<p>BTW, while he seems to feel he spends all of his time studying, I know he has taken time to explore other interests (that’s what happens when you friend your mom on Facebook!..but he talks about it too ). I assume it effects his schoolwork, but I feel good about the opportunities he has had. Frankly, I think it makes more sense to “explore” than to major at this point</p>
<p>Our S was tired after freshman year & didn’t try to get an internship. He worked at a summer science program with grade school kids. He had volunteered summer after JR year & worked there after SR year, so worked there again after freshman year. Had a nice, relaxing summer & recharged.</p>
<p>He did hustle and got several summer research job offers after his sophomore year. He accepted the job that allowed him to leave for an entire month in July, at a research lab.</p>
<p>FWIW, we do know one kid who did hustle and got himself several summer job offers after his freshman year. He took job that was similar to what he was doing on-campus, researching–testing strengths of various adhesives (chem e major). I believe at S’s U, it was pretty unusual for engineering students to get internships after freshman year. Even after sophomore year & JR, S was considered fortunate to have a few to choose among.</p>
<p>FWIW, S’s GPA in college & engineering was higher than it had been in HS. He was the one who decided that since he loves math, science, and CS, engineering was a logical choice and decided he’d apply to Us in that field. It has been a great fit for him.</p>
<p>D is our cinema person. She’s never been as strong in math & science but says she likes them OK. I think it would have been a HUGE stretch for her to major in a math or science field, though she briefly flirted with it. I also cannot see S as a cinema/film person, tho he DID do the yearbook in 6th grade (didn’t really ENJOY it). TV & Cinema are tough majors, with a TON of competition, but can be rewarding for the right folks. We are hoping that D will be able to find some niche and employment in her field but are not holding our breath.</p>
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<p>However, engineering does require starting the needed courses from the beginning, unless one starts at a community college where there is less or no institutional and financial pressure to decide on a major early on (a community college student can “explore” for two years, then start engineering and take two more years before transferring as a junior to a four year school; a freshman at a four year school will probably find that too expensive or that the school will force him/her to declare a major after the first two years).</p>
<p>Yea, at S’s HS, the GC suggested that since S loved math, science, physics & CS, PLUS was pretty good at it, that he start in engineering and could transfer out IF he chose. For a kiddo that really isn’t sure what s/he wants, CC is a great place to explore with little pressure and a wide range of subjects that the student might not otherwise consider. It was a huge blow to D’s status to attend CC, since it was so unusual at her HS for anyone to go to CC, but otherwise she found the teachers & courses very interesting and mostly well-taught. (It was a great help to our pocketbook that she spent 3 semesters at CC & a summer at local flagship U getting her foreign language requirement met.)</p>
<p>It’s very tough to “explore” other fields while enrolled as an engineer (way too many required courses JUST for engineering). You can transfer out of engineering and MOST of our courses will transfer if you switch as a freshman & some as a sophomore but tough after that.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap - Has DS decided to back away from engineering?</p>
<p>Just to clarify; I was referring to exploring “television acting”, which he has been able to explore as an aside.</p>
<p>As far as I know, he has not backed away from engineering. I don’t know what he is thinking but not saying.</p>
<p>I would be fine with him taking some engineering courses, enough to keep him passionate, but not so many that he would hate it. I don’t know what this would mean degree wise, but I feel blessed that we might be able to afford this perspective, even at a private school. If he could get his first engineering degree in grad school, I would be fine with that.</p>
<p>He has always been a little behind with regard to maturity, but once he starts to focus, there is usually a hint of a potential awsomeness.</p>
<p>Of course, he has never been challenged like this before, and he is the first one to admit it.</p>
<p>Might be time for that heart to heart - face to face - we loves you no matter what talk and just settle it.</p>
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I don’t know what the typical thing is where Shrinkrap is, but here both Physics and Calculus are on 6 week summer sessions. Still would not recommend stacking them.</p>
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<p>Engineering graduate programs generally require an undergraduate degree or substantial course work in engineering or a closely related field like physics. It is not like JD or MBA programs where there are no specific course or major requirements, or MD programs where the undergraduate course requirements are well short of a major in anything.</p>
<p>Yes, I learned that here. Last year we were looking at “physics engineering” or " engineering physics", some of which were 3+2 or 4+2 programs at small schools.</p>
<p>I wonder if that is still an option. Here is the curriculum.</p>
<p><a href=“http://cse.lmu.edu/departments/physics/curriculum/engphysmajor.htm[/url]”>http://cse.lmu.edu/departments/physics/curriculum/engphysmajor.htm</a></p>
<p>He would have take chem 110, because the degree requires a C, but the rest of the curriculum seems to allow for “core” electives.</p>
<p>It will be considerably harder to achieve a degree in Engineering Physics than in Engineering. Engineering majors take a lot of difficult courses but none of them are nearly as challenging as upper division Physics classics in Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, Optics.</p>
<p>Before taking Modern Physics for Physics majors at the University of Maryland, to get up to speed I took a semester there in Modern Physics intended primarily for Engineering majors. Even though they somehow managed to get a hold of a copy of the instructor’s solutions manual for the text we were using, the Engineering majors seemed utterly lost and just unable to comprehend the Theory of Relativity or the methods of Quantum Mechanics. The chapter on Cosmology was a total mystery to them.</p>
<p>This sounds like out of the frying pan and into the fire for someone who wants to be an engineer.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks.</p>
<p>Hey! That was intended for you, Lemaitre!</p>
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#142</p>
<p>Granted, it was several years ago, but that’s what the Dean said. I think they were pushing an elite status, touting that their graduates were run through the grinder in order to get their degrees. Not saying that I buy it, but that’s what they were telling the incoming students.</p>
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<p>Yes, it is more difficult than pre-med chem since pre-meds only need general chem.</p>
<p>Two factors work into it. First, chem for engineers will be filled with smarter students, so the curve will be narrower. General chem will have a broad spectrum of students, ranging from science majors/engineers to humanities majors, thereby broadening the curve. Second, because of the first, chem for engineers tests are harder in order to broaden the curve a little. </p>
<p>I have no idea about chem for athletic training. It could be that it’s a dumbed down series for athletes or there are specific areas covered in detail related to sports medicine.</p>
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<p>Sounds like we might be talking about the same school.</p>
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<p>I’ll second that. It’s even tough to switch engineering majors. S1 switched engineering majors and ended up needing to go for a 5th year. They were adamant that you had to declare your major by the third quarter. If you missed or changed, expect at least another year.</p>
<p>The exploring has been being in other students films and videos, trying out for jobs at the school television station, trying to get “modeling” gigs, and working as a PA/go-fer on LA films.</p>
<p>Here is the BS in Athletic Training Curriculum. Apparently same chem as chem majors</p>
<p>[Bachelor</a> of Science in Athletic Training](<a href=“http://bulletin.lmu.edu/bachelor-of-science-in-athletic-training.htm]Bachelor”>http://bulletin.lmu.edu/bachelor-of-science-in-athletic-training.htm)</p>
<p>And thanks guys, for keeping me humble, but with all due respect, chemistry for docs-and-jocks has to prepare you for organic chemistry and biochemistry, and believe it or not, it occasionally comes up in the practice of psychiatry.</p>
<p>Joking though! No offense taken!</p>
<p>“I would be fine with him taking some engineering courses, enough to keep him passionate, but not so many that he would hate it.” - Sounds appealing, but it’s not really possible in the traditional engineering program due to the many required courses and course sequences.</p>
<p>Your idea about 3/2 programs is interesting. As you explore it more, post some details or links (here or other threads). Over the years there have been lots of us CC families that discussed it - not sure how many have done it. Since it is often with private colleges, the extra costs become a deterrent. And in some cases the engineering transfer slots are limited.</p>
<p>akck It depends upon the type of engineering field and how crowded the filed is. For example, petroleum engineering had a reduction in the number of engineering students because the demand was down and it was difficult to find a job unless you were connect or with a high GPA. Now there is a shortage of petroleum engineers and students with lower GPAs are considered. Also, where the degree is obtained matters. For example,in Texas a degree from Texas A and M would have greater value that from one of the Ivies.</p>
<p>Don’t forget ‘sleeper’ engineering specialties… A friend from overseas finished his degree in Civil Engineering specializing in - of all things - drainage and sewer type stuff… In the height of the recession. He was not even looking very hard but landed to good job offers with companies doing municipal water/sewer systems…</p>