Hello,
My name is Bob Jackson and I have been blogging through WordPres for approximately three (3) years now. I am very interested in education but primarily —ENGINNERING EDUCATION. I am a graduate engineer and a registered professional engineer living in the state of Tennessee. My wife and I have three sons and five grandchildren. We have seen “a lot of kids” come and go through our home over the past 40 plus years. The changes from generation to generation are striking. We have gone from a society that “loves to read” to a society that loves to watch. Rather disappointing actually. Certainly different.
At any rate, I hope to write about education, engineering education, technology in general, get your views, opinions, rants, etc etc over the next few weeks, months and years. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated and I certainly thank you for taking a look at my blog. Again, please let me hear from you and please remember– any suggestions you have on how to make my presentation better will be grealy appreciated.
Many thanks,
Bob J.
cielotech
December 22, 2011 at 21:55
Hey R. Johnson! I can actually give you some insight on that one. I’m a female mechE who recently got into a UC program, but I can tell you that it’s NOT the coursework that gives you the hands-on experience.
It’s everything else that you choose to do with your time! So at any large university (over 3000+), there will be frats you can join, engineering projects you can get your hands dirty in, and they’ll take anyone as long as they show an excitement to commit their time!
This would provide your daughter with an actual reason to be PASSIONATE about mechE (as most engineers sign up without a reason), and of course, recruiters love to see it.
I post about my current college experiences all the time, because the hands-on component is really what gets you revv’d up about engineering.
JL
December 22, 2011 at 21:59
Finally, I’d say- there’s no reason to go out of state and pay out-of-state fees. Just go to a big one, a well-known one in your state (isn’t U of T big there or something?) where you can find lots of opportunities– then, get INVOLVED.
You’d be doing the same thing anywhere else (ie. Cali) but with triple the price tag.
January 7, 2012 at 17:05
Hello Jen,
I agree completely. I went to UT for five years. Worked a lot,met some really nice life-long friends and enven got out with a “sheepskin”.
Take care and again many thanks for taking a look.
Bob
June 25, 2011 at 14:58
Mr. Jackson
My daughter is a high school senior and is looking at studying mechanical engineering after she graduates from high school in May 2011. She is very bright, but definitely more of a hands on student. Can you advise me of universities that have more of project based approach to engineering instruction. I know that especially with engineering there is no way to avoid the reality of classwork, but I have been told that there are some colleges that lean far more towards project based model. We live in Texas, but would seriously consider universities outside of the state.
I really enjoy your blog. Thanks!!!
R. Johnson