there comes a time in every little boy's life...

[wed3k]

well, for my school every degree required calc 3 and then some. i couldnt pass clac 2 for the life of me.

C++ was extremely difficult even though im a computer techie and we needed 3 semesters of physics and i passed the first one off cheating.

maybe i breakdanced too much in front of the library. shoulda been studying inside the library, lol

[zmanwit90accord]

well, for my school every degree required calc 3 and then some. i couldnt pass clac 2 for the life of me.

C++ was extremely difficult even though im a computer techie and we needed 3 semesters of physics and i passed the first one off cheating.

maybe i breakdanced too much in front of the library. shoulda been studying inside the library, lol

i ask because i'm only taking pre-cal honors this year as well as physics and that engineering course. math and science have always been my thing, it's just my middle school didn't exactly make me a genius lol.

i'll remember to you use the library only for studying... and maybe picking up hot smart chicks...

[eriemoto.]

great to hear. as i said, times are a little rough but as soon as i get the chance, i'm going to boston to visit all my favorite schools. i've been to the city but never to any campuses. i love the area and you're right, i need to get to know the campuses.

as for the co-ops, i've heard a lot about them, but never fully understood them. some have told me it's like a paid internship that you get to keep after you graduate, others have described it more like a work-study program. are you in a co-op and if you are, can you describe it?

by the way, i plan to go as far as i can in my education so the amount of time i spend in school isn't really an issue to me.

thanks a lot for the great info

im not in a co-op yet, but i will be later this year. it's pretty much an internship (it can be paid or not, depending on who hires you) where you gain experience in the field in which you are majoring in. you're also not fully guaranteed to keep that job after you graduate, but most students do get offered to stay in their positions when they do finish. either way, it's field experience which you can add to your resume.

as far as gen-ed's and classes like that, if you're having trouble anywhere, there's help everywhere. you just have to want it and ask for it. i hated physics with a passion through high school, and i have already taken and passed physics 1 and 2 at Wentworth with a B or better. you just have to want it enough and it will happen.

[kantkillkeenan]

i know MIT is going to be a problem financially if i'm accepted but it's mainly the name. i mean, if you graduate from MIT, that alone stands for something. it's my number one choice because of location and reputation. as for Boston U, a lot of my friends want to go there for business so i wasn't sure if it would give me the education i wanted, but i will definitely keep a closer eye on it now.

and it's good to hear Wentworth produces great people. this is the first i've ever heard people who went there. i loved them at a college fair i went to, just wasn't sure on its repuatation.

also, any particular reason you declined MIT? you don't have to share if you don't want to.

I decided that I wanted to travel and be free for a couple years before I really start my life. Sounds like it would be not the smart choice but I had some adventures all over the place and would not take it back for anything.
Right now I have a decent job but I am quitting and going back to school in the Spring for HR. It took me a couple years to find myself and realize what I would do well at in life and like it. I like to think of it as saving myself a shit load of $$ and getting to enjoy my youth.

[deevergote]

That makes sense. Imagine where you'd be if you had loans out the ass for MIT, and didn't want to do anything involving engineering!

I'm looking at grad schools. I have the grades to get into Princeton or Penn if I wanted to... and I'd LOVE to... but there's no way in hell I could afford the tuition! I'm smart enough to get in, but definitely not smart enough for a free ride! I could potentially work for the school and get free tuition, plus a small stipend... especially at the doctoral level... but with a house, 3 cars, and my own business that I'd rather not give up... that's not really an option.

I'll be going to a smaller school for a Masters, probably part time. Then I can practice in my field. Once I do that, maybe I'll give up on my current line of work, or pass it on to someone else. I can get involved in my field of choice, and eventually be able to go back for a doctorate.

Or I'll just find myself a sugar mamma that will support me while I cram my dome full of smarts! One can dream...

[zmanwit90accord]

I decided that I wanted to travel and be free for a couple years before I really start my life. Sounds like it would be not the smart choice but I had some adventures all over the place and would not take it back for anything.
Right now I have a decent job but I am quitting and going back to school in the Spring for HR. It took me a couple years to find myself and realize what I would do well at in life and like it. I like to think of it as saving myself a shit load of $$ and getting to enjoy my youth.

that's good. i'd like to travel too. i've been to costa rica for community service and i love it. i'd love to go places just for fun though lol.

That makes sense. Imagine where you'd be if you had loans out the ass for MIT, and didn't want to do anything involving engineering!

I'm looking at grad schools. I have the grades to get into Princeton or Penn if I wanted to... and I'd LOVE to... but there's no way in hell I could afford the tuition! I'm smart enough to get in, but definitely not smart enough for a free ride! I could potentially work for the school and get free tuition, plus a small stipend... especially at the doctoral level... but with a house, 3 cars, and my own business that I'd rather not give up... that's not really an option.

I'll be going to a smaller school for a Masters, probably part time. Then I can practice in my field. Once I do that, maybe I'll give up on my current line of work, or pass it on to someone else. I can get involved in my field of choice, and eventually be able to go back for a doctorate.

Or I'll just find myself a sugar mamma that will support me while I cram my dome full of smarts! One can dream...

i here ya deev. money is always an issue. my mom just told me that the university of puerto rico (which is like the MIT of the island) only costs $4000 a year. even less for residents... that baffles me. the thing is that they have a complicated application process where you need to score a certain number of points on their scale for you to even APPLY to the engineering school. so i either have to get my grades up/SAT scores up or pay outrageous loans off until i'm retired lol.

as for that sugar mamma, if you find one, let me know if she has a sister... a more attractive, younger, possibly smarter sister.

[HondaB18]

Wow, it just seems hard to believe that he wouldn't have a job after graduating from there. Engineers should still be in high demand right?

You'd be surprised. MIT/Harvard do not guarantee job placement. Most company are downsizing and rather not hire people that are over-qualify cause they know they'll be gone the moment they get a chance and/or ask for a higher salary.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Boston University

if you or people you know have been to these schools, i'd love to hear about it! thanks in advance for the input.

Wentworth is next to Northeastern, few train stops and you're at BU. N.E is big on co-op but that'll extend your graduation. Most co-op companies are non-paid or very low paying compared to what it was like 4 years ago.

It's really what you are looking for in terms of class structure. Study materials are mostly the same since it is standardized. Make sure the college/university is accredited.

What was your high school grades like? GPA? SAT? Getting into those are getting harder and harder.

Few make it into MIT and even fewer survive.

[zmanwit90accord]

What was your high school grades like? GPA? SAT? Getting into those are getting harder and harder.

Few make it into MIT and even fewer survive.

well my senior year is yet to be determined but i check before junior year ended and my school average is about 87. i think that's like a 3.4 probably closer to 3.3. as for my SATs, i got a 1600 and being dissatisfied, i'm taking them again next month.

i'm aware of the difficulty and challenges of some of the more prestigious schools, but this is something i really want and will work tremendously hard for. i appreciate the advice though, i always need to keep that in mind.

[eriemoto.]

well my senior year is yet to be determined but i check before junior year ended and my school average is about 87. i think that's like a 3.4 probably closer to 3.3. as for my SATs, i got a 1600 and being dissatisfied, i'm taking them again next month.

i'm aware of the difficulty and challenges of some of the more prestigious schools, but this is something i really want and will work tremendously hard for. i appreciate the advice though, i always need to keep that in mind.

honestly IMO, this field is not very much determined by where you have your degree from. it's more about your work experience, ethics, determination, and who you know (hook-ups/recommendations).

others may disagree, but many people i've come in contact with who are already in the field seem to agree with this.

[deevergote]

well my senior year is yet to be determined but i check before junior year ended and my school average is about 87. i think that's like a 3.4 probably closer to 3.3. as for my SATs, i got a 1600 and being dissatisfied, i'm taking them again next month.

i'm aware of the difficulty and challenges of some of the more prestigious schools, but this is something i really want and will work tremendously hard for. i appreciate the advice though, i always need to keep that in mind.

You got a 1600 on the SATs? Have they changed the scoring methods? I thought that was a perfect score!
It looks like they changed things in 2005... I took the SAT in 1997.

[eriemoto.]

You got a 1600 on the SATs? Have they changed the scoring methods? I thought that was a perfect score!
It looks like they changed things in 2005... I took the SAT in 1997.

it's out of 2400 now or something like that.. someone chime in with the exact number

[zmanwit90accord]

it is out of 2400. they added a writing part which always screws me over lol. those damn essays! it's not that im not good in english, i just hate it.

1600 is about the average mark i suppose.

there is another test i took, the ACT. that is out of 36 and i scored a 28. that better than the SAT score, but still not good enough for the average MIT applicant. good enough for Rensselaer though!

back on topic though, i do know a few engineers. i haven't had much experience with them or the exact field of mechanical engineering. i'm not even exactly sure what experience i should gain before entering the field. i've talked to them but not to an extent where i really have a feel for what they do. i'm also fortunate enough to know a few people in power such as state attorneys and even an ex-representative of the state. i'd like to think i'm a good kid so i don't worry about the recommendations, i'm concerned more about being prepared so i'm going to see what experience i can gather from the people i know.

[deevergote]

AccordWarrior went to Northeastern for mechanical engineering. If you're considering that school, you might want to shoot him a PM. I believe he actually got hired where he did his internship.

[JaberCB7]

Wish you luck Frankey

Im sure all of the colleges you named are good but remember its not the college that makes you into the tech your trying to be. Make sure you stay focus out there so that when you graduate you can teach me and jeremy how to work on our car Good luck man

[LinX]

what are good majors to uhh... major in? and mayeb a couple minors too. i want to be as prepared as possible.

what school did you go to? if you don't mind me asking

The list of good majors can go on and on. You can never go wrong with engineering however. I graduated from the University of California San Diego [UCSD] with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 4 years. If you're lucky you'll get a job right after undergraduate school and have your employer pay for grad school if that's your goal. I'm currently studying for an MS in systems engineering and it's 100% paid.