As of now I am a freshman at Colorado School of Mines. Last year when I was a senior in highschool I was deciding whether to go to mines or CU boulder, I choose to go to mines as said above. I don’t really like it here so in October I was looking into transferring into CU’s aerospace engineering program in the spring of 2019, as that is what my major was when I got accepted in the fall 2018. I did the transfer application October 1st, and finally today they got back to me. I talked with my councilor and he said basically that I need to complete calc 1, calc 2, and chemistry or physics at a community college then I can most likely get into the school of engineering at CU starting next year in the fall of 2019. This is fine and all, but I just feel like going to community college just sets me more behind then I already am. This semester I’m in a lot of required classes for mines, that CU doesn’t’ necessarily require, the only class that will really only be a requirement is Calc 1. Is there any way that I can be accepted into the engineering program in the spring of 2019 if I take on extra classes or anything. The curriculum for aerospace engineering at CU for fall freshman is: Calc 1, Engineering projects, computer science, and a HSS elective. I feel like if they would accept me in the engineering program I could catch up on these requirements specific to CU, rather than a community college where I couldn’t take engineering projects, or anything like that.
How about taking Calculus 1 and 2, chemistry and physics at MINES, so stay for year and then transfer all those credits? There is absolutely NO reason to go to Front Range Community College, IF CU Boulder will take transfer credits from Mines. Call them and ask. I would be completely shocked if they did not transfer Mines credits.
You will be doing yourself a terrible disservice if you drop out of Mines. Stick with it for a year, but transfer for next fall.
What is wrong at Mines, are you passing Calculus 1? Can you sign up for chemistry, physics and Calculus 2 in the spring? Its too late to add physics, I take it you are not taking physics at Mines, but I was thinking it was required by mechanical engineering and most majors at Mines.
If you explain your exact fall schedule at Mines , that might be helpful to understand your situation.
It looks like Front Range has a well defined transfer program into CU Aerospace Engineering.
https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/front-range-community-college-transfer-pathway
Could you not finish up your prerequisites (Physics, Cal 2, and maybe a lower level required humanities class) at Front Range next spring? Use the extra time to work part time? It may be more cost effective than spending another whole semester at Mines, taking classes that will not count towards your degree at CU, especially if you are unhappy there.
I would do some soul searching and decide whether this is what you really want. Are you really going to be happier at CU? Mines is a great school, so I would want to be absolutely sure. You are going from one engineering school to another, so I assume that is your major that you are most unhappy with and aerospace is not offered at Mines. Just be realistic and realize the grass is not always greener.
Also, it does appear that Front Range offers the engineering projects class, as well as computer science. I don’t see why you could not take a full community college load and not get right back on track. Good questions for the counselors at CU. Best of luck.
The problem is that Front Range is just not the same level as Mines, or CU Engineering. While there is a path, its very unlikely to transfer from Front Range CC into CU engineering. Its much much better to stay at Mines to prepare. Also CU Engineering admissions might question why you left Mines. Front Range will not prepare you as well as Mines for CU Engineering. The first year classes are the same at Mines and CU Engineering, Calculus 1, 2 and 3, differential equations, and Physics (Mechanics ) and Physics E&M. You can take all of that at either school, and mechanical engineering classes at Mines will help you at CU Engineering.
In fact Mines mechanical engineering graduates get more offers in aerospace companies than CU students is the word on the street, so I don’t think you should transfer, unless there is some compelling reason.
Classes at Front Range will set you behind, (they are much easier than high school AP classes for the most part, with very easy tests ) even though the FRCC website says you can transfer, realistically, its not going to be the same freshman education in math and physics, and transfers will require straight As at Front Range to manage to transfer. At Mines, a grade of B is equivalent to A+ other schools, and Cs may still get you
a transfer. Mines is a very tough school compared to Front Range CC.
You should be able to take an intro CS class in the spring at Mines and get your physics done too. As long as you can afford Mines, stay there for the year. You may even find that you adjust to the environment. Good luck.
Many aerospace companies like Lockheed , Ball Aero, Grumman, prefer Mines mechanical engineers over
CU grads because Mines has a very good practicum summer class required after sophomore year, and more rigorous math than even CU Engineering offers.
@Coloradomama I would like to VERY RESPECTFULLY disagree with your last paragraph. I am a 27+ year Electrical Engineer in the Colorado area that hires both CU and Mines grads. I’ve worked with over 30+ of these over the years.
The CU Math and Engineering curriculum is every bit as rigorous as the Mines degree. Those grads come into our group and do every bit as well as Mines grads. I tease Mines grads all the time as they think their program is so superior. Honestly, it’s not. IT’S A GREAT PROGRAM, but not better than other high value engineering school.
To add to my defense, my D is a senior at CU this year in Mechanical. She’s already worked two summers at JPL/NASA (on the InSight program) and another at Lockheed. She’s already accepted a full time position with Lockheed after her one year masters program (2020) with a six figure salary. My D is graduating with a 4.0 and lots of research (including PM of large satellite projects), so she’s not the run of the mill student.
However, I’ve discussed my daughter’s opportunities with many of my Mines co-workers. Those opportunities did not exist at Mines. Yes, Lockheed hires MInes graduates, but no she would not have had the Space Grant, space research, or JPL opportunities she had at Mines. Btw, my D had summer intern offers from Grumman, Ball, NASA, and Lockheed as an entering Senior. One of her best friends has accepted a full time offer at Grumman (CU Aero major).
Again, very respectfully… Mines is a great program and I will be honored if my next S chooses it (he’s a Junior in HS). However, do not say it’s math is more rigorous. Just not accurate IMO.
My impression is that all the public community colleges in Colorado act as feeder schools to CU Engineering. There are a set group of classes you take and if you do well enough, CU will automatically take you. It appears to work just like CU’s pre-engineering program.
What you do is work with a counselor at both the community college and at CU. I have no personal experience, but it is my impression that these feeder programs are not considered substandard. They are a cheaper way for some kids to get two years of requirements out of the way. Plus it sounds like you might get more personal attention in the CC classes, if that is what you need.
I’m gathering that the dropout rate for CU engineering is high enough that by the time you’ve finished the first two years elsewhere, there is room for you at CU.
Can you transfer to CU school of A&S, and just take the pre-reqs to get into engineering?
I don’t think CC is a step backward, but it is hard to have so many transfers. Personally, if CU won’t let you transfer to CU at this time, I’d continue at Mines until you have finished the classes needed for transfer. You don’t like Mines but why do you think you’ll like community college better (other than the cost)? Can you live at home or will CC require another move? Why do you think you’ll like CU better than Mines? It will still be calc and physics.
Another option might be Metro.