StaNg72
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Posts posted by StaNg72
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I've been reading textbooks and watching lectures on Physics II and Electric Circuits in my spare time. If I get in, I guess I'll just take Electric Circuits in the Summer and Physics II in the Fall. Thank you for the information!
Nice. Yeah, if you know what KVL and KCL are, and the few equations relating resistance, capacitance, inductance, current, and voltage, you're good to go.
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I applied for Electrical Engineering: I want to concentrate in Electronics and take a few Software Engineering courses. I'm interesting in becoming an Embedded Systems Engineer so I can design both the hardware and software for electronics.
I've already taken Physics I as well as just about every math course I'll need (Calculus I, II, and III, Differential Equations, Real Analysis I and II, etc) since I was a Math and Politics double-major.
I was hoping I could take Engineering Computation, Physics II, and Electric Circuits in the summer However, the schedules for Physics II and Electric Circuits conflict, so I wouldn't be able to take them at the same time. Are the schedules for the summer courses subject to change? Is there a possibility that they will add more lecture sessions?
Also, I've heard that Physics II is a co-requisite for Electric Circuits, but I've also heard that Electric Circuits can be taken without Physics II. Which is true? Any clarification anyone can provide on this matter would be very much appreciated.
Circuits can definitely be taken without Physics II, but I would highly recommend acquainting yourself with the basics of circuit theory before class begins. You don't have to, of course, you can just learn it when class does begin, but you'll definitely be glad you did. It honestly won't take very long if you sit down with Kahn Academy on YouTube or something. Physics II also goes into electromagnetism, Maxwell's equations, and a bit of optics, so if you want exposure, it's a nice class to take. Otherwise, Electric Circuits can be taken without it.
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Public transpo is definitely the commoner's mode of travel. Occasionally, a car is nice for things like large grocery loads, in which case I use ZipCar. It's really up to you. I've heard that parking can be annoying most time.
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Congratulations, szman!
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Hi Stan! We met at the LEAP informational session/ice cream social, how've you been? I was wondering if you were familiar with when applicants for Spring 2014 should hear back from BU. I've got my fingers crossed, and am hoping to hear good news soon!
Take care, hope you're well,
Vincent
Hey Vince! I was wondering when I'd get an update from you, haha. I've been well. This semester's been keeping me pretty busy, but I'm enjoying everything.
I think szman is right. I've also just asked a fellow LEAPer who started in Spring, and he said he didn't get an official notice until around December 20th. You can probably call before then, maybe early December, to find out.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you (and everyone else)!
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How long does it take to know if you are accept into Leap?
I remember finding out around mid-March for Fall admission.
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Amouse,
I am a current LEAP student just finishing up Phase 1 this semester like Stan. You're GRE scores are good. GRE scores are not the be all end all of getting admitted. I scored a 161 V and 159 Q. It seems most people I've spoken to in LEAP have scores that range from the high 150s to the low 160s for both quant and verbal.
Agreed.
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Hello everyone,
I too have had interest in the LEAP program at BU. To describe my background, I went to a vocational-technical school during high school where I studied Electronics Manufacturing & Engineering and earned my certification back in 2006. After high school I went to community college to pursue the same field but had to switch majors after falling short in a course that was a pre-req to many other courses. So I changed it to radio & television and earned my associate's degree in 2009, then moved on to a 4-year university to study television & film of which I received my BA just this past spring 2013. With that said, I am in the television/film industry. However, I wish to pursue a master's of engineering in electrical engineering as I feel this will be a much more worthy degree than having a master's of fine arts in film. I wish to combine both professions together as I find a passion in engineering & repairing cinema cameras as well as being a filmmaker. I live in Pennsylvania and I'm looking around to see if there are any programs out there that are similar to LEAP so I can have other options and choices. Living in Boston wouldn't be as convenient to me at the moment so I'm doing careful planning and research before I make any decisions. In the meantime, I was wondering if courses can be taken at a community college to knock out some of the courses that must be taken during phase 1 by transferring them over or must all those courses in phase 1 be taken only at BU?
You can certainly, and it is advisable, that you take as many pre-req courses as possible prior to coming to LEAP. Just make sure that you consult the LEAP website (http://www.bu.edu/eng/academics/special-programs/leap/faq/) for the syllabi (you may need to do some digging) and make sure those courses cover everything on that particular syllabus. Here's an example of the one for Calc I: http://www.bu.edu/eng/academics/special-programs/leap/documents/MA123_Sp12_Panth.pdf
The courses most students take before coming are all of the calc courses, physics 1 and 2, and differential equations. But again, check the website under your chosen field, see what is required, and look for the course's syllabus. If you need more information, I have several friends currently in LEAP who took a handful of courses prior to entry.
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Thanks for your really thorough response Stan. I'm going to meet with an adviser tomorrow at ASU; I'll ask her the question about the importance of ABET accreditation. I know that concrete answers aren't easy to come by for these types of questions, so don't worry about doing more research. I just want to hear a multitude of opinions from many different people and then make a decision from there.
I think you mentioned that you're pursuing mech e (if i'm wrong, replace mech e in the following question with the degree you are actually pursuing).
What is your feel for the job market in mech E for someone with your credentials? BLS indicates that mech E is seeing 9% job growth for this decade. Growth is good, but the national average is listed at 14%, which concerns me. Has it been easy for you to find jobs and internships in fields that you are interested in, that also pay a starting salary that you want? What kind of competition do you face?
You are correct, I am in mechanical.
In truth, I don't have any feels of the sort. I try not to let those numbers drive my ambitions. If we all did that, would there even be any growth? Call me an idealist, but I don't think any of us should choose a path based on something that will always be changing. As for salaries...can't say I'm there yet. I'm still a Phase I student through December, and I'm only just beginning my internship search. Our Career Resource Center and advisors are brilliant at helping students find such opportunities.
Can we safely argue that scientists, physicists, engineers, and technologists are and will continue to be the driving forces of this nation's economy? I think so. A big saying among LEAP students is that this program is what you make of it. And as Neil deGrasse Tyson once said,
"In whatever you choose to do, do it because it's hard, not because it's easy. Math and physics and astrophysics are hard. For every hard thing you accomplish, fewer other people are out there doing the same thing as you. That's what doing something hard means. And in the limit of this, everyone beats a path to your door because you're the only one around who understands the impossible concept or who solves the unsolvable problem."
And therein lies the competition.
How did the meeting with the advisor go?
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Hey Calvin,
Unfortunately, I'm not very versed in the pros and cons of MEng versus a BSE. However, at a recent LEAP info session, I do recall one of our administrators giving an example that described an employer looking to hire. She said that the employer asked for recent graduates, and that if the person holds only a B.S.E., then the employer also required that they had a certain amount of experience (probably a certain number of years) in the field. If the person holds a Masters, no experience is required. That's one story. If I were to thoroughly answer your question, I would need to do a bit of research before providing you with one. I feel that this type of thing is dependent of many factors, factors that I haven't adequately researched. If you'd like, I can see if I can do some digging and get back to you.
As for the second part of your question, from the bit of research I have done, it seems that ABET accreditation is very important for those seeking to work in Civil or Environmental engineering. This topic isn't so black and white and depends upon the requirements of each state. I've also read that holding a degree from an ABET accredited institution is not so crucial for aerospace engineers, although I think all states require you to hold a license if you offer services directly to the public. I can definitely find out by talking to some of our faculty and get back to you. Or, if anyone here has a more definitive answer, we're all eyes!
As for your third question, I don't see the different fields as having advantages and disadvantages against each other. It all depends on what you're interested in and intrigued by, what engineering problems you'd like to solve, where your passion lies and where you want to contribute your skills, among many other things. One can make great strides in all of those fields if you're willing to put in the work. Personally, I would not devote myself to a field that I'm not passionate about just because I view an aspect of it as slightly better than that belonging to another field. Once you pinpoint your passion for an area of study, there will be nothing but advantages. A degree in chemical engineering will lead you on an entirely different path than, say, in mechanical engineering. There really is no comparing the two unless you're talking about the types of jobs that'll be open to you. At that point, it's not even about advantages and disadvantages...it's about what you want to do with your life. Also keep in mind that you will probably be working with a team of engineers, each with a different degree. A project may require that all types of engineers contribute, but each person is focusing on something different, but equally as exciting and challenging.
Sorry I couldn't provide any concrete answers. Let me know if you'd like me to do any digging about BSE/ABET!
Stan
- szman and Chai_latte
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Thanks Stan!
You pretty accurately summed up my feelings about the MA; I want to finish it for the sense of accomplishment and to give my effort there maximum future value, but I also want to move into Engineering as much and as soon as possible. Added to that, I suspect that an abandoned MA will not look as good as a completed one, even though it's a given with LEAP that I'm starting over to some extent.
Can you--or can anybody else--offer any thoughts on your chosen field? I know I'm looking somewhere in the intersection of Materials, Mechanical, and Electrical, but I don't really have any context for comparison. I can go look at the faculty directory and see general research interests, but at this stage a lot of it is still a bit beyond me. Even if it weren't, it would be easier for me to visualize if I heard someone talking about it first hand. If anyone wants to speak about the concrete, day-to-day operations of his specialization, I'd love to listen. What has been your experience working/studying in your field?
Most of us are looking somewhere in that exact intersection, haha. I certainly am! The nice thing about Phase I is that a handful of the required courses are shared among the different fields, so you get a taste of each regardless of what you department you apply to (accept maybe biomedical...). It'd be smart to see which Phase I courses correspond to a particular field and try and schedule yourself to take them as early as possible. One of the nice things about the program is that you can certainly change to another field if you decide that you're more interested in it. But, as with all programs, the earlier you figure it out, the easier it'll be on you in terms of time and money.
As for how diverse your course load is once you've chosen a field, it's sort of something you'll have to work out with your advisor depending on your experiences in the program so far, what your goals are, what research (if any) you've done, what you're passionate about, etc. Nevertheless, you'll have to be declared as "Electrical" or "Mechanical" or "Materials", etc., and take all of the required courses for that field. However, once you get into the Masters program (or Phase II), you are allowed elective courses that you can then take to hone in on what you're interested in.
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Hey all.
I am planning to apply for either the Spring or Fall '14 semesters. I'm looking at LEAP after reconsidering my prior decision to go for a PhD in Philosophy. I'm done with enough coursework for an MA, leaving just the thesis and oral exam. My intention, unless told otherwise, has been to finish the thesis and oral exams for that MA this fall. Is this a reasonable plan? I had assumed it would be best for several reasons if I were able to complete the Philosophy MA before applying, but maybe there are better uses of that time. In the same vein, does anyone have any ideas for classes that I should or should not take before and during the application process, above and beyond the Calc requirement? Is it possible to take too many math classes before applying to LEAP? Also, can anybody say whether there ish a significant difference--in terms of financial aid, applicant pool size, or otherwise--between applying for the Spring versus Fall semester? I have intended to apply as close to the September 1 opening date as possible, regardless of which semester I am applying for.
Good luck to everyone else!
Hey Loquacator!
I don't know if I can aptly answer your first question about your MA, but I think if I were you, I would finish it - after all the hard work I would have put into the field, and with so few things left to do, it'd be nice to have those extra letters after my name that will show where I've come from. I think it's an entirely personal decision. On the other hand, I think I'd also be very anxious to start the new engineering chapter of my life (as I was). Mayhaps someone else can provide some insight?
As for math courses beyond the calc requirement, my advice (and the advice of many current LEAP students) would be to take as many of the foundational math and physics courses as possible prior to starting LEAP. It'll save you loads of time and money. These classes include Calc II, Calc III, Differential Equations, Physics I, Physics II, and Linear Algebra. A wise thing to do would be to check out the LEAP website's "Phase I Course Requirements" section and see what your chosen field requires. Some fields don't require Physics II, for example, while others do. Some require Linear Algebra while others don't. But those (unless I've missed one, in which case someone can jump in) are the math courses you can certainly get done before coming here. As for courses more advanced and beyond those, they're probably courses that BU would prefer or require you take at our University.
There is a LEAP scholarship, but it's difficult to say who gets what based on what merit. I think for the scholarship, the best time to apply for would be Fall semester. Otherwise, you can take out an unsubsidized Stafford Loan and/or a Direct Plus Loan. You can also look for external scholarships. I think traditionally the applicant pool size is bigger for the Fall semester. I don't know if numbers are equal between Fall and Spring, but it doesn't seem like it.
Stan
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Of course! Just as much as anyone else. Let's think about the opposite of your question: does being a LEAP student prevent you from getting a PhD at any of those institutions? Well, now that just sounds silly. The knowledge and skills you have are what determine that. It's not like being in LEAP brands you in some way that tells the world what your capabilities are and aren't. If anything, it'll show them the capabilities that they otherwise would not have seen. It's all dependent upon how you apply yourself.
Again, I can't say what most do because I don't have enough information to say. I do know of students having part-time jobs. I would imagine that full-time would be more difficult. The important thing is that you decide what you need to do. Each student determines what is right for him or herself. If he or she decides that working while schooling is best, that's an option, and it is no less valid than any other. How those hours vary is, again, determined by you. Do whatever you need to do!
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Unfortunately, I don't have the data to even give an educated guess as to how many go on to PhD. However, any PhD is quite a commitment, as one would expect. It's an entirely personal decision and depends on how your passion develops. After Phase I, you're exactly like all other graduate students, and like all graduate students, if you excel and have a passion for a topic, then heck, go for a PhD! There are many different PhD programs, and how those are chosen really is based on your experiences here (or at any institution for that matter).
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stang72, could you tell me how selective the program is? What is the general gpa/gre combo you need? What is financial aid like?
What was your experinece like with the coursework? Was it easy to pick up engineering even though you never took it before?
Is there dorming for grad students?
Was it hard for you to get that research position? Do most students get a research position or an internship for the summer?
Thanks a lot
Hey cinoadam,
I don't have enough inside information to tell you accurately how selective the program is. It is my strong view, however, that if you can explain to them your strengths relevant to your background and how they can contribute to your success in LEAP, demonstrate a strong desire to learn, and meet all (or even most) of the requirements for admission, then they should happily accept you.
I believe gpa/gre information is on the LEAP information website and/or open house presentation. Obviously, the better those numbers are, the greater your chances. That said, it definitely does NOT mean that those are the only determining factors.
Financial aid for LEAP students is available, but not all who are admitted receive it. I am one of those people who did not receive it. Unfortunately, how they determine that is beyond me. If someone else on this thread knows the answer, hopefully they can provide it. The words they use are "based on merit", I believe. It's very vague, so unfortunately, it may be a question you'll have to ask the program coordinator directly.
As for picking up the coursework, I didn't run into much trouble. Even though my background was not engineering, math and physics were always my interests and stronger areas. If that isn't your case,
then you shouldn't apply.JUST KIDDING! First of all, anything can be learned regardless of skill or background. That's kinda how that works! In engineering, everything can first be broken down into simple concepts. Indeed, every topic you study will start there; it will begin with the intuition. If the intuition isn't clear at first, there's no reason you can't say, "Hold up, back up, start again...go." Repeat. With time, you'll find that you won't be needing to do this as frequently because you'll automatically develop the intuition on your own, just by way of everyday engineering brain-training.There is housing for grad students. I think most find the cost a bit too high, and therefore find places to live off-campus. There are plenty of deals very close to BU. But, if you see that grad housing is what you prefer, excellent! I think most people prefer to do grad housing as a "first place to live", just so there's something solid for the first semester or year. Then, since they're settled in the city already, they can go looking for places to live off-campus for the following semesters/years.
As for research, it does seem as a though a good number of LEAP-mates are involved in some research laboratory. The degree to which you are involved depends a lot on prior experience and the knowledge you hold. For example, some students may work in a research lab on a volunteer basis, immersing themselves in the environment because they just simply don't know that much yet. Others, like myself, work in a research lab, at first on a volunteer basis, but then are offered an hourly paid position. And then some are offered fully funded positions as an arena for their masters/phD. So, all those are possibilities. But, I will say that in order to get such a position, it is wise to be politely persistent. It wasn't necessarily "hard" for me to get the position, but I did have to do a lot of e-mailing and office-hour visits to get the information I needed regarding who's doing what research, who I should talk to, etc. Many of the professors teaching the Phase I courses are very knowledgeable about the goings-on of BU engineering research. If you're interested in getting involved, first of all, show them how interested you are (maybe do a bit of background research on the professor), and don't be afraid to ask questions. You're here for you!
Hope that helps!
Stan
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Regretfully, I've been absent from this forum for a while >.<
But, I'm back! If anyone has any questions about the program (there've been a lot in this forum since I've posted, I know), I'd be happy to answer them to the best of my ability and knowledge, or forward you to someone if I can't answer it.
I'm coming to the end of Phase I in ME, and I currently work in a research lab.
Talk to y'all soon!
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Who is the current head of the LEAP program? A few years ago I met with Helaine but I read that she is out. I was told to email Steven Doherty but got an auto reply that he is also out.
Indeed, they are both out. At the moment, I think Isabel Tereso (mit@bu.edu) is the best contact. Also, Kirstie Miller (kimiller@bu.edu) is also a good person to contact.
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Hi guys,
I am attending BU LEAP in the fall for EE or CE (perhaps summer but I am completely clueless about admissions). I received a scholarship for the program as well for Phase I.
However, I have been unable to conract Helaine, as I understand she is getting fired...I am also clueless about the registration process and where to begin my progression towards attendance. If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it- the office has not been responding at all and Helaine's phone just got cut off today.
Will financial aid packages be arriving anytime soon? Do we have student ID's yet? What are the deadlines for registration?
I am stressing out quit a bit over this, I applied to other master's programs in bioeng (I actually qualify for that somewhat) and disbursements were all handled pre-April 15th. So far, I have no direction at all. Could current students maybe cobble together a short guide to preparing for the program?
I'm starting summer and was easily able to register for those courses. Helaine said she'd give me an advising code for Fall registration after I had registered for summer. Obviously, I didn't get it, so I've e-mailed Stephen Doherty about it (who's been pretty good with responding so far). I'll post if and when I get a reply.
As for IDs, if I don't receive any info on the process, I'm just going to stop by the Terrier Card office before summer classes begin.
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Has anyone tried applying directly into a Master program at another University, opposed to going through a program like LEAP? I know, it appears LEAP is the only program of its kind, which is why I only applied to BU and will be attending in Fall. Just curious if anyone had any experience with any other school besides BU.
Thanks.
I didn't try applying, but I did do some e-mailing before I found LEAP. Literally every answer was, "You may be interested in our undergraduate program." -____-
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Perfect, thanks.
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hi everyone. i feel like i'm about to be lynched once i say this, but i actually did get the LEAP scholarship. I received an email a long time ago (last week of march) about it. I'm not sure what everyone else's situation is, or how i got the scholarship, but i'm coming straight from undergrad an i have no income/assets of my own (so i'm guessing it's need-based?). i accepted the offer and the scholarship last week, but i haven't heard anything back yet. when i talked to helaine about 3 or 4 weeks ago, she said that class registration starts on the 11th of april, so it would be best to get in before then so we can sign up and get the classes we need. i was going to call her tmr to see what the deal was since i haven't heard back about anything after accepting the offers, but i guess that might prove futile.
Haha, we don't lynch here. Congrats
And as for registering, it'd be great if my advisor would actually respond to get the process going. I've e-mailed Stephen Doherty as well, asking him to advise. Hopefully I'll get a response today. -
Seems like they've decided they can't afford to fund the program any more so it will have to become a cash cow masters (where people pay out of pocket) or die off. It really is a pity, since it seems to be one of a kind.
This kind of brings me back to my confusion. Although we won't be receiving any LEAP scholarship (that's clear), will we still be presented with information about Perkins and Stafford Loans? Isn't that kind of how it works? We send them our SARs and they respond with student loan options? Or are we now left to go fishing on our own?
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Close, c/o 2011. I took a year off.
And what gives? My advisor could at least send an e-mail saying "I'll get back to you later." Nothin'. Anyone else have Prof. Attaway?
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Yeah, my advisor hasn't responded to any of my e-mails yet...the first one sent over a month ago. ::shrug::
Boston University LEAP Program
in Engineering
Posted
Best of luck to everyone waiting to hear back! If you do get LEAP scholarship, consider yourself very lucky. When it comes to funding nowadays, all anyone can manage is a giant eye roll.