<p>This is his second year at college. He is still considered pre engineering due to failing a pre req last summer(he missed a week of class and got so far behind that he could not catch up) so his GPA dropped significantly. He has maintained C's and above the rest of the time. He called today and was really stressed out. He said that he didn't know if he wanted to continue with mechanical engineering but didn't know what else he could do. He said that the physics and programming are just killing him. He studies, has a tutor, and thinks he knows the material, but the gets low scores. He only has 3 weeks until the end of the semester so I told him to just buckle down and do what it takes to at least pass the classes and then we would re evaluate from there. He originally wanted to go into civil engineering but the school that he was accepted to did not offer that specific degree and he liked the idea of being more marketable and making more money with a mechanical engineering degree. I do not know enough about the course work to tell him to keep plugging away...after the first two years it gets easier or if he should go to plan B. AND...what are the options for plan B. What degrees are available that are related to engineering, will allow what he has already done to transfer, and isn't as so stringent as what he is doing now? Any advice on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Lots of kids who drop engineering end up doing well in urban planning, econ, finance, applied math (statistics). He would likely not need any more physics for those majors. He needs to go see his adviser ASAP- do not let him wait until the semester is over. His adviser may be able to see something that you or your son cannot- like he can salvage the semester if he takes an incomplete in one course and finishes it over the summer; I don’t know the college’s rules but his adviser will and he needs to get over there stat before he loses more time.</p>
<p>Forget the plugging for now (which is great advice, but only if he’s going to pass each of his courses) and get some expert advice.</p>
<p>Your son also needs to hear that the world is filled with kids who thought they wanted to be mechanical engineers until they found something else that they loved- and that you love him and will support him and that next year will be infinitely better once he finds a major he really enjoys.</p>
<p>And a cautionary tale to all the parents (not you OP) who keep telling their kids that no major could possibly compete with engineering. That’s true- if the kid loves engineering.
This college has heard this story a thousand times and his adviser can really help him salvage this semester!</p>
<p>Does he like math? If so, he can consider majoring in math or statistics.</p>
<p>I was watching this thread with interest. D3 will be a Mech E major in the fall. It’s a tough course of study and I can see why the wash out rate is so high from looking at the degree plan.</p>
<p>I have warned my D that it’s tough, it might not be for her and she shouldn’t feel bad if she gets in and needs to get out…while at the same time telling her that we believe in her and we know she’ll give it her best shot.</p>
<p>She knows what we expect, and I believe she will apply herself, but we also know this major is not for everyone, and it might not be for her.</p>
<p>I like your advice, Blossom. I think it’s good.</p>
<p>Good luck OP.</p>
<p>We thought my son would love electrical engineering. A month into classes and he absolutely hated it. </p>
<p>He switched to math with a computer science minor. I think the problem is that people assume because someone likes math and science that engineering will be a good fit. He loved legos, assembling things, how things worked, etc. Engineering just didn’t click.</p>
<p>Editing to add: I have heard from many engineers - if you don’t like your classes, you will not like being an engineer.</p>
<p>^I don’t see how a month into freshman classes as an EE major is any different than a month into classes for any STEM major. They all basically have very similar classes the first year. You don’t take any real EE classes until maybe sophomore year or maybe late freshman year if you are an advance student.</p>
<p>As a junior mechanical engineering major, I have to say that unfortunately it really doesn’t get easier as you go along. My classes have gotten progressively harder, as opposed to having some difficult “weeder” classes and then things get a little easier, which may be the case for some majors. Obviously, physics and programming aren’t mechanical engineering “per se,” but if one is struggling with physics (particularly mechanics), classes likes statics, mechanics of materials, dynamics, controls, etc. can get <em>really</em> hard. Programming may be less of an issue, as MechEs can get away with not having to do a lot. That said, there are many great other options as ^ posters have mentioned. I know people who have transferred from MechE to a huge variety of other majors, both STEM and non-STEM.</p>
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<p>Hm…I’m not sure I agree with that statement. I know a lot of engineers that didn’t like the coursework. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry so much about the programming. If you are unacustomed to programming, it can be hard to keep up. It’s good to know for any engineer, but it’s not imperative.</p>
<p>Mechanical engineering is all based on physics (mechanics.) I would be concerned if you didn’t have a “B” in it at least. How is he doing in calculus and other classes? A bit more info would help to giving advice.</p>
<p>What attracted him to engineering besides the money? How did he do in AP physics (grades, AP test)? People tend to get a grade lower than they did in high school, due to the difference in difficulty between high school and college. </p>
<p>There are a lot of people who like and are good at math and science but hate engineering, but it doesn’t sound like that is your son.</p>
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<p>I agree with this 100%. I think if his academic adviser isn’t very helpful he should ask friends if any of theirs have been good and if they’d be willing to meet with him. He may also want to make an appointment with the counseling center since I know a lot of students that have difficulty with school for the first time in college can take it rough in a lot of ways.</p>
<p>Does he like the material he’s working really hard at getting? Has he gotten sick each term and fallen behind? Has he talked to professors directly for help versus just the TAs and tutors?</p>
<p>If your S is still struggling in his second year in engineering, I think it is time to try to switch to another major. </p>
<p>For the moment, the biggest problem is to salvage the semester without doing too much damage to his GPA. Blossom’s advice was very good - he should meet with his adviser or an academic dean at his college immediately to discuss how to proceed. Can he withdraw or get an incomplete from the class where he is doing the worst and/or is the most work? That would allow him to concentrate his efforts on his remaining classes for the last few weeks of the semester.</p>
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<p>We toured two universities in February, both of which have colleges of engineering. Both schools have two-semester engineering-for-beginners classes for all freshmen. One is an Ivy and the other is a well-regarded campus of the State U. of NY.</p>
<p>Right oldmom - that’s what ttparent is saying.</p>
<p>Most engineerings schools, for at least the Freshman year, all engineers, regardless of discipline take the same courses. it’s like engineering for beginners - but not discipline specific.</p>
<p>My engineer kids found their second year the worst. First year was mostly review and then bam! Everything was new and they were not used to all the work and studying involved. The 3rd year was only easier because they knew how much work they had. </p>
<p>He should talk to his advisor and see what he can do to salvage this semester. He should also talk to all of his professor and see if anything can be done to raise his grades. This is a very important step, one of my kids messed up a test badly. The professor came up with a solution that did not involve dropping the class and salvaged the grade. The professors see this all the time and they want their students to succeed. They also have the best knowledge if your son can salvage the class or not.</p>
<p>Another major to switch to is supply chain management. There are also engineering technology majors which are less math intensive. Also construction management.</p>
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How bad is it? If he is failing Physics at this point in the semester the damage is already done.<br>
Personally, I hate it when students who have been pretty much failing all semester come to me with 3-4 weeks left and want to know if there is something they can do.</p>
<p>Eng’g has weeder classes that are the same/similar to premed prereqs. It’s very common for students to change their minds after they see that they’re not doing that great in GenChem, OChem, Cal II/III/etc, or Physics w/ Cal. </p>
<p>I agree that your son may be better suited for another STEM major or something else. My older son changed from eng’g to math after his first semester. He was better suited for math. </p>
<p>What are your son’s strengths?</p>
<p>If he’s still interested in engineering but needs something not has heavy duty as Mech. E ,maybe he should look into an Engineering Technology degree. It’s a four year degree offered at a wide range of colleges. Do a search for BS Engineering Technology degree. Hopefully most of the classes he has taken at his current university would transfer.</p>
<p>Packmom – great idea. I second it.</p>
<p>He needs to do everything he can to salvage his grades as best he can this semester. If Withdrawal is still allowed (it may be too late) then consider it for classes at risk of D or F. </p>
<p>FYI - I sent two kids off to engineering colleges. For one it is going very well. For the other it did not go well t… but Econ (BA, not BS which is more math intense) seems a good fit</p>
<p>Well you aren’t alone with a child struggling in ME</p>
<p>My S finished freshman year barely hanging on. He is now taking a year off and working while figuring out exactly what he wants to do.</p>
<p>I went thru CS, EE, applied math, then Econ/business. So I hit all of those majors! Later went back as a premed postbaccalaureate. An EE major earning CS can translate to an Econ/business major earning As.</p>