Engineering Majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids can change do much in 1 year. I def think some kids need hand holding done in 11th grade if they show interest in a field and a parent knows her kid best. Of course they have to do the work when they get into a program like this , but they would have matured by then. I agree the average kid who is good or would be good in engineering/math is probably not the type of kid who is comfortable asking for help - from an adult with them being 15yo.

I work with lots of smart, capable 30-ish engineers and when I tell them about my son, they pretty much agree that they were shy and reserved when they were that age. I'm sure they needed done hand holding and guidance in the beginning to get them to this point.

If you are "shy and reserved" you don't necessarily need hand holding to figure out your direction. I think the word you're looking for is "unambitious". Plenty of shy kids can figure it out and get things done.

I think you are harsh. By definition, students are learners and sometimes need help making choices and understanding options. I don't agree that the word is "unambitious" -- it might be, but you are forgetting these are kids. Some see everything as an assault of their fragile sense of self, and don't even know where to begin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids can change do much in 1 year. I def think some kids need hand holding done in 11th grade if they show interest in a field and a parent knows her kid best. Of course they have to do the work when they get into a program like this , but they would have matured by then. I agree the average kid who is good or would be good in engineering/math is probably not the type of kid who is comfortable asking for help - from an adult with them being 15yo.

I work with lots of smart, capable 30-ish engineers and when I tell them about my son, they pretty much agree that they were shy and reserved when they were that age. I'm sure they needed done hand holding and guidance in the beginning to get them to this point.

If you are "shy and reserved" you don't necessarily need hand holding to figure out your direction. I think the word you're looking for is "unambitious". Plenty of shy kids can figure it out and get things done.

I think you are harsh. By definition, students are learners and sometimes need help making choices and understanding options. I don't agree that the word is "unambitious" -- it might be, but you are forgetting these are kids. Some see everything as an assault of their fragile sense of self, and don't even know where to begin.

Overly sensitive? Not a go-getter? He may also be "shy and reserved", but that's not why he needs the help.

[Anonymous]

Actually, the most ambitious people often need the MOST hand holding. They know their direction, sure, but they often do not respect the effort that others put in to get to similar goals. The most ambitious also often try to skip steps making things harder for themselves.

"If you are "shy and reserved" you don't necessarily need hand holding to figure out your direction. I think the word you're looking for is "unambitious". Plenty of shy kids can figure it out and get things done."

[Anonymous]

Just encourage him to go to a smaller school with a more nurturing atmosphere and classes taught by real profs, not graduate students from Asia. He'll do fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, the most ambitious people often need the MOST hand holding. They know their direction, sure, but they often do not respect the effort that others put in to get to similar goals. The most ambitious also often try to skip steps making things harder for themselves.

Not in my experience AT ALL and I know plenty of ambitious folks (from my top 10 engineering program, grad programs, research labs, etc.). You are describing people who are perhaps are overconfident and/or inattentive. You can certainly be very ambitious and still understand what is required to succeed and meet your goals without any handholding.

[Anonymous]

I think my definition of handholding is broader than yours. For example, I think Donald Trump needs lots of handholding despite being the most ambitious person AND having a better idea of what it took to succeed than anyone else in the election. He certainly doesn't respect the efforts of others and he certainly skips steps.

You are probably more right than I am in the relative numbers BUT there is a solid minority of ambitious/talented people who fall into the category I am pointing out. They don't all look like Trump, many are introverts and many more of this minority come from families who don't have lots of experience with "the big city". The numbers in this less experienced group are dropping, with the internet but it still solidly exists.

"You can certainly be very ambitious and still understand what is required to succeed and meet your goals without any handholding."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing aerospace and electrical engineering are more like your science focused list.

What about mechanical? Certainly it goes beyond civil into math theory, but can you get the degree with only one or two "killer courses" or are all the courses harder to build the students up to get through the "killer courses?

Civil and mechanical are very physics heavy. Depending on what you specialize in, it can be very math and calculus heavy. I did my civil engineer and specialized in structural engg with a focus on aerospace. It was intense calculus

[Anonymous]

Which science is more important/useful for engineers? Chemistry or Physics? After having taken Chem, Bio & Physics, just trying to see which one of these dc should take as an AP next year if he wants engineering in college. He doesn't seem particulary more into any one of these over others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which science is more important/useful for engineers? Chemistry or Physics? After having taken Chem, Bio & Physics, just trying to see which one of these dc should take as an AP next year if he wants engineering in college. He doesn't seem particulary more into any one of these over others.

Chemistry for chemical engineering. Maybe some parts of biomedical or materials.
Physics for civil, mechanical, engineering physics, materials, biomechanical, maybe more.

Have him do some sort of intro to engineering program over the summer to get a better feel for the different types of engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which science is more important/useful for engineers? Chemistry or Physics? After having taken Chem, Bio & Physics, just trying to see which one of these dc should take as an AP next year if he wants engineering in college. He doesn't seem particulary more into any one of these over others.

phys or chem, and take the one where the teacher has the better reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen many B students push through an engineering curriculum on more willpower than intellect.

But you need to think about back up plans. At both VT and GT, business college takes a lot of kids switching out of engineering.

This. You don't need to be very smart or talented to be an engineer. You just neef to be persistent and willing to work hard.

I struggled through engineering school but am now a very successful engineer. It turns out that being an engineer is actually a lot easier than studying it..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which science is more important/useful for engineers? Chemistry or Physics? After having taken Chem, Bio & Physics, just trying to see which one of these dc should take as an AP next year if he wants engineering in college. He doesn't seem particulary more into any one of these over others.

Your thinking about that question. Ackwards. Which AP does he want to take? That's the one he should take and it will give him an idea of the type of engineering he might like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which science is more important/useful for engineers? Chemistry or Physics? After having taken Chem, Bio & Physics, just trying to see which one of these dc should take as an AP next year if he wants engineering in college. He doesn't seem particulary more into any one of these over others.

Your thinking about that question. Ackwards. Which AP does he want to take? That's the one he should take and it will give him an idea of the type of engineering he might like.

+1 I love Physics, am kind of OK with Chemistry, and strongly dislike Biology. Let your kid figure out what he/she is good at / enjoys.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with the idea of taking whichever science AP he likes more. AP Biology or AP Environmental Science just aren't going to give you a good preview of an Engineering major.

Next, does your school offer, AP Phyics 1 or AP Physics 1 and 2 together OR are we talking AP Physics C, which a B student should certainly put off until he gets to college?

While HS chemistry has something to do with ChemE, given the cursory nature of honors physics these days, the sustained nature of math in an AP Physics 1 and 2 together course would give him a window on what engineering will be like.

If your school spreads out AP Physics 1 over the entire year, I suggest taking that AND AP Chem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any engineers have suggestions for collaborative engineering programs that are not as difficult to get into as Olin? TIA

Look at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. It's an awesome place to learn to be an engineer and it has a great reputation I'm the engineering world. Grads get fantastic jobs with big companies. Lots of B+ high school students who find their motivation in enginerring.