<p>ramaswami, the ABET requirement should not/never be an excuse for someone on engineering track to broaden his/her academic interest. In other words, nothing can stop someone from learning. Your S can take whatever additional classes (for P/F or simply audit) and pursue whatever non-engineering activities as long as he is motivated.</p>
<p>Judging on your posts, your S is obviously quite talented. His lack of passion puzzles me - it could be that he is still finding "his thing" which is ok. But, I suspect that he simply hasn't ventured outside some comfort zone for much of his life. Don't get me wrong, here he is wanting to "try out" engineering at college and his concerned parent is already proposing alternatives ...</p>
<p>Finding one's life passion is like finding a lover. Occasionally you know it right way when you first see it (aka love on first sight). More often, you have to date, fall in love and out of love and go through process of elimination multiple times. </p>
<p>You have prepared your S well - hey he makes it to Columbia! I guess it's time to take a step back and let him plot his own path from now. He may drop out from engineering all together like your friend's son. Perhaps, this "destined to fail" journey is what him needs to find his life passion and true love (or lover!). So just let him "go freely".</p>