Choices for possible dbl major of Art/Eng?

College Search & Selection
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<p>My JR son is in love with jewelry-making and possibly metal sculpture. He's very good in Math classes, so we have suggested Engineering of some type to make him more employable.</p>

<p>Right now his GPA is in the 3.25-3.5 range, his PSATs on 161, with a significantly higher score on the math side.</p>

<p>He goes half-time to the BOCES program for welding, which he took because he wanted to be able to fix/mod his BMX bicycle.</p>

<p>He's a sprint swimmer, going to States a 2nd yr on a relay team; last yr he was on two relays.</p>

<p>He has two distinctive metal pieces entered in the Reg. Scholastic Art competition; no results yet. One of the pieces is also entered in an enameling competition. His creativity in design of pieces is what is unusual.</p>

<p>He's not at the tippy-top of his class, but he is a good student. He works PT at a nursing home kitchen when he is not in swim season.</p>

<p>I've told him he has to pump up his community service stuff. Honestly, we haven't really been up on all the admission process before this. His sister went to a Comm. College before transferring to RIT, so there was no SAT or essay issue for her.</p>

<p>While RIT might be great for him, they are not very generous with aid, which he/we will definitely need. Family income now is <$45k. I've been looking at the schools that meet all financial need, but I'm not sure he is "unique" enough for a Swarthmore or the like.</p>

<p>I'm almost thinking of having him wait a year after HS to start college, so that he has a better idea of what he could do. I don't even know if that is a bad idea if he looks for financial aid after a year off.</p>

<p>This is my first post here, so forgive my limited knowledge of the whole process.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>does he also like to draw? there is a possibility your son could do architecture....
I would say take a look into RPI, and depending some small LAC's with small, but good engineering departments- I know Union is decent in Electrical Engineering.</p>

<p>Edit*</p>

<p>To double major in art and engineering would be difficult, depending on what art or engineering your son would want to pursue, and it might not be possible in 4 yrs. Has you son considered minoring?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the suggestions! Drawing/painting are ok for him, but I think it is the 3D aspect of sculpture and metal-work that get him excited. Good point about the double major. Maybe a place with a 3/2 program would work for him. A minor might do it, also.</p>

<p>There's lots to consider.</p>

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<p>Try RIT. They may be more generous with aid during the economic slump.</p>

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<p>^^ They really are. I do believe they have a packaging science major, which draws from engineering and art.</p>

<p>if he loves 3D , why not architecture? Its rough, but the model building and all....</p>

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<p>Thanks, collegehelp! I will soon find out how much RIT can stretch when they send out their financial aid pkg. for our daughter. She commuted the first few semesters and is now renting off-campus, so we have that savings.</p>

<p>nk9230: I just am not sure about the architecture. He might really like that, but it is not something he has mentioned. I think he likes the more hands-on approach to art-making.</p>

<p>He just saw the dvd about Albert Paley's "Sentinel" commission from RIT, and was fascinated. You see the piece go from paper to foundry to metal shop to construction.</p>