<p>We toured there this summer and loved the campus! Very eclectic and everyone was so friendly! Son wants to go into an engineering major and again, everyone in the department was super.</p>
<p>My son also has other interests though, and was looking forward to pursuing those at the same time. </p>
<p>About a month ago I found out the SAGES program is mandatory, even for engineering students. We're afraid that this will soak up what little time he was going to have to pursue those interests outside of the engin. dept. </p>
<p>I look forward to your thoughts on this. Thanks!</p>
<p>Personally, I absolutely loved the idea of the SAGES program when I first heard about it. It allows you to delve deeper into a subject that interests you, and you have a lot of one-on-one time with your instructor. I'm from a small, private school, and we have a similar program (it is optional). As part of my school's program, you get to work with a teacher and create a new course that the school does not offer. You also get to design the course work and requirements. I loved it because I was able to take Developmental Psychology, which my school did not offer. Anyway, the SAGES program seems pretty similar. I don't think it will really take away time from his other EC's (remember, athletes have to take the SAGES program too and they will still have time for practice, school work, fun, ect.). Instead, I think that it will just allow him to be more excited about his school work.</p>
<p>Although my son has no opinion about it, I like the looks of the SAGES program better than a basic core curriculum. I like the interdisciplinary aspect of it. I'm worried that too many core curricula mimic high school courses - sort of boring, basic stuff that kids out of good high schools might find redundant. SAGES looks like there is an opportunity for it to actually be interesting!</p>
<p>It sounds pretty interesting, but I'm still not sure what exactly it is...Is it just classes, but in a seminar-based setting? I read some of those "testimonial" things, and some of them were pretty good.</p>
<p>We also recently received a mailing, called "Staying Connected" (I think it is a parent newsletter) that tells all about it. Basically it sounds like a series of seminars for the first 2 years (various topics), a third year departmental seminar (in their major), and a senior project. Classes are small (max 17). All students take it - engineering, pre med, whatever.</p>