<p>Asimov gave the keynote address at my college graduation in the age when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The gentleman was clearly a guy who could easily relate and connect with people and their aspirations, something that I would think that he learned outside of his Math training.</p>
<p>@JUSTAPREP…Lake Jr. has embarked on Chemical Engineering. As they say, he’s “going with the flow.”</p>
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<p>UWHuskyDad, would you say this is a wiser way to go than to choose a selective liberal arts college that offers engineering (like a Swarthmore/Lafayette/Union), specifically for someone who only recently developed an interest engineering?</p>
<p>OP, if you haven’t read Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, check it out sometime. Or better yet, SEE it. Brilliant stuff!</p>
<p>Plan II + Engineering @ UT Austin. Perfect combo for what you are looking for.</p>
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<p>Most definitely. Harvy Mudd is an exception. </p>
<p>Almost all LACs that offer engineering have very small engineering departments and the list of courses they offer are generally very short. If you don’t like the way the prof teaches a given subject then you are stuck. There is generally one section for each subject/course and the same person teaches that course whenever it is offered. Very risky indeed.</p>
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<p>I think there are better and less time consuming ways to decide on your field(s) of study than taking a bunch of intro courses. Once you get into the university you will have plenty of opportunities to talk to profs and senior students. You can sit in some of those intro classes without enrolling. There are plenty of online courses you can watch to get a better idea. You don’t have to spend an entire quarter/semester sitting in an intro class to figure out if you like that line of study or not.</p>
<p>Many engineering schools have an intro class that helps you choose between engineering fields. Here is an example:
<a href=“https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-of-engineering/about-the-college/engr-100-exploring-engineering.html[/url]”>https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-of-engineering/about-the-college/engr-100-exploring-engineering.html</a></p>
<p>Thank you BeanTownGirl and UWDad </p>
<p>I will be proactive before I finish high school. I know that there are [sites describing engineering majors/careers](<a href=“Types of Engineering Jobs - Engineer Information - Science & Technology Education”>http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/engineering/typesofengineeringjobs.html</a>). What are some ENGAGING (online) methods of determining what a certain engineering major/career has to offer?</p>
<p>There’s no need to decide which specialty. Most classes freshman year are same. Do your research and make an initial pick, but be flexible to change depending on which classes appeal most.</p>
<p>^Got it. Tenchar.</p>
<p>US Dept. of Labor has very detailed info and employment projections for each job title:
[BLS</a> Search Results](<a href=“BLS Search Results”>BLS Search Results)</p>
<p>These other source of info are easier to view, less data driven:
[Engineering</a> Your Future - What is Engineering?](<a href=“http://www.futuresinengineering.com/what.php?id=2]Engineering”>http://www.futuresinengineering.com/what.php?id=2)
[DiscoverE[/url</a>]</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/Engineering_Disciplines_Handout.pdf[/url]”>http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/Engineering_Disciplines_Handout.pdf](<a href=“http://www.discoverengineering.org/]DiscoverE[/url”>http://www.discoverengineering.org/)</a> - good overview of eng majors.</p>