<p>Anything you would care to share outside of PM's would be appreciated, as well. Have a (civil) engineering major here, as well. I may not know even the right questions to ask, so I appreciate soaking up the information the others draw out. </p>
<p>Very interested in the engineering floors. S doesn't think he'd be interested in that, but it looks like a smart move to Mom. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Is Straz the old YMCA?</p>
<p>Yes, please, you don't have to PM. I think these open discussions are great so we can bounce ideas off each other. </p>
<p>1tgmom, please share! Where are you from? I agree engineering floor looks like a good move. </p>
<p>Interested in engineering courses, teachers to recommend/avoid, co-ops, internships.</p>
<p>And eadad, I think Straz is the old YMCA. I seem to remember reading that somewhere.</p>
<p>We're right here in Wisconsin, a few hours from Marquette. I have spent more time in Milwaukee in the last year than all the other years of my life combined. LOL DS really likes Marquette, and he has had a very nice offer there, but could go to SS loan--and parental contribution : )-- free. Just a matter of making sure it's what he really wants!</p>
<p>Montegut - </p>
<p>The difference in the freshman curriculums for Biomeds varies quite a lot. A Freshman Biomed in their first semester will take a BME Lecture/Lab class, Biology I, Physics 3 (Calculus-Based Physics), Calculus I, and RhetComp (English) I. Ends up being a 16 credit load. The other majors (I'm Civil myself) take Engineering Discovery 1, Introduction to Graphics, Calc I, Chem I, English and an optional elective. If an elective is chosen it comes out to be 18 credits.</p>
<p>When it comes to the Engineering floors, sadly I can't say whether or not it would benefit him as much as it would another engineering student. As of right now, there is only one Biomed on my floor (of 22 engineering students). However, there are three floors of engineering students, so chances are there will be a decent selection of Biomeds for him to collaborate with should he sign up for the Engineering floor. If he does, there's a 50% chance his RA will be a good friend of mine! </p>
<p>Overall, I would recommend the Engineering floor to any prospective Engineer. You can make a ton of like-minded friends on it.</p>
<p>Regarding the Honors Program, I'm not in it so I really can't comment on it. The classes that they take which differ from normal major paths are differing English classes, and they also take a zero credit seminar course which introduces them to faculty members/professors. The only large classes in which I have are lectures, which I guess is to be expected. Chemistry/Bio run about ~190 people in a hall, which can seem like a lot but the professors are aware of this and use visual aids in addition to open office hours. Chemistry classes also have Discussion periods for small group discussion of current material. </p>
<p>As for Straz the building; yes it is the old YMCA building. In it, there are three floors dedicated to Honors Program freshman, the rest belonging to Sophomores. It has one of the campus's workout centers, a pool, etc. It's on 10th & Wisconsin, main campus stretches from 11th - 16th. It's just a short walk (over a bridge which is over the interstate). No need to take the bus!</p>
<p>If by kitchens you mean kitchenettes, Straz and Carpenter both have them. I happen to have a microwave in my room, so I've never really used it. I have seen people making pasta in the basement though, so I know it works! Laundry in Carpenter is in the basement, rates are $1.50/wash and $1.25/dry. You get a .50c washing discount if you use MarquetteCash (money associated with your ID card) from 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays. </p>
<p>I happen to be from Wisconsin, ~60 miles north of Madison, 25 miles northeast of the Dells, if that gives you any idea. I'm from an extremely small town, and I feel that Marquette has helped me adjust quite nicely to the city life. </p>
<p>1tgmom - </p>
<p>The freshman engineering curriculum is getting renovated. Marquette received a $5 million dollar donation to create an endowed design chair, and they hired Dr. Kevin Craig, who used to teach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He oversees the Engineering Discovery classes, so sadly Biomeds don't get to enjoy him. He's a great guy though, very willing to help students if they don't understand a concept, etc. Another professor which the freshman will meet is Dr. Hyunjae Park. He teaches the Introduction to Engineering Graphics class, which is a CAD/design class. He's also a great guy, very funny and helpful.
I'm not sure if MU is doing it again this summer, but if you get a letter/e-mail about a Deep Dive program, I would definitely recommend going to it. It's a 3-day program in the summer which puts incoming Engineering freshman into design teams and they address a problem. It was a great experience - I met a ton of people there. </p>
<p>As for other classes, you take your requireds. For non-BME, The College of Engineering requires two semesters of Chemistry and two semesters of Calculus the first year. Sophomore year you break off into your majors, and take Physics. For BME's, they take Biology and Physics freshman year, and end up taking Chemistry their sophomore year. </p>
<p>As for teachers; you have no choice when it comes to Engineering, but English, Chem and Math are a different story. For English first semester, I would really just try to take any class that works best with a schedule you've made. English teachers are pretty much all the same, only that some can be a bit more/less of a hard ass than others. In terms of Chem, I would definitely try to take Dr. Scott Reid for Chem 2 (and if he's available for Chem 1, by all means). </p>
<p>The Chemistry Department here is losing two of it's Chem 1 teachers due to retirement after this year, so I'm not sure who they will have to replace. I'll throw this warning out here though: if your child is not a skilled chemist, or an amazingly self-motivated student - DO NOT TAKE AN 8 AM CHEM LECTURE. I had one first semester and regretted it, I missed a ton. Math teachers, I had Dr. Gary Krenz. He's a very skilled mathematician, and he doubles as a Biomedical Engineering professor sometimes (his research field is beyond me. It has something to do with mathematically graphing gas exchanges within the lung. He's a brilliant man.).</p>
<p>Any other questions feel free to post.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Roy</p>
<p>Imbellible: Interested to learn more about your experiences as a biomedical science major. My son is a prospective freshman and that is his intended major as well. He visited recently and sat in on a few freshman science classes. Did you only attend MU for one year? He is especially interested in the gross anatomy class that the sophomores take..did you have any experience with that class or know anyone who did? I am very concerned that his first impressions of the biology department do not match your experience. It sounds like the department was rather frustrating and did not live up to your expectations. Please be as honest as possible because we are trying to choose between MU and another school. (We are Catholic and Midwestern, so that part is not a problem for him :)</p>
<p>Also, did you take organic chemistry at MU or know someone else who did? We would be interested in your opinion on that class as well.</p>
<p>HeartArt -- Ibellibie has been really articulate, evenhanded, and gracious in sharing the pros/cons of his/her Marquette experience, but the fact remains that he/she chose to leave. Her reasons (I'm tired of writing "his/her," I don't know if ibell is female, sorry ibell!) are extremely valid for her, but there are hundreds of biomed sciences majors who choose to stay at Marquette and have a different experience. Maybe the department would give your son some e-mail addresses? </p>
<p>One important question to ask as you compare schools, I think, is if the intro science classes are any smaller at SLU. If not, I am sure some of the same issues apply. </p>
<p>My D will need to take Gross Anatomy her fourth year as she heads into her professional phase. I think she has a few more trepidations than your son! She has a terrific Anatomy and Physiology class this semester that she really likes.</p>
<p>dbwes: You make excellent points in your last post and I appreciate what you are saying. My older son is a first year medical student and has a classmate who has nothing but the highest praise for Marquette, where she attended as an undergraduate biomedical science major. Actually Idellebie is the first negative feedback I have heard about the program. Just curious as to why he/she was unhappy at MU. But don't worry, we are gathering information from many sources before making a decision! Your own daughter's positive experience weighs in as well. Marquette is blessed to have parent support from people like you! Also, my son is the type of kid who will look for the positive wherever he goes, he is a glass-is-half-full type person. I have no doubt he would LOVE Marquette.</p>
<p>HeartArt -- It's so hard not to feel like a rah-rah booster, especially for schools that don't get a lot of play here on the boards. The fact is, my daughter's experiences are really only valid for her as well. We see so many positives for her, but of course there are negatives also -- as at every school. Biomed sciences really is a premier department at Marquette, though, and they seem to really care about their kids -- the advising and teacher-student relationships in all the departments in the health sciences college are really, really good.
The funny thing is, SLU and Marquette are SO similar, down to the dodgy neighboring areas, the size, the beautiful campus church, all sorts of things. It comes down to a student's gut reaction. I also have no doubt that your son would love SLU. It's a great place.<br>
All the best to you.</p>
<p>I think it speaks well of Marquette that you feel like a rah-rah booster! To have had a positive experience for your daughter that you feel strong enough about to share speaks volumes. I hope a year from now we echo your enthusiasm. </p>
<p>I enjoy all the posts--one can never have too much information, positive or negative.</p>
<p>I have heard from several sources that advising at Marquette is top notch, what student couldn't benefit from that? I also agree that schools like Marquette do not get much love here on CC and I am at a loss as to why. It is a top 100 USNWR, in a large city, well known for Basketball, good value, I could go on and on. I thought it might be because of the Catholic affiliation but ND, BC and Gtown seem to do ok. Oh, well, I am going to be promoting Marquette to other families at our school in the future.</p>
<p>I would have to say that the reason it doesn't get a lot of play is because it's in Milwaukee. I think ND and Georgetown are typically thought of as better institutions, and then BC is in Boston. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a stupid reason, but it's just more East Cost / West Coast bias. The only schools in the midwest that I know that get love are typically LACs (which don't get much love in the first place), and then the rare exception (such as Notre Dame). </p>
<p>On another note, though, I noticed that you and your son are looking at Marquette and SLU. While I didn't apply to SLU, I have three really good friends that are all going there next year. One will be majoring in Chem while going Pre-Med, another will be studying meteorology (or Earth and Atmospheric Studies, or something like that) while ALSO going pre-med, and I'm not sure what the 3rd student will study.</p>
<p>Carpenter Engineering Dorm</p>
<p>I see that there are engineering floors in Carpenter. What kind of bathrooms are on the engineering floors, private or communal?</p>
<p>Also, how is the progress with McCabe? Is that only for upperclassmen?</p>
<p>I saw on Facebook that kids are finding out their dorm assignments, so my S should know by tomorrow. I KNOW I’m more excited about it than he is!</p>
<p>In looking at the campus map to check out the location of Carpenter, we noticed something called the 11th Street Mall.</p>
<p>Is this a pedestrian mall, where the street has been blocked off, so students can walk safely across the street from Carpenter to Cobeen to eat?</p>
<p>Is there a green space where students can hang out, play there, or some kind of courtyard type area to relax?</p>
<p>Also, since this is near the far edge of campus, is this area convenient to convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores, or eateries? </p>
<p>Can one easily catch the bus from here to head to the mall for shopping, or even to go down to class on the other side of campus on a cold day?</p>
<p>The 11th st mall is just a closed off street between Carpenter and Cobeen that they made when they redid the freeway. My niece who lived in Cobeen said she found it convenient to most areas of campus. There is a bus stop on the corner of 12th and wisconsin to head West and one across the street around 13th I think to head east.</p>
<p>Which dorms have communal baths?</p>
<p>It seems like a lot of the dorms mentioned here have somewhat private baths, where a few people share a bath, are responsible for cleaning it.</p>
<p>Although there are definite benefits to this, you lose the camaraderie of meeting people in the communal bath. It’s a great way to meet a breakfast buddy or a walking buddy who has an early class just like you. </p>
<p>It seems like a lot of the dorms are kind of renovated hotels, fitness centers, so have more apartment type bathrooms. </p>
<p>We got to see Schroeder on our visit last summer, and that had communal baths.</p>
<p>Do any other dorms have communal baths? Does Carpenter or O’Donnell?</p>
<p>Other than Abbotsford which are all triples, the other dorms (any singles or doubles) are all communal baths. I believe all the triples, regardless of dorms, are private baths. Can’t see a lot of boys bonding over showers!</p>
<p>Yes, I know. I was really embarrassed to ask the question, because we’re lucky to get our sons to brush their teeth, much less a shower. I’m putting my dorm experiences as a girl on the bathroom question. I probably made more friends in the bathroom while brushing my teeth, taking care of my face, and applying makeup. Since boys don’t do those things, although they should, save for the makeup part, I guess bathroom time is not that important to them. So I guess to get down to basics. The major thing with boys is who has to clean the bathrooms. Thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>By the way, what dorm is your son staying in? Does he know where his roommate is from? Have you gone to orientation? </p>
<p>Oh, my goodness, senior year is a month away! Now the real work will start!</p>