<p>Are there easier engineering programs for students with LD? </p>
<p>What about other majors that might interest a boy with natural mechanical abilities? (Please don't suggest non-college trades, thanks)</p>
<p>My S has Aspergers and is currently studying engineering; however, when he was looking at schools we really debated over whether he wanted to pursue engineering or something else like engineering technology which would be more hands on application (something in-between a technician/trade profession and an engineer who designs/implements). This seems to be a growing area in the engineering field and many colleges offer 4-yr Eng Tech degrees besides 2-yr programs.</p>
<p>cheers, this site has links to schools with Eng Tech programs in several different fields...</p>
<p>Thanks for that. Great links.</p>
<p>bump.....xxxxxxxxx</p>
<p>I moved this thread from the Parents Cafe to the main Parents forum since it deals with college search -- and in hopes of it getting more attention.</p>
<p>Any other ideas on "supportive engineering programs?"
Has anyone tried to obtain the "graduation rate" of those who start out in engineering as frosh? What schools have relatively low flush-out rates?</p>
<p>I also think Engineering Tech is a great option. Although my observations are a tad bit dated, I am thinking they likely still apply. They stem from when DH was in Silicon Valley, in several different firms ranging from start-up to Fortune 50. The Engineering Techs had excellent pay and excellent advancement options. They had opportunities for stock options (maybe not at the same level as the more senior/founding staff, but enough to create really attractive compensation and upside $$ potential) - especially valuable in the start-up world.</p>
<p>While they were not Engineers, of course, they were not "segregated" in how they were treated or perceived, from my observation. Integral parts of the team.</p>
<p>We were directed to the Thompson School of Applied Science at University of New Hampshire when helping step-grandS think about his college options. It turned out he was ready, willing and able for the standard UNH Engineering BS degree. But this program seems like it might be one of the types for the OP to know about:
<a href="http://www.unh.edu/thompson-school/academics/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.unh.edu/thompson-school/academics/index.html</a>
At UNH, this particular school is located within the main campus, the kids - I believe - are integrated in as to housing etc.; they obtain a 2-year Associate degree; but, with successful performance, are auto-admit to the 4-year degree if they so desire, as I understand it.</p>
<p>Civil Technology is the Engineering "light" option within this school, but there are others, such as Applied Animal Science , Applied Business Management, Forest Technology to name a few.</p>
<p>Perhaps other universities have similar options.</p>
<p>I know several kids who have moderate lds who have made it though engineering programs at lower UCs including Irvine and UCSC. Most start at a CA community college and easily move on. They also take it slower than most, another year or 2.</p>
<p>My friend's son chose Miami of Ohio for it's paper engineering program. I was, to put is mildly, surprised that an 18 year old (at least one not named Crane or Eaton) was that interested in paper. Well, the core engineering classes have been a real challenge and now he is doing a 'managmenent of engineering' program instead. Seems like engineering light based on what his mom says he is doing.</p>
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<p>Only on CC would a comment like this be made. These "lower" UCs are still among the top few dozen colleges in the country, and require near-perfect GPAs and high SAT scores for admission. "LD" does not equal "stupid," and -- just in my experience, and I am not a professional in this area -- there seems to be a fairly good correlation between high intelligence and certain learning disabilities. If a LD is of a type that would allow a student to succeed at a "lower" UC, they would also certainly do well at nearly any other school in the country, including a "higher" UC.</p>
<p>For LDs which have a greater impact on learning, engineering tech programs might make a good choice. ABET-accredited engineering programs require the mastery of a lot of stuff and might be too much of a challenge for someone who struggles with mastery of science and applied mathematics. I would steer clear of any suggestion that an ABET-accredited program at one school is easier than at another. If this is true, the program might not be worthy of accreditation.</p>
<p>WashDad, the UCs I mentioned do not require anywhere near a perfect GPA or high scores to get into. Average SATs at Santa Cruz are about 1150 and a GPA in the low to mid threes, which will get you in, is top 30% or lower at many CA public schools. Riverside and Merced take virtually every CA kid with a 3.0 which is not hard to achieve at our schools.</p>
<p>LD does not at all mean stupid. I am a MD who works with many young adults with a wide range of disabilities from Asperger's which is at the high functioning level in the autism spectrum to Downs to ADD to things most have not heard of. Increasingly, these kids are getting the support to do well in HS and are getting into solid colleges.</p>
<p>I'll also add that many, many kids who are "normal", who do not do well in high schools or on standardized tests get into all UCs in all majors after 2 years at a cc. These are kids with SATs of under a 1000 and 2 years later are at Cal.</p>
<p>What about the Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly SLO? They are more hands-on.</p>
<p>Don't know about Pomona, but SLO is harder to get into than the lower UCs (yes, that's what we call them here), need about a 3.9/1250 for engineering. Let's also keep in mind that that's 3.9 weighted, not top 10% at many HSs.</p>
<p>No high GPA or SAT for this guy. I think he'd be thrilled to bits with 1150. He has math and mechanical ability but not at the higher end. </p>
<p>Shoot me, but I think C students should get the chance to experience resdiential college life--and take up a profession if they get the chance.</p>
<p>Western WA University has very good engineering (they keep winning competitions) and should be accessible for your student. The catch is the 90% in-state, which limits geographic diversity.</p>
<p>Have you checked out Bradley University in Illinois? It has a good engineering program, from what I have heard, and I've also heard it offers good support for students with LDs.</p>
<p>I know a couple of students who have gone there and been very happy but neither were engineering majors. They were both business majors and both now have very good jobs in Chicago. They were both B-at-best students in high school.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any familiarity with York College in PA? It it not a highly selective school (see data at <a href="http://www.ycp.edu/admissions/gc/226.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ycp.edu/admissions/gc/226.htm</a>) but offers an ABET-accredited engineering program. Some students are admitted to the engineering program on a provisional basis. See <a href="http://depts.ycp.edu/engineering/%5B/url%5D">http://depts.ycp.edu/engineering/</a>.</p>
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Shoot me, but I think C students should get the chance to experience resdiential college life--and take up a profession if they get the chance./quote]cheers - my step grand-S is thriving at UNH in Civil Engineering with SAT's under 1000 and a B average in a basic curriculum at a nothing-doing high school, where matriculation to a 4-year college is not the rule.</p>
<p>Not saying that the kid you describe should go core Engineering vs. Engineering light, but that I agree totally with you that a kid with "lower" test scores and average grades should, indeed, consider 4-year residential college as an option. This was our primary message to our grandson - "this avenue in life is for you, too; and we will help you get there."</p>
<p>Wow, that's encouraging jmmom.</p>
<p>I've just looked at his state engineering school stat requirements and they aren't too bad. I'd say he'd hold his own in an engineering school with 25% of the students getting under 1000 SATs.</p>
<p>Everyone can learn--it's the pace and depth that's different.</p>
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Shoot me, but I think C students should get the chance to experience resdiential college life--and take up a profession if they get the chance.
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I agree, Cheers. But the kid has to be willing to tackle the non-teckie, "soft" courses that a degree also requires. That seems to be a huge turn off to many mechanically inclined kids with a math/science aptitude. They just couldn't care less about symbolism in literature or philosophy or art history. They are eager to get right into designing and creating. These engineering tech programs sound fantastic, but I would guess there is a least a technical writing course or humanities course of some sort that must be completed.</p>
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"this avenue in life is for you, too; and we will help you get there."
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This is a wonderful message. For some kids, it is this type of support that will open doors. For others, they truly do not WANT that path and are perfectly suited for vo-tech careers that do not require college. I would hate to see LD kids lumped in to any career path and defined by their LDs. Afterall, it is said that Ben Franklin, Einstein, and Edison all had ADD. Franklin's formal schooling was terminated at a young age when he failed math at about age ten. His mind was probably racing in other directions, unable to focus on a structured math class. Imagine if a mind like his had been forced into a narrow career path because he had a LD?</p>