<p>According to the NW website: "A student doing a double major in ISP and in an engineering field may miss the opportunity to take the Engineering First® program with its engineering design coursework in the freshman year."</p>
<p>How important is it to take the Engineering First course freshman year? Would missing taking it right away be detrimental to engineering students in terms of the their other engineering courses? </p>
<p>S is in ISP and Engineering and he completed the Engineering First program in his Freshman year.</p>
<p>Interesting @NorthwesternDad. Has your son been happy with ISP? I can understand its value for someone going into medicine or pure science, but what are the benefits to an engineer?</p>
<p>S’s long term plan is to do PhD in EE and towards that end, he feels ISP will give him the necessary boost.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Current ISP student here. You can do ISP with engineering with no problems, and a number of students do it each year. If/when you get on campus, you’ll be able to work out your schedule and course planning, but ISP/engineering is absolutely possible. </p>
<p>@Flamewire As a current ISP student, have you had positive experiences with ISP?</p>
<p>S is also ISP (sophomore) and he seems to really enjoy the challenge! He has found time to be in a jazz group, be active with his frat, play soccer and see lots of theatre.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info @MomCares. It seems like a very rigorous program, so it’s good to know that it still leaves them time for other things.</p>
<p>I should have added he’ll start doing research next Q, which he’s very excited about! My sense is that the program is demanding but very worthwhile for the right students.</p>
<p>Best of luck wherever you land!!</p>
<p>@green678: Yes. Absolutely. It’s without a doubt the hardest program at Northwestern, but it leaves plenty of time for doing other things. People around me do wrestling, marching band, orchestra, volleyball, dance marathon, and so much more. Lots have jobs and almost all upperclassmen and even some freshmen do research. Don’t not do ISP because you’re worried it’s too much work or too much time or whatever–give it a try, if not you can just switch majors to something else. It’s worthwhile, and you really are getting a science experience and curriculum that just doesn’t exist otherwise.</p>