Going from engineering to...

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, I'm currently an civil engineering student looking to go to study either math, physics, actuarial science (at business school), or patent law (law school) after I get my bachelor's.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the school I go to doesn't have a math, physics, actuarial science, or pre-law undergraduate major so I'm stuck with engineering.</p>

<p>We do, however, have an interdisciplinary engineering (IDE) program but I heard it's not very good. I am thinking about changing my major to IDE so I can take more electives to better prepare myself for graduate, business, or law school. But from what I've heard, the IDE program is for engineering students who are on the verge of failing out to change their major to, if they don't want to fail out. Should I change my major to IDE or should I stick with civil?</p>

<p>What courses should I take to better prepare myself? I am in the class of 2013 so I still have time. Also, what else can I do to better prepare myself? For example, summer research programs, internships, etc.</p>

<p>I know you have to take the GREs for grad school, the LSAT for law, and the GMAT for business. It seems like a lot. Should I only take one or two of those? Or are all of them necessary?</p>

<p>Do you think a job will help on my application? I had a job one summer but it had nothing to do with academic stuff. It was one of those normal jobs that young people have (waiter, camp counselor, lifeguard, etc.)</p>

<p>How likely am I go get into one of these schools?</p>

2

<p>It sounds like you have a lot of possibilities open to you. I would recommend taking time to explore math, physics, business, and law through elective courses. Then your career options will be narrowed down. I’ve done engineering, and all of these doors are open to you.</p>

<p>For math and physics, doing an REU or research project would help your application. But if you want to go into law or business, an internship would be better. The only thing you can do to help you in all areas is to keep your GPA strong.</p>

<p>And there is no need to write your GREs until your junior year at the earliest, and you are probably not yet ready to take the subject GREs in math and physics anyways. So put these tests out of mind, for now.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>

Stick with civil. Switching to IDE is a huge gamble, because by itself it has little to no value, whereas a civil engineer can have a lucrative and rewarding career if law/actuarial/grad school doesn’t pan out.</p>

<p>

You clearly need to investigate these fields in more depth - I would try to avoid taking classes in them until you have at least narrowed the field down to one or two, lest you bog down your education. You might want to try my old boss’s route - he arranged his own unpaid internships. Find a local law firm, and ask if they will accept your unpaid part-time work for a month in return for your learning experience. Repeat with the other fields.</p>

<p>Regardless, focus on GPA - it is important to all paths. Math and physics grad programs will look for research, law schools are looking for similar things as undergraduate programs (GPA, EC’s, etc), and actuarial programs are looking for … I have no idea whatsoever.</p>

<p>

Well, these are all junior/senior year decisions, and by that point you should really have this down to one or two of them - if you are still swinging for all three, then you are probably too divided to succeed at any of them.</p>

<p>

Yes, if it is significant, has some depth to it, and results in one person of distinction willing to write a glowing letter of recommendation for you. The problem is that you are probably not realistically doing this in two different areas during undergrad.</p>

<p>

Who knows? Which schools, what GPA, what test scores, what extras, etc? Based on your statements so far, I can no more chance you than I could give odds on your winning one of the major racing championships knowing only that you have a car or truck.</p>