<p>Can anyone suggest a reasonably good engineering program for a student that gets mostly A's and some B's, but only C's in English and Foreign Languages? He will also have only average SAT scores, significantly skewed toward math. </p>
<p>This is a bright kid that has a naturally strong work ethic, but is only willing to spend a limited amount of time on the schoolwork that he finds boring. He is enrolled in a "Project Lead the Way" engineering program in high school that he really enjoys and eagerly spends time working on these projects.</p>
<p>Do you expect this type of behavior to persist into college? There are a few really good programs out there that may take him but if he won’t work at things he isn’t interested in (such as English or other required humanities course) then it would be a waste of money imo.</p>
<p>Home state is PA…definitely east coast school…maybe as far west as OH</p>
<p>I’m paying $25K/yr + books…rest is on him. State school tuition is probably what is needed. </p>
<p>He is only a sophomore, so I have some time to beat him into shape. I really just want to get him out looking at schools in the Spring or Summer…just not sure which ones would likely fit the bill. </p>
<p>No official stats yet, but I’m pretty comfortable knowing where he is educationally. He has been working thru a learning disability in reading since 2nd grade. He is now mainstreamed, but really only capable to pulling C’s in an Honors English class. I’m actually thinking of moving him down a step. I know that Engineering is a rigorous college program, and I can see him really getting into it and being successful. I think he will always struggle with humanities and writing.</p>
<p>So, any thoughts? Penn State is definitely on our list, but I suspect his SAT scores will keep him out of University Park. Anyone know anything about Delaware State? Other smaller programs?</p>
<p>I don’t believe Delaware State has an Engineering degree program per se, but I could be mistaken (I am on the West Coast and don’t know much about this school). I would look at some of the “lower tiered” Penn State campuses, since University Park has a very competitive applicant pool in Engineering. Maybe get on some of the mailing lists, of the various Penn State campuses, that you think he might have a shot at. I’m not sure which ones those are, since we don’t have any stat information to work from. I would also touch bases with the GC at his HS. I’m sure they can give you some suggestions of schools to start visiting. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah, I didn’t mean Delaware State…I meant NC State. They have an engineering program. The problem with the Penn State satellite campuses is that you need to major in Physics and then apply to the engineering program at main with no assurances of getting in…at least this is what I have been told. My son and I have a bit of homework to do. Just wondering if there is anyone out there that has experience in some lesser known programs.</p>
<p>NC State has a really strong Engineering school. He will probably need to be in the top 20 percent of his class, get scores above 1850 (SAT I) and 27 (ACT) and have a strong B average to be competitive as an OOS applicant. The out of state tuition there may go over your budget somewhat, but that would be a nice school to aim for.</p>
<p>Thanks all…too soon to tell what kind of engineering. He’s kinda an outdoor kid, so environmental, civil, etc. would be my guess. </p>
<p>I think he will end up in the solid B, high 1800’s SAT, top 20% of class. UDel will be too competitive for OOS from PA, we will look at UMBC - didn’t even think of that one. I’m hoping we can find a good state school like NC state, George Mason, South Car where they might have grant money that brings the OOS tuition more in-line with In-state. I know, pipe dream…that is mostly merit aid for the high performers…but we will look.</p>
<p>Anyone with first hand experience about the engineering program at York College? Any other thoughts…let me know.</p>
<p>Ah…I’d recommend that you and the prospective student carefully and closely evaluate an environmental engineering program because it’s not what you believe it to be. It has little to do with the outdoors, at least as regards what seems to be your perception.</p>
<p>^^yeah, I kind of chuckled at that myself. Ditto civil engineering, although it depends on the subfield. Also, Environmental Engineering is often covered as a subfield of Civil Engineering, so the degree is either in CE or a BSCE plus MS in Env Eng.</p>
Whatever you decide on, be sure it has other majors outside engineering he would be willing to enroll in once he drops out of engineering. I give him 2 semesters, 3 tops.</p>
<p>. I’m hoping we can find a good state school like NC state, George Mason, South Car where they might have grant money that brings the OOS tuition more in-line with In-state. I know, pipe dream…that is mostly merit aid for the high performers…but we will look.</p>
<p>Grants are “need based” and not given to out of state students. Merit-based scholarships are based on high stats. </p>
<p>Since your budget is $25k, you can’t really expect him to pay for much more other than daily personal expenses. He also won’t be allowed to borrow much. </p>
<p>*This is a bright kid that has a naturally strong work ethic, but is only willing to spend a limited amount of time on the schoolwork that he finds boring.</p>
<p>Whatever you decide on, be sure it has other majors outside engineering he would be willing to enroll in once he drops out of engineering. I give him 2 semesters, 3 tops. *</p>
<p>Since your son is only a sophomore, you’ll have time during his high school years to figure out whether he has the stamina for engineering req’ts. If you see that he’s struggling or not interested in Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry then that’s going to be a good sign that he’s not going to get through Cal II and III, DiffEq, Chem, Physics, and other eng’g classes in college.</p>
<p>Which college is affiliated with your school’s PLTW program? That would be a logical college for him to consider. High scores on the PLTW exams would earn credit at the affiliated college, and also may help with admissions there. In PA, there’s a good chance your program is affiliated with Penn State Berks.</p>
<p>I would SERIOUSLY work on his attitude of not doing stuff that he doesn’t like.</p>
<p>That attitude doesn’t work well with college, with employers, nor with spouses. It’s part of life that as mature adults we have to put in good effort for many things that we don’t particularly care for. Those that refuse to learn that lesson often have troubled lives.</p>
<p>Pitt
Philadelphia University (I don’t know much about their program, but they do have several types of engineering and it isn’t super competitive to get into. Cost is high, but many get merit.)</p>
<p>DH got his engineering degree fr. NCSU. S1 also grad. from NCSU (not engineering). Both loved it. The thing about NCSU is that you have to apply directly to your intended major. So you are in competition for admission with all the other intended engineering majors. NCSU does have Environmental Engineering. There is also a wide variety of other environmental type degree programs that may be of interest if engineering interest changes. </p>
<p>Another state u. in NC with a large engineering program is UNC-Charlotte. Not sure if they have environmental though.</p>