are not even an engineer. I mean it’s like saying “I play a doctor on TV”.

Haha.. i will do your surgery at 2pm! Be there!!