Soph. boy / 3.0 student / dyslexic / wants to be an engineer / school is tough!!

Parents Forum
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<p>I can't imagine he is the only one. A really bright kid (got a job at 13 - was ASKED by the retailer to work for them as he knew SO much about remote control cars, planes, helis), the "team mechanic" on his crew team as he is SO adept at fixing things ... just one of these kids that has really high highs and low lows. But outstanding at mechanical things.</p>

<p>He is not a fast learned academically, I just am concerned as what his college years should be. I know it is early (I have another child in the midst, so my thoughts go here too). He is an outstanding crew / rower...interested in that for college, but knows that won't pay the bills. </p>

<p>I do know many schools in the sw (tx tech, ark) have LD programs, and tech has a great engineering school. Not much activity on those boards.</p>

<p>Just thinking ahead and interested in anyone's perspective on this. Thanks!!</p>

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<p>"He is an outstanding crew / rower…interested in that for college, but knows that won’t pay the bills. "</p>

<p>I can’t help you with the other questions but if your son is physically gifted in rowing, it may open up doors (offers & fin aid) for him that are closed to others. Keep this in mind. Maybe go over to the Athletic Recruits forum and see what parents/students/applicants say about rowing. See how his erg times compare.</p>

<p>It just might pay some (tuition) bills!</p>

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<p>Does you son do well in math and science classes? If he does, he could be successful in engineering. If he struggles with math and science, engineering is going to be very rough for him as he will have to take many math and science classes. An option to look at would be becoming an electronics technician. He could find the necessary training at a community college or technical school. It is actually more hands on and wouldn’t require as much math and science knowledge</p>

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<p>Engineering, if one goes the traditional 4 year sequence, can be very demanding with lots of HW, reading and labs. If your son can take AP calc BC, physics, etc and get those classes out of the way in HS it may lighten his workload a little that first year.</p>

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<p>When you say he is not a fast learner, do you mean he has to spend a lot of time studying to understand things or he just needs time to digest the material in order to get it?</p>

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<p>I know a guy who is severely dyslexic but mechanically brilliant. He didn’t have the stomach for more school beyond high school, so trained as a CNC machinist, and figured out a way to reduce his code size so that outdated equipment (cheap!) could produce parts as quickly and efficiently as brand new equipment (expensive!). He owns his own shop and makes better money than most college grads.</p>

<p>There are lots of ways to be a successful adult, and college isn’t necessary for all of them. :)</p>

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<p>Maybe plan out a 5 year or 6 year path. Some kids who would be buried by 5 classes do just fine with 4. Taking the most difficult ones during summer session is another option. </p>

<p>My neighbor is doing something similar at Montana State. Because of his mechanical aptitude, he works on processes for welded titanium assemblies for the aircraft industry.</p>

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<p>He might be better suited to be a technician - somebody who actually does the tinkering instead of someone just designing stuff. The term to look up is “engineering technology.” From Wikipedia:</p>

<p>“An engineering technologist, is a specialist devoted to the development and implementation of existing technology within a field of engineering. Engineering technology education is more applied than the more theoretical science based engineering degree education. Technologists often work with engineers in a wide variety of projects by applying basic engineering principles and technical skills.”</p>

<p>[Engineering</a> technologist - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technologist]Engineering”>Engineering technologist - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>In my field (structural engineering), good CAD technicians are worth their weight in gold. And the Wikipedia article goes on to state that it’s not unusual for ETs to go into senior management at some point. It’s a great career path!</p>

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<p>Don’t rule out a rowing scholarship. One of my daughter’s friends got a full ride to U Penn for rowing. While it was her grades that got her into UPenn, the scholarship was for rowing alone, and I’ll bet there are other, less rigorous schools that offer such scholarships for gifted athletes.</p>

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<p>Massmom, Penn is Ivy League and therefore offers only need-based aid, no athletic scholarships. It is entirely possible that this rower received an excellent aid package, as Penn is generous, but it was based on need, not athletics.</p>

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<p>netti,</p>

<p>There are successful dyslexics, especially in engineering. I don’t know how severe your son’s case is but don’t discount his ability to become an engineer.</p>

<p>“Indeed, dyslexics not only succeed in engineering but in a range of fields including medicine and law. Ultimately, although they are slower readers, dyslexic students have strengths in higher order thinking and reasoning skills. In fact, as Bennett Shaywitz points out, the 2009 Nobel Laureate in medicine, molecular biologist Dr. Carol Greider, is dyslexic.”</p>

<p>from [Yale</a> Scientific Magazine | The Nation’s Oldest College Science Publication ? The Paradox of Dyslexia: Slow Reading, Fast Thinking](<a href=“http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/04/the-paradox-of-dyslexia-slow-reading-fast-thinking/]Yale”>The Paradox of Dyslexia: Slow Reading, Fast Thinking – Yale Scientific Magazine)</p>

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<p>I’m also going to jump in to say that at many schools there is exceptional academic support for the athletes.</p>

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<p>Find a school where there aren’t a lot of pre-reqs outside the core curriculum.</p>

<p>My son is dyslexic as well. He’s a math major/computer science minor. His school has clusters where you choose 3 classes in 2 different disciplines. One of his clusters was music. He’s managed to avoid needing to take classes with much reading or focus on reading comprehension. </p>

<p>Most schools also offer a lot of academic support. He had a one hour session a week with a writing specialist to help support him through the required writing. Most schools will need testing within 5 years and can offer lots of different options depending on how he currently manages school work.</p>

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<p>My oldest son was not great in the classroom -we were not sure if he was going to graduate from high school, and he hated every minute of it! We knew he was extremely bright but he hated sitting in a classroom. He was very mechanically inclined and could design and build just about anything. He also had jobs from a very young age and by 16 an off-road truck modification shop had hired him to design specialty pieces. He floated around after high school taking classes here and there at cc and over about 3-4 years got his GE requirements out of the way. At the same time, he worked at various construction jobs. He learned how to install floors, do concrete, electrical, etc. He finally decided to pursue Construction Management Engineering and was able to transfer to a 4-yr. university as a junior. He does not have dyslexia, so I have no experience there, but he does have to work really hard to get thru “classroom learning”. He found that by the time he transferred and was taking major classes, he actually enjoyed school. When he graduated, he was hired by the very large construction company he was interning for- they were impressed that he had so much hands-on experience. He did very well there and in his current job, the company sent a head-hunter after him after they met him on another job. He has found he does much better out in the field- he loves solving problems on-site. He can function in the office, but fortunately both companies realized that he was very productive outside working directly with contractors. </p>

<p>My nephew who is dyslexic, hated school, and went through an elevator repair apprenticeship program after high school. It is very competitive to be accepted to, but he did well and is now making a great salary and is working with his hands.</p>

<p>It sounds like your son is very bright. There are so many options related to the engineering field that I think he would be able to find an area he can excel in if that is what interests him. As others have suggested, there are also many non-college opportunities out there if college is just not his thing. Good luck!</p>

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<p>takeitallin,</p>

<p>I see “construction management” and “construction engineering” listed as majors on Big Future, but don’t see one that says “construction management engineering”. Do you mind sharing what college this was.</p>

<p>eyemamom,</p>

<p>Is your son at U Rochester? (I can’t remember)</p>

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<p>takeitallin, wow, thanks! sounds like our sons are quite similar. I DO know this child will be successful. HS is a struggle, but he has a great personality, (great looking, yes, I am his mom!), and such INSIGHT into people, that I think he will find his way. I am not hellbent on college, but at 19 (when he graduates) IDK if he would have the maturity to know where to go. These are alot of good ideas you mention. thanks.</p>

<p>eye, is this a college your son is at? (pm me the name@) i like that cluster approach. helps with focus. thanks,</p>

<p>cnp, i am exploring that!! $$</p>

<p>slacker, thanks for the link, i am forwarding that to my son. he DOES know he is smart (can’t believe how <stupid> the rest of us are in his gifted areas:), so confidence is not an issue, but articles like this are sure nice reinforcement!! thanks</stupid></p>

<p>nova/Mass…I know were not ivy league stuff, but i am exploring opportunities to row and have a college ‘experience’ and learn some skills!! thanks!!</p>

<p>Maine LONGHORN (hook 'em??) thanks for the definition. I know there are avenues like this, and he’ll probably be well paid for his gifts!! thanks for the tip!! I am printing this article for him. He really is wanting to know his direction as older brother is applying to colleges for a MD path, and he doesn’t know where he fits in@@ thanks@@@@</p>

<p>Magnetron. I think that is a good plan, too…wish we could manage that for HS!!! No worries, y’no. we all ‘get there’…thanks!</p>

<p>allypho, yes, i am not hellbent on college, if it doesn’t make sense, just would like him to have those years for the growing up they present. and the fun. its a tough call, but thanks for the reminder!!</p>

<p>racin…both. slow with ‘getting organized to study’, slow reading, (great comprehension,however), slow to apply knowledge he ISn’t interested in to academics…slow processor…terrifically fast and insightful if it is his thing…crew, airplanes, cars, cameras, espresso machines!!</p>

<p>mamon…oh, the words terrify me…precal b/c…no, i don’t know. geometry now, and i am encouraging him to embrace it as this is his area. school, period, is tough. rather DO than talk about doing.</p>

<p>futuredoc, idk yet. with slow processing, idk if it is the speed, or the subject. tbd. yes, i know it is demanding. maybe less so at a more accomodating uni?? Tx Tech, for one, great engineering and LD programs??</p>

<p>T2, yes, I am looking at that. a tough combo…crew - LD aware campus - Less severe (than MIT types) engineering…the crew throws a wrench into that pretty quick!!</p>

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<p>Sorry- sbjdorlo-
It is Construction Management and is part of the Civil Engineering Program at Cal State Northridge.</p>

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<p>Excellent! Thank you, takeitallin.</p>

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<p>Don’t rule out a rowing scholarship. One of my daughter’s friends got a full ride to U Penn for rowing</p>

<p>?? </p>

<p>UPenn is an ivy. I don’t think they give athletic scholarships.</p>

<p>That said, at the schools that give athletic scholarships, there’s a difference between male and female sports.</p>

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<p>And there may very well not be full rides for crew. The major benefit could be – and was in my son’s case – an admissions hook, an instant group of friends, and academic support and advising and mandatory study hall for the team.</p>