<p>Son just told me what he plans to take for the fall semester as a sophomore mechanical engineering major. Any thoughts on this:</p>
<p>Dynamics, Mechanics of Solids, Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Differential Equations 2</p>
<p>That's a little intense... I'd let it go and then, two weeks into the semester when he's wigging out over his ridiculous courseload, I'd remind him that he can drop a course and add something a little less insane.</p>
<p>This schedule would be too hard for the vast majority of engineering students. I would not advise it unless your son has been getting a high GPA with a similar courseload before.</p>
<p>Compare his plans to the recommended course list for 1st semester sophomores. Has he spoken about his plans with the department adviser? Sophomore year is often when engineering majors start the foundation courses required for their major. It's been a while, but I sort of recall my aerospace engr. core was somewhat similar: the initial courses in dynamics, structures, fluid dynamics, and thermo taught by department faculty, and the diff eq class required for most engineering majors.</p>
<p>He has a meeting with his advisor tomorrow. He is ahead of the typical schedule because of the AP/college credit he brought with him this year. He did well his first semester with a 3.8 GPA. This semester he has engineering math 1, calc C, computer aided engineering design, statics and an english class. I don't think he is having any difficulty with this schedule.</p>
<p>I thought he should take one breadth class to lighten the load a bit. We'll see what his advisor says.</p>
<p>replace thermo or fluid dynamics with a humanities/social science course. he can't possibly be done with those requirements yet...</p>
<p>C+, A, B, C, B+. That's what I got in those classes. That equates to a 2.92 if all those classes had equal weight. I ended up with a 3.5 cumulative GPA. That schedule is pretty damn hard.</p>
<p>Is it his first or second year?</p>
<p>The classes he is taking now are not hard. Dynamics can be an extremely hard class depending on professor, as can Fluids. If he gets two hard profs with those both those classes on top of his others...it will be tough.</p>
<p>At my school we call Fluids, Solids, and Dynamics the Gauntlet. Everyone advises to split those up. Or, at least don't take any other really intensive engineering courses with them, as they are all very homework-intensive, with a long problem set due every week. Again, at my school. I would express concern as a parent, and ask him if this is at all usual for his school. If he's already ahead, why not take at least one elective or humanities-type class in place of one of the engineering ones?</p>
<p>One good point though: I don't think any of those would be lab courses. Those can really eat up your time. I'd drop one of the courses {dynamics, fluids, solids} and replace it with an elective. Only though, if it wouldn't put him off the current track. I know at my school if you don't take them all together you get pushed back on the flowchart. If that's the case, than drop/replace the thermodynamics.</p>
<p>Are they all necessary right now? Diff EQ 2 looks like it'd be least likely to be necessary right now (to get prereqs) but to be honest it looks like the easiest class on the list. If he could somehow push Fluid or Thermo back he should do it, but if that's what is required then what are you going to do.</p>
<p>Completely depends on his ability. Some can't handle that load but others can.</p>
<p>Wow, when Diffy Eq 2 is your easiest course, you know your in for a tough semester...</p>
<p>Hahaha yea I agree, I definitely think he should break up his schedule if possible. That sounds like a truly BRUTAL semester.</p>
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This semester he has engineering math 1, calc C, computer aided engineering design, statics and an english class. I don't think he is having any difficulty with this schedule.
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This is much easier than what he plans to take. Differential Equations 2 is not difficult, but if he plans on research or graduate school , it is necessary to master it.</p>
<p>I would select 2 of the 3: Mechanics of Solids, Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics.</p>
<p>If he wants to get ahead more, then add an elective for the 5th course.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your advice. My son saw his advisor today and she said that all engineering major have one very difficult semester, but she thought he could handle it. However, they have a plan B in mind. At this point he plans to go with the above course load.</p>