<p>S2 is basically undecided, but back when colleges were being researched and apps put together, he was leaning toward a major in chemistry or movement science (kinesiology) so we tended to focus on universities rather than LACs and already has some nice acceptances from rolling admission colleges.</p>
<p>But NOW he tells me he might end up choosing engineering, chemical or something involving metals or materials. He's really not sure what he wants to do at this point. </p>
<p>My question is: Does it make sense to go ahead and do freshman year in Letters and Science, taking intro courses in math, chemistry, physics etc. and then, if he chooses to do so, apply to transfer into engineering as a sophomore? </p>
<p>Or would it be better to suggest a gap year so he could reapply specifically to the College of Engineering and start the program as a freshman? </p>
<p>Any parents or students have any insights into this? (The unis he is admitted to are Michigan, Wisconsin, and CU-Boulder).</p>
<p>No need to take a year off. He can just start taking general requirements that he could then apply to whatever program he chooses. There are many general education requirements in engineering he could get out of his way in the 1st year while he decides what he wants to do.</p>
<p>if he is “ready” to begin college I don’t see much benefit in taking a gap year. During the first year engineering students often do not even take any actual engineering courses; their typical curriculum is the same as a science major, and would include math, physics, chemistry and core requirements so he should not be behind other students by starting in the liberal arts school and then transferring. Typically students do not need to declare a major until at least the end of freshman yr and at some schools you do not even apply to the engineering program until after your first year. Also if you talk to the school they may let him transfer before he even registers for fall classes.</p>
<p>for instance, here is a curriculum guide for Wisc that can be found on their web site. A few pages in, there is a sample curriculum - no engineering course at all during the first year…</p>
<p>There’s still time to apply to universities with rolling admissions. Missouri University of Science & Technology’s deadline is July 1st. New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology’s deadline is August 1st. Colorado School of Mines: June 1st. Others including University of Tulsa, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have no deadline.</p>
<p>do not take mrego’s advice. that is way to much work.</p>
<p>universities see kids change their minds all the time. they are very accommodating to this situation. just try to get the major changed/transfer to the engineering school… thats all you have to do.</p>
<p>If he’s considering engineering, I would make sure he takes the engineering track equivalent courses even if he’s undecided. A friend I know ended up taking two physics classes (calc based and non calc based), and I assume other similar things could come up. If there is an elective freshman year, bump up a math course to stay on track with finishing calc and differential equations, etc. This would probably be harder than just following “do what you want” curriculum, but it would make for a smooth transition into engineering if he decides it, and even if he doesn’t do engineering the strong background that was started would help for the future courses (more work now, less later sort of deal).</p>
<p>I would rather start off with a science program at the non-engineering school (focus heavily in math and basic sciences). Then, with a good GPA, transfer to an engineering school in the second year. </p>
<p>In addition to not having to scrounge around for schools still accepting applications, it’ll give him almost another year to figure out what he wants to do. He sounds very indecisive.</p>
<p>Just let him go to school, step away from the decision making process (the last thing you want is for him to pick a major because of you then use that as a reason to resent it), and let him go where he goes. If it’s engineering, then it’s engineering. But I can tell you from experience that if someone isn’t 100% dead-set on engineering when they start college, the probability is very, very high that they’ll not finish engineering. It’s a very grueling thing to go through if it’s not a subject you love.</p>
<p>If he’s interested in Chemical or Materials engineering, then he could easily fill up his freshman year with chemistry, physics, math, and a humanities requirement each term. Those are all classes that will be required for any engineer or chemist, so it won’t be a big deal if he switches to engineering in his sophomore year, since he’ll have a lot of the core non-engineering classes taken care of. Just be sure to take calculus based versions of physics, otherwise it’s pretty likely the credit won’t transfer.</p>
<p>If he has time, he might also want to try taking an intro ChemE or intro Materials engineering course his freshman year to let him know if switching majors is worth it.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the good advice. Especially DON’T WORRY — but unfortunately, I think that’s in my job description.</p>
<p>I feel better knowing that it’s not closed off — he could switch to engineering after freshman year. And I appreciate the warning not to interfere with his picking his major…it’s just that this kind of thing would be kind of nice to have an inkling about as one is deciding which college to attend over another. </p>
<pre><code>I know that part of what is stressing me out is the reality of sending an “undecided” kid off to college with a six-figure cost attached to four years. I’d really like to avoid seeing that stretch into five or six years due to uncertainty over his major.
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<p>I was wondering if someone from say the L&S college would be able to take an intro engineering course, or audit one, to see if it appealed as a major. We didn’t send him off to engineering camps over the summers when he was a kid, and we’re not in that field, so he hasn’t been exposed to the major or it’s possibilities. He should spend more time perusing websites about programs, but he has a lot on his plate and that May 1 deadline is going to come up fast.</p>
<p>There shouldn’t be a problem with cross-enrolling into a freshman engineering course, as they can often be used by other majors to fulfill lab science requirements (I know Intro to Electrical & Computer Engineering was a popular course for CS students so they wouldn’t have to take chem lab or physics lab).</p>
<p>Also, don’t worry too much about the undecided part. My school required that all freshmen-level engineers be undeclared until course selection for the fall of their sophomore year. If he’s interested in learning about Materials Science, feel free to have him PM me on here or hit me up on AIM; I love the field and think it’s totally the best type of engineering out there.</p>
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<p>He certainly won’t be alone in this aspect. While both of my parents are industrial engineers (and my dad actually teaches a freshman level engineering course at a local vocational-tech school), they certainly had no idea what materials engineering was about before I got into it.</p>
<p>Understandable, but he needs to figure it out on his own. If you make him pay for a substantial portion, or tell him that he’s cut off after 4 years, that will motivate him to make up his mind. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to live with the consequences.</p>
<p>Thanks for the offer to advise him directly, RR. I’ll pass it along.</p>
<p>You sound like my DH, G.P. and I’m sure S will get that message. </p>
<p>Stress level is abating somewhat. He can go to any one of several excellent universities (haven’t heard from UCs yet) and plot his own course once he gets there. One thing I will suggest, though, is that when he goes to the accepted student days, he visit the engineering schools and pick up information to look at later.</p>
<p>jazzymom, one website your S might want to look at to get a good overview of the engineering field (as well as sciences) is the Sloan Career Cornerstone site:</p>
<p>There will almost certainly be some overlapping requirements between a physical science degree and engineering: chem, physics, calc, etc., and of course the university’s general ed requirements, writing/history/etc.</p>
<p>The safest thing to do would be to pick 2-3 (probably no more than 4) different potential degree programs, take those overlapping classes first, that way, you’re not behind no matter what direction you go (check the departments and the university catalogue to find out what the exact overlaps are)</p>
<p>Take an “intro to engineering” class if it fits, and if it’s needed in order to graduate in 4 years, but it is usually not essential like that.</p>
<p>The only risk is doing very poorly in engineering prereqs (physics, calc, etc) might make it hard to “transfer” into an engineering major, if you have to internally apply to the engineering school to change into it. But then again, if that’s the case, maybe engineering isn’t right anyways.</p>
<p>I know a student who joined the engineering curriculum sophomore year. In preparation, he took most of the freshman courses (calc, chem, physics, english comp) and only had to make up one freshman engineering course. Most freshman courses are basic arts and sciences classes anyway. I would not waste a year to reapply. The student I know was very successful.</p>
<p>Thanks to scansmom for the careers link and to all who posted comments and advice. It’s helpful to me to discuss these concerns online rather than bugging S or H with them. </p>
<p>Of course, it’s an ideal situation to know exactly what you want to do while researching colleges before applying and deciding where to attend by May 1. But there’s no guarantee that a gap year will make S2 any more decided than actually getting on to a college campus and exploring once he’s there. As long as he knows that once he’s there, the meter is ticking…</p>
<p>I think the important thing is to determine his general direction of study in the first year - either technical, social science, or humanities.</p>
<p>If he’s set on a technical background, then his freshman courses are pretty straight forward, regardless of major: Calc I and Calc II, two to four lab sciences (preferably chemistry and/or physics), and the general requirement courses (econ, english, etc.). All courses should apply towards his degree and he won’t be behind. </p>
<p>Then after that, he can decide. He still might be undecided, but with an extra year of experience under his belt, he should be in a better position to make a call.</p>