<p>Waving from here… Statics is not for the faint at heart but it’s definitely one of these ‘if you get it, you get it’ classes.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap - I was just thinking of your S today and wondering how he is finishing up the semester? Hoping he’s still hanging in there! :)</p>
<p>Just noticed this; he is still hanging in there, but it feels like a battle every step of the way. I think he ended up with a B in statics. Cal 3 was his white whale last semester. I think it might be thermodynamics this semester. He is taking 17 credits this semester, and looking for summer internships, but he doesn’t meet the “preferred” gpa requirements. I think if he still wants to do this by the end of this semester, he should retake cal 3, and maybe even 2. I came back to this thread looking for ideas.</p>
<p>I hope he’s already submitted applications for summer internships or REUs. Many had deadlines of March 1. Other were even earlier.</p>
<p>Not every student is going to be able to work or intern at the big, fabulous companies. What he really needs is the degree and something that looks like engineering related experience to get his foot in the door. He could always look for smaller engineering companies, or even manufacturing companies and try to work something out with them. Or he could get a job not necessarily at an engineering company and try to talk them into letting him do some sort of “engineering” type work there.</p>
<p>My own kid is studying eng tech (not engineering). He is learning a broad base of practical skills in his classes like welding, electronics, machiining, etc. During the summers he typically works on a farm. He’s worked it out with the folks out there so he can do at least some work to showcase the skills he’s learing in school. </p>
<p>And of course, you can always search your brain for any connections you might have that you’ve forgotten about. I work in the energy industry and I would dearly love for my kid to get his foot in the door at a utility or power plant, Those careers pay well around here. I actually have connections but because of my positiion and what I do, can’t really use them to pull strings for various reasons.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Bovertine, I’m trying to get him to think about engineering technology. He is having some second thoughts at this point but cant imagine doing anything else, nor apparently can anyone he hangs out with. He really eats and breaths this stuff. But he is beginning to see the math is a struggle, and that he is better at things like CAD.</p>
<p>Absolutely agree with Bovertine. There are hundreds of small and midsize or regional engineering firms that hire for summer internships. Not everyone will get a job a GE, Raytheon and the like, but there are student opportunities out there. Talking to professors is a start. And of course, use the Career Placement office at school.</p>
<p>Thank you! Sounds like internships are expected/the way to go between sophomore and junior year.</p>
<p>Shrinkwrap - I was a Mech E. Many of us nickname thermodynamics as “thermo-traumatics”. We survived, but we did not enjoy it.</p>
<p>Per engineering tech, there is a helpful thread on Engineering discussion board. The BSET degree offers a lot more opportunity than I had realized. Ah, I see Shrinkwrap already found that thread 
I will post it for others <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1448037-engineering-vs-engineering-technology.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1448037-engineering-vs-engineering-technology.html</a></p>
<p>Thermodynamics made NO sense to me, at all. I was lucky to get the “easy” prof, or I would have been in big trouble.</p>
<p>Like shrinkrap, I am trying to get S to consider eng technology or mechatronics. I just can’t see my S as an engineer in a cubicle all day. He really likes hands on, and a bit of physical exercise on the job</p>
<p>But right now he is struggling through and doesnt seem very happy, wont admit yet to a change.</p>
<p>am</p>
<p>After one semester, my son switched from civil engineering to engineering technology and management. I know his classes are a little easier although this semester he has a tough schedule. I am hoping he likes the more hands on classes to come. He is doing ROTC and it takes extra time…and credit hours.</p>
<p>Hi Crizello! I am also following your Americorp comments, but for D.</p>
<p>Another career suggestion is supply chain management. Usually offered through the college of business. H had a co worker who’s S did this major. He was quite in demand. From what I heard he was proficient in SAP which is a need in business.</p>
<p>If I could do it again, I would choose Construction Management, which is often a subfield of Civil Engineering. Or dual structural engineering and construction management. I have advised students who are to antsy to sit in a cubicle to go with a CM option.</p>
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<p>He’ll have to transfer to a different schools, as it appears that his current school does not offer engineering technology. Engineering technology is significantly less commonly offered than engineering, perhaps because it has a relatively narrow range of students that it appeals to.</p>
<p>There are 67 schools that offer ABET-accredited bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering technology in the US; none are in California.</p>
<p>^ Thanks, as always ! CPP is not on the list?</p>
<p>Cal Poly Pomona has construction engineering technology and electronics and computer engineering technology majors, according to its ABET listing. No mechanical engineering technology. It also has various engineering majors.</p>
<p>[Accredited</a> Programs details](<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=5756]Accredited”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=5756)</p>
<p>Hmmm, interesting. Cal Poly Pomona has a general engineering technology program, which they bill as “mechanical / manufacturing”; it is ABET accredited as a general engineering technology program, not a mechanical engineering technology program.</p>
<p>I’ve been an engineer (admittedly in just one company) for almost 30 years. I have not heard ABET reference since college… and rarely even then. I suppose ABET should be a factor. But to me the career placement record would be a bigger factor. Of course there is likely big overlap for the ABET and placement. </p>
<p>My 1980 GC didn’t give me much helpful advise. (I only applied for colleges where I thought I’d be good enough to get merit scholarships… but in my situation with divorced parents FA was the key.) But this nugget of advise was priceless - "When you visit colleges, stop by the career planning center. If it is a closet with a bare light bulb, move on.)</p>