<p>So ... my S is a junior in HS and does quite well in math and science. He'll be completing linear algebra this year, and has a summer reserach internship with a USC earth sciences professor, and S will be working on computer modeling associated with climate change (global warming and such.) He likes the sciences so well that he's looking into applying places that have integrated science programs, or good interdisciplinary programs.</p>
<p>Over the last year or so, he's waxed and waned about whether engineering was in the mix as a possible major as well. After taking the AP Physics C exam yesterday (where some of the mechanics FRQs were "pure evil") he's now waned again on engineering.</p>
<p>Okay, here's the question. It seems there are so many different kinds of engineering that it can accomodate a student with varied interests. For example, biomedical engineering may be of interest to one who likes biomed, chemical engineering and chemistry and so on.</p>
<p>REAL QUESTION HERE: For your specific field of engineering, please explain what interested you in it and the non-core engineering classes and/or your skills set that made you good at it.</p>
<p>I’m computer science, which may not exactly be engineering, but close enough for this discussion.</p>
<p>I was interested in CS because it combines the creativity of math and the satisfaction of actually making things. It’s all problem-solving and logic, for the most part, and that makes it fun. CS and SE are great fields to be in right now, as evidenced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook projections.</p>
<p>The classes? It’s a versatile major, moreso than most other engineering fields, and in this respect is more like a pure science major. In fact, you may actually consider it as such, and this can be more or less true depending on where you choose to go. Core classes including a strong foundation in programming and mathematics, a smattering of more advanced CS theory topics, an introduction to hardware issues, and an overview of software engineering practice. There are plenty of electives which allow you to specialize in one of these core areas, or in some other area (math, physics, biology, etc.)</p>
<p>I’ve double-majored in CS and Physics, and will almost have a minor in math by accident. You can get as much physics in the degree as you want; ranging from none (some people take biology or chemistry instead) to all of it (what I’m doing). It would have been a simple matter for me to have double majored in any science subject I found interesting; vice versa (that is, science with a double major in CS) would have been feasible as well.</p>
<p>Non core skills? Logic and problem solving. CS is problem solving. I can highly recommend CS to anybody. If you like math, but (a) don’t want to be a math major for some reason, (b) enjoy modeling or simulation, or (c) just like using computers and the idea of “playing god” via programming, then you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>Thanks AuburnMathTutor.</p>
<p>Bump to the rest of CC world. Lot’s of reads on this but more responses would be great.</p>
<p>I was/am interested in how things are made. I never was so much concerned with what is made, but it’s the how that intrigued me. If that “How it’s Made” show on FoodTV was on when I was younger that would be all I would watch. I love cause and effect machines and discovery of process I find as “clever” (note, it’s the process I like). This put me in the MechE or ChemE category of engineering, Industrial(?) not so much as that would be more sourcing and planning than design. I went with ChemE because, in the end, it is more how and less what. MechEs do play a large part in process design, and make great Process Engineers, but ChemEs tend to gravitate to the design and operation of the process more where MechE will design, operate, and improve the individual machines. </p>
<p>In my career I have worked with a lot of MechEs. Generally, for a project to be successful you need a MechE and ChemE, at least in my field(s). And, if the plant will be automation heavy a good Controls Engineer is worth their weight in gold. These guys generally are MechE or EE by education.</p>
<p>Anyway, for your son’s varied interests he should look into programs that are more exploratory and interdisciplinary. Harvey Mudd’s engineer degree is just that, a BS in Engineering, and is very encompassing as well as very well respected. It is a tough program to get into, but your son sounds exceptional.</p>
<p>Was good at math and science and loved computers so I did computer engineering.</p>
<p>wow finishing linear algebra in junior year, thats pretty impressive</p>
<p>My H, his father, is a math professor, so S hasn’t fallen far from the paternal tree. Lots of engineers in the family tree. I was pleased when H mentioned that linear algebra was sometimes a “weeder” course for engineers, similar to organic chem for pre-meds.</p>
<p>It’s definitely impressive. He’ll succeed at whatever he does, surely. Why doesn’t he like physics?</p>
<p>Oh, he does like physics. He just needs some distancing from the Monday AP exam. He noted it was definitely the most challenging single subject test he’s taken. Based on CC, I’d say there were a lot of students moaning about the AP Physics C test. The question my H asked me is why he was relating physics so much to engineering (and thus the reason for my question on CC.) I told him to ask S.</p>
<p>Actually, he can’t be distancing too far since he’s going to take the SAT II in physics in just a few weeks here.</p>