Hello, this is a question for Mech E majors, not specifically at Case but in general.
My son is probably going to Case Mech E starting this fall, he has got a very good
aid package and we really like the school. Unless he gets a top notch offer from
NCSU, which he seems to prefer, Case it will be.
I myself am a software engineer and have been programming since the days
of COBOL. My son, otoh, has no programming skills. I am working with him
on this aspect, going thru the K&R C book, he seems to be a bit disinterested
but is smart enough to understand things when he does put his mind to it.
I am afraid that this might be a big handicap once classes start. I am a Elec
major, and while I realise this may not be as big an issue for a Mech major,
I nonetheless am quite certain that a significant amount of programming
will be required, and assumed, in the syllabus and by the professors.
So my question is, how much of an issue could this be ? I am trying
to get him to realize that he needs to finish the K&R C book before
August, but he could be more convinced if some current student
at Case confirms this, or otherwise.
I was there o’ so many years ago, and I never took programming before college and did fine.
I would say it is like “Would you go to college for engineering having never taken Calculus?” They assume that you can start with Calc1. BUT Many people will have taken it in HS…so not strictly necessary but you will do so much better having been exposed to it earlier.
@sidatom I worried just like you about my son at Case, and he was able to take beginning programing as a physics major his freshman year. I can look up the course number, but I agree all engineers and physicists need to be able to program a computer in Python, and Java and C++, all three. Ok, two of the three, plus machine language?! OK one is OK. I worked at HP for ten years, and programming is essential for all EE, Mechanical engineers and materials scientists. If they like programming, it may lead to a job. If not, they can find a job designing with Solid Works, if that floats their boat.
@Coloradomama Yes I agree there is always the option to take a beginning course - how effective that will be is a another matter. For some people, it will be difficult - those with a natural aptitude for coding and algorithms will have it easier. Java & Python & C++ ! Well we did Pascal and Fortran and a bit of Lisp, I recall. Seriously, a solid understanding of C and its data structural abstractions should be good enough to start with. Being close to the metal, it will also yield an insight into computer architecture which one just cannot get with Java or Python.
I think there are plenty of options for learning programming skills (online JAVA, Python, etc. classes) that might be much more interesting to an 18 year old than a K&R C book. He could also play around with code combat or coding bat as well.
Here is another question - is it any use taking AP Calculus and Physics for Case Engineering ? I mean, will that be granted credit or will he have to repeat the courses?
Yes, one should take AP Calc at a minimum…if the students gets a 4 or 5 they will get credit for Math 121 and/or Math 122 (if they take BC). If they don’t get those scores, they would just take Math 121 again.
I would take
In regards to college credit I have taken about 15 classes at a community college and it says that credit used for high school graduation will not be granted credit.
So can I assume that almost none of my credits will transfer? Which I don’t really understand because we are taking the same classes as the adults at the community college.
It might be worth digging into this further…let’s say that HS graduation requires 3 years of math and you took a 4th at CC and had taken enough other credits to fulfill graduation requirements…would that count?
@bopper Thank you for the reply. I have taken my highest math and science at HS so basically like I need four English so I took one at HS 3 CC. So would none transfer? Same with history needed 3. One HS and 2 at CC. I took classes that might be considered electives in a HS like IT, Psych and Sociology and I know you need some humanities/social science credits so would like to get credit for those.
One thing I think I have like what you said is Spanish. One in middle school-honors and 2 CC and you only need 2 classes to graduate.
Would calling transfer center be a good idea? I emailed and reply was anything for HS graduation would not be counted and should look at transfer guide.
If it is very important for you to get credit for CC classes taken in HS, then your public State U may be the way to go.
Otherwise if you took Calc 1, 2 and 3 at CC then you would enter Case taking Calc 4 and would be able to take other electives instead of Calc.
Are you saying “Do they understand I have taken Calc 1, 2 and 3” and do not need to take them and just need to finish Calc 4 to finish the math sequence" or are you asking “Do I get 9 credits at college for Calc 1, 2 3”.
I would also wonder if you could take the AP tests for your classes and use that to get credit instead.
That is probably something you will have to discuss with Case…you may need to take a placement test or you may need to have the syllabus from your CC courses (save all the syllabi!) to show them so they can see if it is equivelant.
Ok, two of the three, plus machine language?! OK one is OK. I worked at HP for ten years, and programming is essential for all EE, Mechanical engineers and materials scientists. If they like programming, it may lead to a job. If not, they can find a job designing with Solid Works, if that floats their boat.