I am very interested in become either a mining or construction engineer, and starting my own business. However, for reasons that I cannot explain simply, I am forced to go to either of two small liberal arts colleges, neither of which have engineering majors, which surprises me. They both have reasonable reputations, but I would really like to get into a quality graduate engineering program, yet cannot take an engineering major.
I am somewhat interested in computer science, economics, and business, over other choices, but I could probably spring for something like mathematics if necessary. I have had no trouble with anything in HS thus far and have ~90 percentile SAT scores, and I took that before even finishing Algebra 2 over 6 months ago, so there is room for improvement. I am up for a challenge. Here is the list of choices (omitting some obvious irrelevants):
- []Biochemistry
[]Bioinformatics
[]Biology BA
[]Business Administration BA
[]Business Information Systems Track - Computer Science Major BA
[]Chemistry - five tracks: Forensic Chemistry, Graduate School, Pre-dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy BA
[]Computer Science - With tracks in: Business Information Systems or Web Development BA / BS
[]Computer Science BS
[]Environmental Science BS
[]Information Technology Track - Computer Science Major BA
[]Law School Preparation/Pre-Law BA
[]Mathematics BA
[]Political Science BA
[]Finance
If anyone is interested the two schools are Malone University and Walsh University, here are the weblinks.
http://www.walsh.edu/undergraduate-majors
http://www.malone.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs.php
Thanks very much for your help in advance!
The closest non-engineering subjects would be physics and geology, neither of which is offered at those colleges.
Are you under a parental requirement to go to a Christian religious school (although they are of two different denominations)? If so, there are such schools (of various Christian denominations) that do have ABET-accredited engineering degree programs.
I was thinking physics would be a nice draw. Yes, with the additional restriction that it must be within 30 minutes or so drive, which leaves these two only. I am an early graduate, so they don’t want me on a regular campus yet I guess. Sorta frustrating.
What do you think my chances would be with Computer Science or Math?
There is a chance I could convince them to let me go to ashland university, which is a bit of a longer drive, but they do have both physics and geology there. https://www.ashland.edu/cas/sites/ashland.edu.cas/files/curriculum/Curriculum%20Guide%20-%20Physics.Nov2009.pdf
How much better comparatively would physics be?
Will you be old enough by the time college junior year comes by for your parents to allow you to live near a more distant school? If so, would attending a nearby community college followed by transfer to a four year school with your major as a junior be acceptable to your parents?
There appear to be some excellent ABET accredited programs at christian colleges that are devout. For example Geneva College at Beaver Falls, PA - which is 62 miles from canton? Any hope? Were you home schooled? My nieces and nephews were homeschooled and then went to bible colleges. Since you talk about driving you clearly will be at least 16. Otherwise I would recommend doing your typical engineering prerequisites in math and science first 2 years and then transfer to a school with an ABET accredited program.
Well, I am basically stuck at either Ashland, Malone, or Walsh for the next 3-4 years. 62 miles and in another state is a bit too much, unless I can convince them to move, which is highly unlikely. I went to a public charter school so yes and no to the home school question. The only one hope I might have is that my home school friend, also young, is going to Kent State for Architecture. I might be allowed to go, if I am always taking the same classes as him. How would architecture stack up with these other majors?
I graduated HS in 3 yrs and was 17 when I started college in NYC. I came ftom the wealthy protected suburbs of NJ. Do you mind sharing how old you will be when you start college?
I should add that my s will be a senior next year and wants to study engineering, so I have a kid near your age.
Yeah I’m 14 turning 15 this fall, could graduate from HS in a semester, already have 2/2 AP 5’s under my belt thusfar and a perfect GPA. I am signed up for a couple of online college classes for the coming fall semester just for general education requirements, because that is all that I am allowed to do at this point.
Thank you. That is very helpful. My s has a friend who just graduated HS in 3 yrs at the age of 16. Though off the charts with grades and scores, he did not get into any of the top schools he applied to that he should have been a shoe in for due to his age. He was very disappointed. In retrospect he should have waited a year. Our local state u admitted him because his parents live nearby.
My s turned 17 this past spring. The change in him from 14 to 17 has been pretty dramatic. I am now comfortable with him going away to college in a year.
This is a roundabout way of saying I am sympathetic to your parents’ view.
Since I was also “intellectually” advanced for my age, I can only imagine the frustration you are feeling. I was miserable in HS and was thrilled to go to college early. I was, however, in many ways, very young. A lot happens between 14 and 17/18 that really develops a teen as a person that allows you to truly take on the greater world with success.
If your parents will consider Ashland that might be a really good fit given your situation. Aside from geology and physics, they also have a geoscience and technology management B.S. that looks very interesting and would set you up towards an engineering type career.
Thanks very much for your help! I think I will test the water between Physics and Geology and see which one piques my interest more and go from there, hoping that I can go to Ashland!
At what age will your parents allow you to attend a more distant college? It looks like you will turn 18 in fall of your college junior year if you graduate high school after this coming academic year. If your parents will allow you to attend a more distant college then, you may want to consider planning to transfer to one with a desired major, rather than be stuck with a less desired major. (Do your parents realize that the colleges that they want you to go to will stunt your academic aspirations?)
Architecture is not really close enough to engineering if you want to be an engineer. Why would your parents allow you to attend Kent State only if you take the same classes as the other student?
They won’t give me any guarantees, but for sure by 18, maybe a bit earlier if I do really well and seem “mature.” Oh yes, they’ve heard a bit about the fact that none of the christian colleges have my ideal choices, but there’s really nothing I can do. I was considering transferring, but from what I’ve seen (correct me if I’m wrong) most engineering programs have very sequential classes that must be begun in the first or second semester, and even if I showed up with most of a physics/geology degree, I would still have to go through all of the engineering prereqs and it will still take close to 4 years, though it a bit easier because some of the math and physics classes would be skipped. I suppose I might do that if I can’t get into grad school after graduating.
The only reason they might let me is because I have a home school friend who is in the same academic predicament as me, (except his parents are letting him go to Kent,) and as long as we stayed together my parents think it would be ok. But, if I am wandering around in different classes, they won’t buy it.
Thanks so much for troubleshooting my situation xD!
For anyone who has been in geology vs mining/petro engineering, what exactly is the main difference. I suppose that all engineering programs focus more on the aspect of science that can be applied in the free market, but would you come out of a geology program with a similar knowledge of locating minerals/oil as you would an engineering program?
Civil engineering jobs usually require professional license. If you are not trained in CE then you probably will not pass the license exam.
http://www.asce.org/licensure/
http://ncees.org/exams/pe-exam/
https://cdn.ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Civ-Con-April-2015_Combined.pdf
Ok, so perhaps it would be more difficult to get into Civil than Mining Engineering? I do intend to go to graduate school though, which may help.
Yes, transferring to an engineering program after taking all of the math, physics, chemistry, and H/SS general education courses needed for the major may mean taking an extra semester (five instead of four) after transfer (depends on the schools involved, though), due to some frosh/soph level engineering courses that you need to “catch up” on. But that is still likely better than doing a different major, then trying to do the “catch up” in a master’s degree program.