<p>DS has been accepted into the Mechanical Engineering program. His is very interested in studying abroad for a semester or even a year. The Texas A&M website and literature don't reveal very much in the way of study abroad for mechanical engineering. It seems like they just offer summer sessions abroad. Can any of you current engineering students shed some light on this subject? Thanks.</p>
<p>I haven’t met any engineers going abroad. I think this is probably due to the length some people know it may take to graduate, and going abroad would just add to that. I personally plan to graduate in 4, but that’s only by doing some winter minimesters and summer schooling. The closest thing I’ve heard is I think that over spring break some engineers were invited to go to Qatar for a week. If he really wanted to go abroad he could probably get all of his elective credits out of the way while abroad.</p>
<p>studying abroad is entirely dependent on whether you really want to do it or not. many classes abroad that a&m sponsors are generally for elective courses, or more specific majors required courses. as TXAggie said, many engineers have a tight schedule at a&m as is, but i have heard stories of people who took their elective courses, or highly irrelevant courses abroad for fun haha none regret it however</p>
<p>even then, very short terms abroad are offered; a friend of mine was taking german 101 and was offered to go abroad for a few weeks during fall semester, i myself went to paris for spring break because i was offered a one credit “sampler” of sorts</p>
<p>^But if you go abroad for a few weeks during a regular semester, how do you handle the rest of your classes?</p>
<p>My son and I did meet two A&M engineering students who studied abroad. There’s a big A&M program in Qatar. One student spent a summer there, but he said there are semester programs there as well. Another went to Hong Kong for a semester. And the one who studied in Qatar had an engineering friend who spent a whole year in Spain studying engineering. So, these programs do apparently exist. :)</p>
<p>SimpleLife - my friend’s trip to germany was scheduled over thanksgiving break and then some, you’d just notify your other teachers before hand and work it out with them. my trip to paris was one week long, but i had to skip my friday classes in order to leave on time, so i just told my professors and one moved back an exam for me and the other told me to make sure i grab the class notes off of someone else. generally though, true study abroad classes will be minimesters or full semesters, ours just happened to be little samplers</p>
<p>[Study</a> Abroad Programs Office](<a href=“http://studyabroad.tamu.edu/]Study”>http://studyabroad.tamu.edu/)</p>
<p>There is different type, duration of study aboard program. S2 went to study aboard Brazil Sau Paulo for 6 weeks EE program during summer 2010 (post SORPH). He took 2 EE classes; equivalent to on campus credit. The classes was taught by TAMU professor in the morning, and they have cultural classes in the afternoon. It is not all fun and play. The classes are compressed from one semester into about 5+ weeks. A lot of material to cover, and many quizzes and exam. He did have field trips and some weekend fun. But it was an intense program. Since the group is small, he also get to know his professor.<br>
You can apply summer scholarship for the study aboard program and if you are NMF, you can also apply for that amount as stipulated in your package. It end up costing less vs staying in TAMU that is including the airfare, room and board. There is dead line for application pending when you are attending the program. There is a lot of logistic involved like getting the VISA, arrange for airfare, registering for courses / approval if other non-professor lead program etc. Go to the web site, familiar yourself and attend a study aboard session and plan ahead.
It is a good experience and take advantage of it if you can afford it.</p>
<p>[Study</a> Abroad | College of Engineering](<a href=“http://engineering.tamu.edu/international/studyabroad/]Study”>http://engineering.tamu.edu/international/studyabroad/)
* Faculty-led group study programs
These programs are led by College of Engineering faculty group leaders. Programs are available for undergraduate students for summer sessions. All courses are taught in English.</p>
<p>“Faculty lead program credit wise and benefit is that, you will receive the require equivalent credit from your plan curriculum”.</p>
<p>“Bear in mind, classes conducted in English is important if you spend less then 3 months anywhere. Or else, by the time you are familiar with the language, it is time to leave and come home. For Engineering, it is a hindrance. For International studies not too bad. I am fluent in multiple languages and based on experience.”</p>
<p>As TXAggie92 said this would definitely prolong his grad date. Maybe a better idea is to vacation abroad during one summer. If he has AP credit for most of the elective courses it would be hard to come up with an valid reason to do the program (other than I’m sure he’d have a great time :-).</p>
<p>Some example link programs:
<a href=“Electrical and Computer Engineering | Texas A&M University Engineering”>Electrical and Computer Engineering | Texas A&M University Engineering;
<p>[Brazil-Aerospace</a> | Study Abroad | Locations | College of Engineering](<a href=“http://engineering.tamu.edu/international/studyabroad/locations/brazil-aerospace/]Brazil-Aerospace”>http://engineering.tamu.edu/international/studyabroad/locations/brazil-aerospace/)</p>
<p>That is not truth, we have similar miss conception as well prior. If you take the “faculty lead” program, it will be similar to taking summer school. Those courses regardless is something you will have to take in your curriculum. In fact, for S2, because he did that program, plus prior summer schools and AP, per his adviser he can actually graduate early. He is now ahead, and have the option of looking into fast track due to his reduce load in Senior year.</p>
<p>It is a good experience however it is not for everyone. If you have to work summer just to save for the rest of the academic year then it won’t work. I do admire those students have to do that. It is dedication and maturity.</p>
<p>^I see what you’re saying, ucla011. If I understand you right, what your son did didn’t prolong his undergraduate degree at all. Instead, it shortened it, because he took a few classes over the summer – abroad – instead of during the school year. He is therefore “primed” to take advantage of the fast track program if he wants to do that. Right? </p>
<p>My son and I noticed that with all his AP credits, he should be able to take 12 credit hours the first semester, followed by 14-15 credit hours every semester thereafter (INCLUDING one music class each semester) in order to complete his engineering degree. We were pretty happy to see that. He also wants to study abroad, and the way your son did it (over the summer) has been the most appealing option to him. </p>
<p>Question (for anybody): Is it smart to start out with just 12 credit hours his first semester and then take “just” 14-15 each semester thereafter? My son thinks he’s going to sign up for just 12 in the fall because his scholarships, which are huge, require a 3.5 GPA – and he has no idea how hard it is to maintain that in college (since he’s never been in college! 
). Now that you’re mentioning the fast track program, ucla011, you have me wondering … is 12 smart the first semester? … AND, is it smart to take just 14-15 thereafter (which includes what should be an easy-but-time-consuming 3-credit hour music class), or could more hours than that be reasonably attainable in following semesters, so that he could eventually do the fast-track program?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>All students are given year of entrance major require curriculum. Based on that list, cancel and max it out with AP credit for electives entitle. That should reduce to one year equivalent credit load. If you take calculus in HS and get the credit use it. Both my sons in 2 different Engineering, 2 different Universities and both said don’t repeat. There is no guarantee you will do well and don’t believe the hype you are better prepare. With the category of electives, 2 of them you can take one class and satisfy 2 category, do it. Printout the electives list and match the classes.</p>
<p>S2 plan his class carefully to make sure prerequisite are taking ahead of other sequence / upper division classes even it not in syn with the recommended semester. Do the same when planning summer classes. It is not so much credit load but how many classes as it varies from 1-4. So balancing out the load for difficult classes vs less stringent while during1-2 yrs with electives / 1-2 CR classes.</p>
<p>If you can afford study aboard with “faculty lead”, do it. The world is more global now. It open their horizon.</p>
<p>Fast track is for graduate school, you will received advising from your adviser during your Junior year. It is based on your academic standing and have to be recommended. The fast track credit in Senior year will only apply to student accepted into the TAMU graduate program. However, looking from another anchor, you may know the professor better and may help in obtaining reference letter for graduate school application. The 600 series graduate level is more demanding and expectation of having the basic knowledge is high. S2 is still contemplating and apprehensive. As he have to maintain that magic 3.5 as well. The option is there, it is up to him, we can only encourage.</p>
<p>BTW - clarification,</p>
<p>Graduate early is just that if he choose to, which we don’t encourage.</p>
<p>Fast track as mention, it is a program for Senior taking graduate level classes. The credit earn can go towards graduate school requirement if accepted into TAMU.</p>
<p>^Okay. Thanks, ucla011! I do understand what the fast track program is. It’s something that my son has been thinking about doing since he first thought about college.</p>
<p>And I also agree with your advice about not graduating early. My son does not want to graduate early. When you mentioned that your son has finished enough credit hours to permit his access to the fast track program, it occurred to me that maybe my son’s plan (to spread out all of his required courses – mainly engineering courses, since he’ll have AP credits for nearly all the core) might not be such a good plan, because if he didn’t spread out his classes so much, he’d be farther ahaed of the game in his junior year when it came time to start the fast track thing.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think I get what you’re saying. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom about this!
:)</p>