<p>My son, a rising 10th grader, is interested in engineering. He has a language disability and is a solid B student in Honors classes. He likes math (except Geometry)/ science and music and is trying to narrow down a career goal. He would like to get some exposure to engineering this summer and I had applied him to a 1-week program at the Univ of Maryland but they just informed me that they lost his application and the program is now full. Since most of his summer is planned out, I am really primarily looking at the end of July, beginning of August. Does anyone know of any summer engineering programs with space or does anyone have any advice to expose him to engineering? I am not looking for something super-competitve; just something that will expose him to different kinds of engineering. (Oh, and son is African-American so he would be able to apply to programs for minorities.) And is it reasonable for a B student with a language disability to become an engineer?</p>
<p>What kind of language disability? </p>
<p>If he's doing well in honors classes, math, and science, then I'd say he generally shouldn't have an impediment to engineering.</p>
<p>I don't have any specific suggestions for you other than possibly the NASA space camps or some programming courses or 'computer camps' designed for his age group (lots of colleges have these in the summer). I'm sure other posters will have other suggestions. I assume you're looking in the DC/Maryland area since you indicated U of Md.</p>
<p>"What kind of language disability?" </p>
<p>It's oral language. Technically, he had an expressive/ receptive language disability but he probably tests normal overall now although he still has problems with auditory memory (which can make him rather disorganized 'cause he'll forget stuff), organization (he won't always start a story <em>at the beginning</em>) and receptive language (he sometimes misunderstands what is being said/ asked and needs it restated). I don't think people realize it's a disability-- I think they think he's disorganized. His reading and vocab are fine; writing is ok. (For example, he misses stuff in lecture sometimes but give him the book, and he's fine.)</p>
<p>The thing is, everyone I know who went into engineering was incredibly, incredibly bright and still struggled in college. Is it possible to get through engineering school if you have a weakness? I'm wondering how much language plays into problem solving skills (like geometry where everything has to be explained)-- or is more spatial/ mechanical/ numerical (in which case he would be fine). </p>
<p>And I'm not really limited to location although I prefer the east coast. He will be in Indiana and Fl this summer.</p>
<p>Space camp isn't a bad idea. I will call on Tuesday to see if they have space.</p>
<p>Drexel University (in Phila, PA) has a summer engineering program for HS students.</p>
<p>It's called the "SEED" program. It is really good! However, it's a day program...although if you talked to them, maybe you could work out some kind of residency program, if you were interested. The admin of the program is very accomodating & encouraging. They helped arrange an indep study w/a grad student & my son during the school year.</p>
<p>Unfortunately the SEED program has been discontinued.</p>
<p>2collegewego:</p>
<p>From your description of the disability it's hard to say. I think the majority of engineering studies are not so much oral and more the ability to understand what one reads in technical context, the ability to be analytical, and the ability to handle higher math. The actual skill types vary somewhat depending on the engineering discipline - i.e. mechanical engineering is quite different from electrical engineering and EE is different than computer science and computer engineering is sort of a combo of the two with more emphasis on computer science. </p>
<p>If he can handle subjects like physics, calculus, and chemistry okay then there's no reason to think he wouldn't be able to handle engineering okay assuming he ends up liking it.</p>
<p>Summer</a> Camps and Opportunities in Academics: Engineering - Peterson's</p>
<p>Try this link as a source for possible engineering programs over the summer...It will give you lots of ideas of which places have programs.</p>
<p>Thanks ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad. He's fine reading, he is very bright and really enjoys both math and science but it does sound very important that he expose himself to different kinds of engineering so he can find the best fit. </p>
<p>The SEED program sounds great; too bad it's been discontinued. Thanks for that link curiousgeorge58. I'll make a list and hope someone still has space.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about SEED; didn't realize! Hope you can find a comparable program, 2collegewego!</p>
<p>You might see if he can job shadow in more than one Engineering firm. Our hs has a 3-week Senior Transition project at the end of senior year. Kids can do a variety of things with that time, but job-shadowing is one of them. DS did it in two different engineering firms (one a tech firm shadowing electrical engineer, one a civil/structural engineering firm shadowing the President of the firm). These were only one week each, but very very valuable for him. </p>
<p>Although his was part of a "program" at his hs, each senior had to set these up him/herself, make the contacts etc. It does help if you/your son know people in these companies - both were parents of fellow students, so it was easier to approach them. </p>
<p>I don't suggest this would be as good as an internship etc. for a full summer, but it would be easier to arrange, most likely and can be done in the summer or over other vacation periods.</p>
<p>I think kids were saying on the summer programs forum that there are still openings in the Youth Engineering Adventure program, even though the application deadline passed. You could check and see.
YEA</a> (Youth Engineering Adventure)</p>
<p>2collegewego:</p>
<p>I was thinking about your post again today. At this point he should keep all of his options open. He shouldn't discount pursuing an engineering career because of this disability without giving it a try first either through summer programs as you suggested, through an AP Computer Science course (if offered at his HS and if he's interested in that), through an into course at a CC, and ultimately, if he's still interested, trying it in college. As long as he selects a college with plenty of other major options he generally should be able to start as an engineering major and if he decides it's not for him, switch to another major (switching the other direction becomes more difficult). Actually, lots of students do this. For many, they won't know if they like engineering (or if engineering likes them - i.e. grades) until they actually get in and try it.</p>
<p>^^ Completely agree with this advice.</p>