Engineering Degree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a great thread, very interesting. Any advice from the engineers here on your thoughts between a mechanical engineering focus vs an aero focus? My son will soon begin his second semester and will need to make this decision somewhat soon. He’s in a general first-year engineering program now, which is where all Eng students start at his school. He’s really unsure which way to go. Both are very popular and hard to get into at his school, but he should have a shot at either hopefully. And he’s interested in both, so he’s trying to weigh the pros, cons, etc and will spend some time talking to his Advisor. But I thought I’d throw the question out here.

And a note to those asking about engineering and difficulty - it’s tough. My son did really well his first semester (he’s at Purdue), but it was with A LOT of work. I assume it will only get more difficult! One thing I will say is that he felt very prepared and felt his NoVA HS did a good job getting him ready.

I'm the woman who wrote a few posts ago about sobbing in my parents house sophomore year. After that, I switched from MechE to Aero. It wasn't easier (in fact I'd argue that in some ways aero is harder, although they are very similar curriculum) but I was excited and passionate about the aero classes in a way that I wasn't about Mechanical. The PP is probably true that MechE is more broadly hire-able, but I graduated with several job offers and 27 years into an Aero career I've never had a hard time getting a job. I've also found that Aero engineers are often more passionate/excited about their jobs that a typical MechE/EE who maybe falls into the "like math, seems like an ok job" career path. I genuinely like the people I work with.

Not too many schools offer aero as a major though. It's mechanical, with perhaps an aero focus.

But yeah, passion is pretty critical. Do you want to build a plane? Do you want to build a rocket?

If that's not exciting when you're 19, it might not be the best major. The grind is real. There has to be a purpose.

Let’s not make Aero into anything too exotic. Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Purdue, West Virginia, Penn State, NC State, and Maryland all offer that major. And I agree about the passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I have a son who is in his first year hoping to get into Computer Engineering and needs a 3.75 GPA to be competitive (he is in general engineering for now), after his first semester he has a 3.45, which is great but might put him in the running for electrical or mechanical which are his fall backs for now. We have a daughter in her third year at a different university majoring in systems engineering with a minor in mechanical. They both work hard and I will give them extra props this week before they head back to school.

It is difficult to get and maintain a High gpa in engineering/cs. This is a good reason for people to consider schools where you can select any engineering you want and it's not a competition to maintain a 3.8+ to get into the major you desire. They do exist at many good engineering schools. My kid was accepted at 4 of that type, all in the 30-70 range.

Which schools, we're looking for direct admit.

Not PP, but my DD really liked Pitt for this reason. They do not cap engineering disciplines. I believe that Case Western is the same

But Pitt is not direct admit. You have to make at least a C- in certain classes, which can be easy for some and not so easy for others.

Umm...I'd still call that "direct admit" If you cannot earn a C- in key prerequisite courses for engineering, then you do not belong in engineering. Most schools have a requirement that you get a min of a C-/C in most first year eng courses to advance in the degree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a great thread, very interesting. Any advice from the engineers here on your thoughts between a mechanical engineering focus vs an aero focus? My son will soon begin his second semester and will need to make this decision somewhat soon. He’s in a general first-year engineering program now, which is where all Eng students start at his school. He’s really unsure which way to go. Both are very popular and hard to get into at his school, but he should have a shot at either hopefully. And he’s interested in both, so he’s trying to weigh the pros, cons, etc and will spend some time talking to his Advisor. But I thought I’d throw the question out here.

And a note to those asking about engineering and difficulty - it’s tough. My son did really well his first semester (he’s at Purdue), but it was with A LOT of work. I assume it will only get more difficult! One thing I will say is that he felt very prepared and felt his NoVA HS did a good job getting him ready.

I'm the woman who wrote a few posts ago about sobbing in my parents house sophomore year. After that, I switched from MechE to Aero. It wasn't easier (in fact I'd argue that in some ways aero is harder, although they are very similar curriculum) but I was excited and passionate about the aero classes in a way that I wasn't about Mechanical. The PP is probably true that MechE is more broadly hire-able, but I graduated with several job offers and 27 years into an Aero career I've never had a hard time getting a job. I've also found that Aero engineers are often more passionate/excited about their jobs that a typical MechE/EE who maybe falls into the "like math, seems like an ok job" career path. I genuinely like the people I work with.

Not too many schools offer aero as a major though. It's mechanical, with perhaps an aero focus.

But yeah, passion is pretty critical. Do you want to build a plane? Do you want to build a rocket?

If that's not exciting when you're 19, it might not be the best major. The grind is real. There has to be a purpose.

A quick search on the ABET page suggests there’s about 70-80 programs (I didn’t spend a ton of time counting)
Lots of great options if you want pure aero

[Anonymous]

Everyone I knew, stayed and got their engineering degree.

[Anonymous]

* though few didn't enjoy it and went to medical schools or consulting and finance companies.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid doing mechanical engineering.

Freshman.

Top 20 college known for it.

He's getting the first Bs in his life. And that is awesome that he was able to survive the first semester.

Compared to the older kid, who has a softer major, there really isn't a comparison
Engineering is hard. My youngest is a smarty pants. But he is being pushed. Mechanical is difficult.

Genuinely.

It's a really tough major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like engineering schools are probably losing competent students just because the kids and their parents are used to inflated HS GPAs, believe a B is the equivalent of an F, and think a freshman year GPA of 3.0 means they’re “bad at engineering.”

I do wonder though if many good well rounded students wind up pursuing engineering just because they got good grades in HS math - I mean not everyone who can get an A in HS Calculus is ready to be an engineer. I guess the question is what does a parent do about a kid in engineering who can't manage a full course load and fails a fairly standard high level course...do they bail before its gets worse or try to grind through in the hopes that they can make it through and the actual career will be heavy on other skills?

This, I was good at math and science and parents directed me towards engineering for career and financial stability. I graduated, worked in the profession but only enjoyed the salary and not the career.

I did not do this to my kids, they studied what they were passionate about and love their career and have a great quality of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like engineering schools are probably losing competent students just because the kids and their parents are used to inflated HS GPAs, believe a B is the equivalent of an F, and think a freshman year GPA of 3.0 means they’re “bad at engineering.”

I do wonder though if many good well rounded students wind up pursuing engineering just because they got good grades in HS math - I mean not everyone who can get an A in HS Calculus is ready to be an engineer. I guess the question is what does a parent do about a kid in engineering who can't manage a full course load and fails a fairly standard high level course...do they bail before its gets worse or try to grind through in the hopes that they can make it through and the actual career will be heavy on other skills?

This, I was good at math and science and parents directed me towards engineering for career and financial stability. I graduated, worked in the profession but only enjoyed the salary and not the career.

I did not do this to my kids, they studied what they were passionate about and love their career and have a great quality of life.

IMO more students should be taking AP Physics C to experience the course rigor and be prepared for college physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid doing mechanical engineering.

Freshman.

Top 20 college known for it.

He's getting the first Bs in his life. And that is awesome that he was able to survive the first semester.

Compared to the older kid, who has a softer major, there really isn't a comparison
Engineering is hard. My youngest is a smarty pants. But he is being pushed. Mechanical is difficult.

Genuinely.

It's a really tough major.

I barely graduated with 3.0 in ME many years ago, but I had a wkd job (working as a cook) and a GF (my wife now). Yeah, it's tough major even more so if not 100% focused like me. I was lucky to survive with 3.0.

[Anonymous]

Kid is a freshman in Chemical Engineering. Told by admin to be happy with a C in engineering courses. Says it is hard. Seems happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The engineering majors that I knew found Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering to be much much easier than Architecture school and Building Construction school.

At our Division I college many Architecture students transfer into Engineering as it is much easier. The same holds true for Building Construction.

GPA does not matter so much. You have to pass the state boards licensing exam in order to sign and seal.

Opposite at my DCs school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what’s so difficult. Couldn’t you just copy someone else’s answers & forget to cite them?

That only works at Harvard.

LMAO

And not for an Engineering degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a great thread, very interesting. Any advice from the engineers here on your thoughts between a mechanical engineering focus vs an aero focus? My son will soon begin his second semester and will need to make this decision somewhat soon. He’s in a general first-year engineering program now, which is where all Eng students start at his school. He’s really unsure which way to go. Both are very popular and hard to get into at his school, but he should have a shot at either hopefully. And he’s interested in both, so he’s trying to weigh the pros, cons, etc and will spend some time talking to his Advisor. But I thought I’d throw the question out here.

And a note to those asking about engineering and difficulty - it’s tough. My son did really well his first semester (he’s at Purdue), but it was with A LOT of work. I assume it will only get more difficult! One thing I will say is that he felt very prepared and felt his NoVA HS did a good job getting him ready.

I'm the woman who wrote a few posts ago about sobbing in my parents house sophomore year. After that, I switched from MechE to Aero. It wasn't easier (in fact I'd argue that in some ways aero is harder, although they are very similar curriculum) but I was excited and passionate about the aero classes in a way that I wasn't about Mechanical. The PP is probably true that MechE is more broadly hire-able, but I graduated with several job offers and 27 years into an Aero career I've never had a hard time getting a job. I've also found that Aero engineers are often more passionate/excited about their jobs that a typical MechE/EE who maybe falls into the "like math, seems like an ok job" career path. I genuinely like the people I work with.

Not too many schools offer aero as a major though. It's mechanical, with perhaps an aero focus.

But yeah, passion is pretty critical. Do you want to build a plane? Do you want to build a rocket?

If that's not exciting when you're 19, it might not be the best major. The grind is real. There has to be a purpose.

Agree on passion! I started as an aero/astro major because I loved the idea of space exploration but I got super depressed looking ahead at my required course load of fluid mechanics and similar. I ended up switching to computer engineering, where I was excited about 90% of the classes rather than preparing to grit my teeth through 90% of the classes. Best choice I ever made, and am very happy in my career as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid doing mechanical engineering.

Freshman.

Top 20 college known for it.

He's getting the first Bs in his life. And that is awesome that he was able to survive the first semester.

Compared to the older kid, who has a softer major, there really isn't a comparison
Engineering is hard. My youngest is a smarty pants. But he is being pushed. Mechanical is difficult.

Genuinely.

It's a really tough major.

Freshman courses are not specific to ME, even for direct admits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid is a freshman in Chemical Engineering. Told by admin to be happy with a C in engineering courses. Says it is hard. Seems happy.

If you don't mind, I am a humanities major with engineering-type kids. From what I hear, a lot of courses are not only difficult but are graded differently than humanities.

For example, a lot of students will have 40s, 50s, 60s as their grade during the term and then at the end a curve is applied. Has anyone else heard of this, and if so, what is the point? I understand the weed out courses, but shouldn't the goal be to teach students in a way that they master concepts instead of survive them?

Thanks for helping someone with no engineering experience.