Engineering fair helps students navigate major maze
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How many high school seniors are really confident in choosing a major before stepping foot on campus?
Unlike many schools, The Ohio State University doesn’t require students to choose a specific engineering major during their first year. In fact, 20 to 25 percent of students entering the college each year do so as engineering undeclared majors.
All incoming engineering students enter Ohio State’s nationally recognized first-year engineering program, which provides incoming students with a broad overview of all the engineering disciplines through project-based design courses and labs.
Now the College of Engineering is providing another resource to help students pick the right major to achieve their goals: the first-ever Engineering Major Fair.
Held on February 24 in the Physics Research Building, the fair enabled undecided engineering students to learn more about all 17 undergraduate engineering and architecture majors at a single location. Students were also able to learn more about complementary majors and minors in business, exploration, environmental and natural resources, math and pre-law.
Suzanne Dantuono, director of engineering academic advising, said the fair was a convenient way to help undecided students learn more about potential major programs from both academic advisors and current students.
“It’s a chance for students to come to one place and learn about the different interests they have and find the next step moving forward,” Dantuono said.
Matt Ivoska, academic advisor for mechanical and aerospace engineering, said he answered many students’ questions at the fair regarding not only classes within the major, but potential career paths the major offers as well.
“Most of the questions revolved around what they would do in their coursework and what type of careers they can they have afterward,” Ivoska said. “It gives the student a really good chance to meet with me as an advisor to talk about curriculum requirements, as well as talk to the students in the major about some of the projects they’ve been involved with, their co-ops, internships and research opportunities in the department.”
Some students, like Ramon Weldemicael, a first-year engineering-undeclared major, came to the fair with more specific questions.
“I like to work with robotics and electronics, so I wasn’t sure if I should major in electrical or mechanical engineering. Coming here helped me make that decision,” Weldemicael said.
Michael Strauch, an aeronautical and astronautical engineering major who helped answer questions at the fair, agreed that many students need assistance in navigating the major maze.
“I know this would have been very beneficial when I was deciding between aerospace and mechanical engineering,” Strauch said. “It is a really good opportunity to talk to both students and advisors to see what you really want to do and what major might be best to get to specific career goals.
The major fair was so successful, with more than 300 students in attendance, that the college plans to host a similar event again next year.
