Middle School Engineering Day Presentation - Spring 2014

SWE Middle School Engineering Day – Parent Session Kenechi Agbim – Senior, Mechanical Engineering Student Alaine Allen – Director, SSOE Pre-College & Undergraduate Diversity Programs Brittany Byrne – Sophomore, Industrial Engineering Student Christina O’Donnell - SWE President & Senior, Chemical Engineering Student Snehal Sawlani – Senior, Bioengineering Student

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Agenda • Introductions • Brief Review of Pitt Admissions Expectations and Freshman Engineering Curriculum

• How to Prepare Your Child for College • Q&A

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University of Pittsburgh Admissions Expectations Recommended Courses • English – 4 classes • History – 3 classes • Language – 3 classes • Math – 4 classes • Science – 4 classes • Science lab – 4 classes • Elective – 5 classes

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SAT Scores (Mid 50% Score) Critical Reading: 580 - 670 (Avg. Engineering = 667) Math: 600 – 690 (Avg. Engineering = 713) Writing: 570 - 670 (Avg. Engineering = 646)

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Freshman Engineering Curriculum First Semester • Calculus I • General Chemistry I • Physics I • Engineering Analysis • Humanities/Social Science Elective • Freshman Engineering Seminar

Second Semester • Calculus II • General Chemistry II • Physics II • Engineering Computing • Humanities/Social Science Elective • Freshman Engineering Seminar

= 17 credits

= 17 credits

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How to prepare your child for college • Believe in your child and have high expectations for his/her academic performance.

• Encourage your child to read daily.

• Help your child develop good study habits and encourage mastery of basic skills (reading, vocabulary development, writing, and mathematics).

• Enroll your child in a pre-college program that will encourage achievement, expose her/him to fields of interest and educate your family about the requirements necessary for higher education 02/02/2013

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How to prepare your child (cont.)

• Make sure your child is enrolled in a rigorous collegepreparation curriculum that includes an Algebra I class in the eighth grade • Communicate with teachers about the expectations you have for your child and request that teachers inform you if the child’s performance falls below those expectations.

• Support your child by getting to know teachers, counselors and administrators, helping with homework, and encouraging involvement in extracurricular activities.

• Meet with your child’s guidance counselor to schedule classes and discuss college preparation activities.

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Traditional college prep curriculum Eighth Grade • English • Algebra 1 (or Pre-Algebra) • Science • History • Foreign Language

Tenth Grade • English II • Algebra II (or Geometry) • Chemistry • World Cultures • Foreign Language

Ninth Grade • English I • Geometry (or Algebra 1) • Biology • Civics • Foreign Language

Eleventh Grade • English III • Elementary Functions (or Algebra 2) • Physics • U.S. History • Foreign Language

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Traditional college prep curriculum (cont.)

Twelfth Grade • English IV • Calculus (or Elementary Functions) • Biology 2 or Chemistry 2 or Physics 2

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How to prepare your child (cont.)

• Monitor the rigor of your child’s academic classes by observing the amount of homework and the type of work assigned.

• Work with your child to develop a study schedule and monitor her adherence to the schedule.

• Encourage your child to spend time each weeknight reviewing schoolwork, even when he/she has no homework.

• Encourage your child to ask for help from teachers when he/she does not understand what is being presented in class or for homework.

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How to prepare your child (cont.)

• Encourage your child to become familiar with the PSAT, SAT, ACT and other college entrance examinations.

• Require your child to take the PSAT in the tenth AND eleventh grades.

• Help your child identify colleges and universities that match her interests and abilities.

• Make sure your child takes the appropriate entrance examinations (SAT, ACT, SAT II) for the schools that he/she would like to attend.

• Gradually increase your child’s responsibilities in preparation for leaving home.

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How to prepare your child (cont.) • Begin saving; investigate possible investments, such as state tuition assistance programs. • Familiarize yourself with financial aid options and the financial aid application process.

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Questions?

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