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Daily Digest Archive for January 26, 2004
Q: (Initially posted January 22, 2004) FROM STUDENT
MEMBER ROBIN B. IN CA
I am part of a program called the Engineering Academy at my
school. This
means that I take specific classes each year (classes that i
would not be
able to take otherwise), such as descriptive geometry, 3D computer
modeling,
and architecture. Next year (senior year) the required classes
are
architecture and 2nd-year physics mechanics, neither of which
interests me
much (especially the physics). For my senior year, I am willing
to work
hard, but i want to be interested and involved in what i am
doing. I also
feel like I am ready to move on from high school to the real
world. Because
of my school and its location, i am able to take certain classes
at
community colleges in the area and (probably, it might take
a lot of work or
hassle to get in to the program) and undergrad classes at UC
Berkeley. There
are also many interesting internships and/or jobs that i might
be able to
obtain as a senior. Doing either of these things would mean
keeping involved
and interested and enthusiastic about what i am doing, but would
also mean giving up at least some of my Engineering classes
(as well as my calculus
class, which i really enjoy). I'm not sure which direction i
should go:
doing (very) challenging, interesting, more unusual things by
myself or
sticking with a known good program even though Idon't enjoy
it as much and
will learn different things from it. Any suggestions? |
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January 26, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR BRENDA WOLFE
IN CO
Robin,
If you desire to pursue any type of Engineering in college,
I would recommend that you stick with the Calculus and Physics.
It will serve you well - even though it may not sound interesting
right now. If you do well and master it (or take the AP tests
at the end of the year) , you can test out when you get to
college and still be ahead. That is what I did.
My advice is to hang with the High School curriculm and enjoy
your senior year. No need to rush into the "real world",
it will still be there one year later.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN
RI
It sounds to me as if you're looking for permission to give
up some
Engineering classes for other good things, like some college
courses
and internships. You don't mention your ultimate goals - will
more
physics be important them? Or would some of the other classes
and
internships be more helpful to you in finding your true path?
You
need to talk it over with people who really know you - like
your
parents, teachers and friends - because the right thing to
do depends
so much on who you are. What parts of the Engineering curriculum
have you liked the most, what parts seem most relevant to
your future
interests as you see them now? And how does that compare to
the
alternatives? I don't think either choice is right or wrong
in the
abstract; what's right for you is what gets you closer to
your goals
or lets you discover (revise) what those goals really are
and keeps
you interested in your studies. What would be wrong is to
get
thoroughly bored and burnt out in you senior year, when the
world of
possibilities is opening out for you.
Best wishes for finding your way.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR MOLLY WILLIAMS
IN MI
Robin, it's surprizing that you like calculus and not physics.
They are
very closely related. Calculus was developed in order to solve
physics
problems; so physics shows how powerful calculus is. You can't
solve
problems in mechanics or electricity and magnetism without
using calculus.
Some students don't like calculus until they see its relevance
to physics.
You have a lot of choices regarding classes and jobs. In order
to prepare
for a career in science or engineering, it is important to
get a good
foundation in mathematics and science. That would seem to
argue for you to
stay with the engineering program at your high school, especially
the
mathematics courses that are critical to all the technical
disciplines. At
the same time, if you have an opportunity to work part time
during the
school year or full time during the summer in a science-related
job, it's
very good experience to see how your classes relate to possible
career
areas.
Good luck!
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