3/2 Engineering Cameron Statton ‘16/’17
What you need to know about the 3/2 Program:
You attend Scripps for 3 years and another institution for 2 years.
You get both a Bachelors of Arts and a Bachelors of Science after the 5th year.
Your advisor will be Professor James Higdon (KECK 116).
You don’t need to join the program right away, BUT you should as soon as possible to make sure you don’t fall behind on requirements (see more facts section for requirements).
What it’s like to be a 3/2 Engineering Scripps Student:
The worst part is that you won’t be able to enjoy senior year with your friends or walk with them at graduation. You can only walk once you receive your second BS degree (with the year below you).
It is so worth it to get a liberal arts and engineering education. You will be one of the most well spoken and written engineering students you come across.
You will have lots of classes with mostly boys and it will be frustrating. But going to an all girls school balances it out.
Not many people know much about the program, including the Scripps faculty, staff, and even the registrar. You are basically on your own when registering for classes, so make sure you know exactly what requirements you need to fulfill. The registrar will not be of much help. Professor Higdon also likes it when students take charge and figure everything out themselves, but go to him if you are having trouble picking which class to take.
It is a hard program, but if you want to do engineering, it’s worth it.
Most people drop the program before the 3rd year.
You won’t be able to take many classes ‘just for fun.’
It is hard to fulfill all the requirements for the program along with the Scripps requirements without overloading some, if not most, semesters.
You need to submit your Major and Minor forms as if you were the year above. That means you must submit your Junior Major Form your sophomore year and your Senior Major Form your junior year.
It isn’t as hard as it seems, and it is a very rewarding program.
Still Interested? Here are some more facts:
If you want to be a part of the program, you must petition by filling out a form in the Registrar’s office. Most 3/2 Engineering students go to Columbia, but there are other options such as USC and Wash. U. You must hold up a 3.3 cumulative and engineering GPA and cannot get below a B in any program required courses. Foundation requirements for Columbia as of 2014: Calculus I, II, III, Physics Mechanics and Thermodynamics (PHYS33 at KECK), Physics Electricity, Magnetism and Optics (PHYS34 at KECK), General Chemistry, Computer Science (different types of Engineering require different languages), Economics English There are many different types of Engineering, which all have other requirements on top of what is listed above. See Professor Higdon for the current/major specific requirements. If you do not fulfill all the requirements, you can still apply, but without guaranteed admission. Get close with Professor Higdon because he writes recommendations and will also go to bat for you to get into the classes you need or into the program if you haven’t fulfilled the requirements. When applying: The application is pretty short and easy. You need three recommendation letters (one math, one science, and your advisor). Watch out for the application deadlines, they are usually in January. Your financial aid does not transfer over and the Engineering schools tend to be much more expensive and give less aid.
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