Question for the Engineers

[AggieDave 6]

Texas A&M is a well respected engineering school, especially for Nuke engineering and patrolium engineering...and civil engineering and mechanical and electrical...well, you get the point.

The only problem is that we only have a women's soccer team (loooong story but its the same all over TX).

The upside is he gets to be an Aggie. The Aggie Family takes care of its own and having that ring gets you jobs. Not only that but the campus is very friendly and a pleasent place, better then a lot of the small schools I visited (A&M currently has about 45,000 students).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[turtlespeed 226]

You forgot to mention that the DZ is close to campus and he would feel right at home.

Architectural engineering is high on the list as well.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[skymama 37]

Quote

I would encourage you to lean towards the school with the most available hands on activity.

That's what is so exciting to him about the Engineering Program because it is mostly hands-on. We took a tour of the classes and they had current students stationed around the rooms showing and explaining projects they were working on. They have the CAD program, their own blueprinting maching, a computer at every desk, they inturn at engineering offices as Seniors...it was really impressive. I'd never choose a standard classroom over that stuff!

As far as writing goes, FL has a standardized test called the FCAT which is very heavy in writing. All students have to pass it to get out of high school. Actually, the kids complain about how many essays they have to write.

I want this to be his decision. I never want him to be able to hold this against me if he doesn't like it!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[jumpwally 0]

Best of Luck to your son...Remember, he is only a kid once. Undue pressure is no good, round him out and when it comes time to excell, he can. wally

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[jumper03 0]

Quote

patrolium engineering

need we say more about A&M?

They do turn out fine highway patrolmen....

Scars remind us that the past is real

[wmw999 2,584]

Quote

patrolium engineering

Quote

need we say more about A&M?

Bwahahaha!!!

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Dougiefresh 0]

Quote

it is mostly hands-on. We took a tour of the classes and they had current students stationed around the rooms showing and explaining projects they were working on. They have the CAD program, their own blueprinting maching, a computer at every desk, they inturn at engineering offices as Seniors

This is the most important thing, IMHO. There is an enormous amount of learning that you simply cannot do by copying notes out of a textbook and memorizing equations. He is going to go into college with real, applicable skills, which will put him light years ahead of his classmates. High school for most people is a very passive experience -- go to class, do your homework, take the test, get the grade. But if you're put in a situation where you're constantly FORCED to learn by having to produce something, all that work doesn't seem tedious. If you can't do your project because you don't know AutoCAD, well, you go teach yourself autocad.

This is the type of learning, the self-teaching, that I didn't get until grad school, and it was a tough transition for me. Send him to the magnet school.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Quote
patrolium engineering
Quote
need we say more about A&M?

Bwahahaha!!!

Yeah, I'm laughing too...that was very funny.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[lawrocket 3]

Get that kid ready for the future. He'll face the same thing when he goes to college, grad school, etc. Heck, every time he switches jobs he'll face the same thing.

Let the lad get some real-life experience early on.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Rick 67]

a few years ago my nephew got accepted into a school that some of his friends applied to and were turned down. The only differance was he had been in a magnet school and most of his classes were ap and honors. The admissions boards do look at the classes taken and not just gpa


my son also went to a magnet school. It was a different high scholl than all the other kids in our neighborhood went to. He found he liked it better for many reasons. The kids were more focused on learning because they had chosen to be in the program and he made many good friends that had similar interests.. I also saw his attitude toward school improve dramatically when he was challenged more by the classes he took.

You can't be drunk all day if you don't start early!

[gravityizsexy 0]

Quote

Quote

I would encourage you to lean towards the school with the most available hands on activity.

That's what is so exciting to him about the Engineering Program because it is mostly hands-on. We took a tour of the classes and they had current students stationed around the rooms showing and explaining projects they were working on. They have the CAD program, their own blueprinting maching, a computer at every desk, they inturn at engineering offices as Seniors...it was really impressive. I'd never choose a standard classroom over that stuff!

As far as writing goes, FL has a standardized test called the FCAT which is very heavy in writing. All students have to pass it to get out of high school. Actually, the kids complain about how many essays they have to write.

I want this to be his decision. I never want him to be able to hold this against me if he doesn't like it!

Wow!!! That sounds great!!! If he got through
admissions, he deserves to be at a place like this.
Good for him, and good for you!... Damn, I'm really
jealous now...

"'Someday is not a day in my week'"

[Superman32 0]

I think its really important for you and him to consider the overall strengh of the other subjects in school. Since he may very easily decide to say screw engineering and become something else.
Friends are a very important part of a teenagers life so, it should not be entirely disregarded.
I think that his best bet would be going to the better school and trying to join the soccer team at the school his friends go to. I don't know if it's possible but its definately worth a try

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[Floats18 0]

Hey,

I'm a Junior studying Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. First off, I love my major and if he wants hands on science and math I wouldn't suggest anything other than ME. I was able to get an awesome internship with American Axle and Manufacturing in Detroit, working close with production, design and testing. I felt like I was getting paid to play with big toys (Hummer H3 prototypes, etc.). At school we have huge labs with lots of equipment, a student machine shop, and plenty of hands on curricular and extracurricular opportunities. Again to rehash, if he likes science and tinkering I'd suggest looking into ME.

That said, I DO NOT think that you should enroll him in the magnet school. I do not feel that it would make him any more prepared to enter college as a student or a young adult. First off, it is important to learn normal social interaction which will probably not be the same at the science school. I went to a local public school in Birmingham, MI which prepared me extremely well for my college education. I was actually inducted into the Honors Freshman Engineering program here a Purdue and I hated it. Although I was able to perform academically, the students (generally) didn't have any social skills at all. I have found through personal experience that developing a well rounded personality will get you farther than a good GPA. For example, my GPA is a 3.05 while a fellow student's is a straight 4.0 (this is no joke). I was able to secure an engineering internship where he couldent, which I believe to be a result of my extracurriculars and interviewing skills. The 4.0 student is hard to hold a conversation with and it shows. I feel that if your son has a normal public education he will be much better off in the long run. I do not know your son though but if I was in his place, I think that following his friends would be the best thing to do as long as his concentration stays on getting the best education he can at the local HS.

Please accept my two cents worth, I hope that you will make the decision which best suits your son.

--- and give them wings so they may fly free forever

DiverDriver in Training

[gravityizsexy 0]

Quote

Hey,

I'm a Junior studying Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. First off, I love my major and if he wants hands on science and math I wouldn't suggest anything other than ME. I was able to get an awesome internship with American Axle and Manufacturing in Detroit, working close with production, design and testing. I felt like I was getting paid to play with big toys (Hummer H3 prototypes, etc.). At school we have huge labs with lots of equipment, a student machine shop, and plenty of hands on curricular and extracurricular opportunities. Again to rehash, if he likes science and tinkering I'd suggest looking into ME.

That said, I DO NOT think that you should enroll him in the magnet school. I do not feel that it would make him any more prepared to enter college as a student or a young adult. First off, it is important to learn normal social interaction which will probably not be the same at the science school. I went to a local public school in Birmingham, MI which prepared me extremely well for my college education. I was actually inducted into the Honors Freshman Engineering program here a Purdue and I hated it. Although I was able to perform academically, the students (generally) didn't have any social skills at all. I have found through personal experience that developing a well rounded personality will get you farther than a good GPA. For example, my GPA is a 3.05 while a fellow student's is a straight 4.0 (this is no joke). I was able to secure an engineering internship where he couldent, which I believe to be a result of my extracurriculars and interviewing skills. The 4.0 student is hard to hold a conversation with and it shows. I feel that if your son has a normal public education he will be much better off in the long run. I do not know your son though but if I was in his place, I think that following his friends would be the best thing to do as long as his concentration stays on getting the best education he can at the local HS.

Please accept my two cents worth, I hope that you will make the decision which best suits your son.

I cannot disagree with you more. Your perception is fair
I just do not see it that way. I believe social skills are
developed at home WHILE they are practiced in common
area. School is NOT a place to learn howto socialize, it
is a place for study and education, not necessarily to
prepare someone for career options, but rather educate
them in the ways of the world. Hence, mandatory curriculum.... Not to say that you cannot have or make
friends in school, I'm saying that if your in a privatized
or select school it will in no way affect the kids social
skills. If anything it would make him potentially more
effiecent at socializing. Being educated at a privatized institution
I wouldn't say that interaction is that much different
than from a public school system if indifferent at all.
What would make you think that? This kid is obviously
not one of the sheeps that are being churned out of
the school systems, and what from andrea says his
potential surpasses that of his friends. He most certainly
should not be held back for something silly like that.
This is a great oppurtunity not many kids are offered.
Also, if he stays current with his extracurriculars (soccer)
his competitive spirit will have bulked up quite a bit by
the time he's applying for a internship/scholarship if he decides to
take that route as will his eye for teamwork, stratigizing, problem solving, etc... your 4.0 friend
probably just didn't want the internship that badly.
That doesn't make him achieve any less than he already
has.

"'Someday is not a day in my week'"

[Floats18 0]

I appreciate your point and I can see where you would feel the way you do about the decision after you had a good expierence at your private school. People look at situations differently, and I guess that I should have just said that the public school route was the best for me as I would not be the person that I have become without it.

I also believe the best place for him to excel in extracurriculars would be at the public school w/ a well developed soccer program. The competative spirit could stay with him but the facilities for him to use it would not be as great as at the public HS.

The 4.0 student was extremely distraught about how he was continuously rejected after many interviews, btw.

--- and give them wings so they may fly free forever

DiverDriver in Training

[gravityizsexy 0]

Well, though it's not upto us, I just want it to be known
that I think this is a great thing, and I wish all the best
to skymama and her son in this.

"'Someday is not a day in my week'"

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

For example, my GPA is a 3.05 while a fellow student's is a straight 4.0 (this is no joke).

Now when I was at Purdue, 4.0 was a "C". and 6.0 was an "A". Did they convert to the normal 4-point scale, or are you translating for the benefit of non-Purdue people?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[skymama 37]

Thank you for all of your opinions. It means a lot to me since it's been awhile since I've been in school and I'm sure things have changed a little. Heck, I went to college back when everyone brought typewriters with them, not computers!

I'm not really concerned with Nick's socialization skills. He's really friendly and funny and he usually ends up being the leader in groups. I'll put it this way...chicks dig him. The magnet program IS at a regular high school. They mix with the other kids for some classes and then have their own wing of the school for the classes in the Engineering program.

As of tonight, one of his friends has decided to go to the zoned school, the other the Engineering school. He still doesn't know what to do!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[TheAnvil 0]

I went to an extremely poor high school academically and only by chance happened to take the SAT/ACT. Now I've a master's degree in systems engineering. I noticed that one advantage my peers in undergrad at GA TECH had over me was that they already knew how to study and I did not. I was able to overcome that, but only through great effort. They also lacked the hick accent that I had acquired through years of living in Appalachian, KY. Don't think any son of yours would have that problem.

Anyway, I recommend attending the magnet school. It can do nothing but good for him. Children so young will make new friends quicky.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Floats18 0]

Yea they must have changed, they only issue grades in A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0 and fail, Thank the lord I've only seen the first three!

--- and give them wings so they may fly free forever

DiverDriver in Training

[AggieDave 6]

D is for diploma...

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[happythoughts 0]

When I was at Couch Freaks a few years ago, I picked up a copy of the Des Moine Sunday paper.

One of the stories was about a company that printed up the diplomas for the University of Iowa. There was a minor defect in the diplomas. They misspelled the word "university".