UMD Summer program ( Summer 2018 ) - it : http://www.ursp.umd.edu/summer
There 's also a UMD intensive program w/ engineering: https://oes.umd.edu/middle-high-school-students/terp-young-scholars/terp-young-scholars-courses/terp-young-scholars-engineering-design
My kid liked his 1-week summer program at UMD in CS.
The important qualities for a successful engineering major/ engineer would be IMHO…
-loves math and problem solving through math
Reassure your son that he might decide engineering is for him…but that it will be OK to switch if he takes some courses and decides engineering is NOT for him.
Some kids really think engineering is their thing until they get into the coursework…and then hate it. OR take another course or two in another major, and find a desire to pursue that.
Many kids enter college with one major firmly in their heads…and switch majors…sometimes multiple times.
A friend of my son is in the Engineering program at Texas A&M and he did not take Calc AB in HS. To echo post #42, but on a different note, my D went through HS knowing she would be pre-med, and attended college on that track, only to change her mind after freshman year. And we look back and see that coming - the course load for a Bio major is tough and she was not passionate about it. It all worked out though!!
Sorry, I have not read the whole thread. As a senior engineer ,these are my thoughts. FIrst, does he like math? It is so crucial to succeeding. Second, does he like to figure things out? Could be a lawmower, a musical performance, or a software sequence. Thirrd, so what if he starts out in eng and ends up in something else. Who cares? Last, will he seek out help? Everyone (and I am an Engineer) needs help. Will he collaborate and seek out help? Better to start in engineering than try to transfer in later.
My DS is similar. When he was little, he was obsessed with numbers. For him, it often came out is selling/bartering (for example, Pokémon cards). Anyway, I’d always thought he’d go into business with his love of numbers. It wasn’t until high school that my son started taking engineering classes and we started to consider engineering. For colleges, are there places where a student could pursue both engineering and business? It seems like they need to apply to engineering majors from high school which doesn’t give them time to explore other options.
@mamon and @Counselmom – In our state, there’s one public flagship that would be much better for business and the other for engineering. Which means if he started in engineering and then changes his mind, he’d not be in a great fit college.
I know some other state flagships are strong in both which would make switching less of a big deal – but we generally do have great state schools so I’m hesitant to pay so much more OOS just as an ‘insurance policy’ if engineering doesn’t work out. May look at some privates that are good in both but the cost numbers would have to work out…
Thanks for your input!
@AlmostThere2018 This program was great when our DS was deciding on whether to major in engineering.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/Honors/future-students/STEP
My DS16 is an EE major with a business minor. It can be done.
Honestly if he is interested in engineering I would have himstart down the engineering path. If he can hack the math, then he can hack engineering. If he can’t, he can switch to another major.
I am similarly trying to help S21/D21 (10th) decide if engineering might be their route. As others have noted, some schools are better for engineering or business, and you have to apply directly to some programs. Yes you can switch, but you might not get into say a competitive business school if switching from engineering.
I keep thinking there really is an engineering type. S is a natural at math (in calc BC now, math club, takes competitions and does pretty well), but never liked legos and doesn’t even try to problem solve how to fill up the gas tank, lol! In AP Chem, which is also very easy for him. But, doesn’t try to figure out things on computer.
D is good enough in math (trig/precalc now with 98 av) but doesn’t like it! Also doing well in AP Chem, but has to put in more work for the grade than S. But, D loved legos, is great on computer, is very problem-solving oriented (in life, not math, S is great at math problem solving, not life), is a sculptor (likes working with her hands and tools, building).
What would you say?
Re: #50
Your son is at +3 in math while your daughter is at +2 in math, so they both should be among the top students in math (more than “good enough”), so math skill should not be a problem.
It is still early to know what their interests are, though your current description suggests that your daughter may be more likely to be interested in engineering or CS (if she is willing to use math as a tool even if it is not her favorite subject) while your son may want to do pure math (or maybe something else mathematically theoretical). But that can easily change.
Is there PLTW or similar program available that can help high school students determine their interest in engineering?
Thanks @ucbalumnus. No, their school doesn’t have that, and they’re only allowed to take 6 classes, 5 main subjects plus their art/performing art, which they don’t want to drop, so they can’t explore that way. So, I’m looking into summer camps. Their older brother didn’t really have any idea of what he wanted to do, but knew it wasn’t engineering, so is at s liberal arts school. I’m hoping there is a way to help them have a better idea than he did.
I am a math prof who started out as an engineering major as an undergrad. As others have said, it’s easier to start in engineering and transfer out than the other way. I would add that nowadays, many business programs are so quantitative that someone who likes math and problem solving could find an interesting program at many good business schools.
Both programs can be competitive to get into, so switching to a business major may not be as easy as it was in my day.
He sounds right on track. My kid is in engineering now. He didn’t set up a garage workshop and he is smart, but not brilliant. You don’t have to be brilliant.
A few notes:
Summer camp: we liked the offerings at Worcester Polytech, Rose Hullman, Stevens Tech and Norte Dame (astronomy) when my son was liking. My nephew has a blast at Michigan. Maybe some good leads for you.
My son is a senior and doing the ACE mentorship program where practitioners in architecture, construction and engineering guide high school students in these areas. There are competitions, visits to colleges, etc. It has been feast and I wish we had found it sooner.
Some schools offer combined Business Management / Engineering degrees. Might be worth looking into. Then he wouldn’t have to choose. It was explained to us that these degrees are lighter on the math which might be another benefit if that’s where you feel he’s week.
The link below is to one offered at a small college we came across. Its probably not what you’re looking for, but it gives you an idea of that type of program. I’m sure there are lots of other colleges offering similar programs as well.
https://www.cbu.edu/bs-engineering-management
I also agree that from what we’ve found researching engineering schools over the last year and a half, you can transfer out of the engineering programs easily, but not into. Most schools have told us that we had to come in declared engineering from the beginning.
Quick update on my S21: he just got accepted to Stevens engineering pre-college program this summer which I found through this thread so thank you!!
He’s still working through his summer plans, but I think he’ll do this. It’s pricey but my D did a pre-college program one summer so it’s only fair, and I think it’ll help him learn more about what he likes or doesn’t like about engineering.
He’s at his first robotics competition today – they are a rookie team but had a lot of fun and it appears he’s been a big contributor. His PLTW teacher is also trying to get him into Skills USA.
Seems to have worked out his schedule in our small school so that he can take AP Calc BC and AP Physics 1 & 2 his senior year so I think he’s in fine shape. (Fingers crossed they do offer the Physics his senior year. . . we have a verbal affirmation they will but they won’t promise.)
Still talking about business and entrepreneurship too, and he’s intrigued by colleges that offer integrated engineering/business or engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship…
Thanks again for all the input on this thread – it’s been a wealth of tips and insights that are really helpful to me and to him! Yay CC!!
FYI. So was my son combining business and engineering. Look up industrial engineering. This is what this is. A very business orientated engineering discipline.
Just noticed I already commented about this… But my son really enjoys it.