N.C. State Housing & Engineering

<p>My son was admitted as an unmatriculated mechanical engineering student. He was not invited to the honors program or scholars. In looking at housing, there is no Freshman only dorms. He is an out of state student and will not know anyone attending (as far as we know). His other interests are playing soccer, sports, and looking forward the Formula Racing Club, WEEL, etc...</p>

<p>Questions:
1. Is it hard for freshman to meet a group of friends if there is no freshman specific housing? He is really not interested in any of the learning / living villages?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is there housing that engineers typically live in? I know there is a special housing option for Women Engineers (WISE).</p></li>
<li><p>We noticed that there isn't much "green space" on campus. Are there areas for pick-up soccer games, frisbee, etc?</p></li>
<li><p>As far as the engineering program, do you feel that anyone who is truly interested and works hard can make it? Some other schools seem interested in "weeding out" first year students.</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a 5 year masters program option and who typically takes advantage of this?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks so much for any information! Feel free to add anything about your NC State experience.</p>

<p>Hi Karen, Congrats to your S on his admission to NCSU engineering. We have a lot of NCSU experience here. My husband is an NCSU alum ('81 Mech. Eng.). Also,our oldest S is an NCSU '09 grad.</p>

<p>It is not hard for freshman to meet a group of friends. The majority of the kids living in the dorms are freshmen and sophs.</p>

<p>Have never heard of Eng. majors living in specific dorms unless they are associated with the honors/scholars program.</p>

<p>Yes, the kids find places to play. There are also intramural teams of every kind at NCSU.
S and his friends played pick-up basketball games all the time.</p>

<p>If your S was admitted to the College of Engineering, then NCSU prob. thinks he is capable of doing the work. That said, there are always some that get weeded out due to the required Calc., Physics, Chem. classes in the first year. The classes are large.<br>
It is def. up to the student to ask for help if he needs it. My S was practically lost in Calc.II but started going to his Prof’s office hours every week. The Prof. was very willing to help him and S came out of the class with a B.</p>

<p>Don’t know about Masters programs. I’m sure you can find out through the College of Eng.</p>

<p>If your S has not applied for housing yet, I would definitely recommend requesting a dorm in Central Campus. Bowen, Carroll,Metcalf…the Tri Towers, are open to anyone. Lots of freshman live there. Tucker and Owen are also in Central Campus. T and O are Freshman only dorms but only for freshman doing the First Year College program.
Nevertheless, there is a large concentration of freshmen on Central Campus.
Central Campus is closest to classroom buildings and also right across from Carmichal Gym.</p>