Montegut

We are very interested in Bama for our son, but son has a strong interest in gaining employment outside of the south, perhaps in the Midwest. Are there internship opportunities offered in companies in areas outside of the south?

These would particularly be in the engineering field. More particularly, biomedical engineering.

If there are no out of state internships available, are there any biomedical type companies in the Bama area that students can intern at?

Thanks for any help

mom2collegekids

>>>> We are very interested in Bama for our son, but son has a strong interest in gaining employment outside of the south, perhaps in the Midwest. Are there internship opportunities offered in companies in areas outside of the south?

These would particularly be in the engineering field. More particularly, biomedical engineering.

If there are no out of state internships available, are there any biomedical type companies in the Bama area that students can intern at?<<<<


Since the summer internships are with major companies and the US Army, conceivably internships could be sought anywhere...but I don't know how easily that is done. When DS1 got a "student engineer" summer internship with the US Army, he requested the area that the wanted to work...but it was still in the state of Alabama...I don't know how easily he could have gotten an internship in another state.

UA hosts an internship seminar in January and many large companies attend to meet possible interns. The students come with their resumes and speak to the companies that they are interested in. I don't know if a large company with divisions in other states could help your son get an internship there.

As for bio-medical....the Birmingham area has many opportunities for internships in bio-medical because that is where the big medical school is (UAB). There are also bio-medical laboratories and many pharmaceutical companies there. Many pre-med, bio-medical, and chemical engineering students do internships there. There may be opportunities in Tuscaloosa area, too, but I don't know much about them.

feenotype

Have you guys cooled to UAB?

Montegut

No, I wouldn't say we've cooled to UAB. However, son was admitted as a prebiomedical engineering major, not a biomedical engineering major. He also has to apply for the honors program, including teacher recommendations and essays for each program he hopes to get in. The biomedical engineering GPA requirements are very high, and if there are freshman weedout courses, he's not guaranteed admission.

So, the fact that with Alabama, he would have automatic admission to an honors program, plus free tuition, room, board, spending money, and basically be on the same page as UAB if he doesn't get into the BME program, it seems to make sense to at least apply to UA as a backup plan if son does not get a good scholarship or admittance into the honors program or the biomedical engineering program.

Even then, I'm still not liking the rigorous requirements for the BME program. I know schools like Hopkins are very selective in their BME program admissions, but I wouldn't expect the same for a state school. Being able to study BME is pretty much a deal breaker for son, but he's not the one paying the bill. It would be nice, after paying years of tuition for private school, and having it pay off in him becoming a National Merit Semifinalist, for us to get a little in return.

Sorry for the rant, but just got back from the only state school in Louisiana with BME, where he would get a pretty good financial package just based on his stats, but it has less than impressive academics and facilities and little help in career placement. So, if it comes down to a choice based just on the numbers, I'd go for Bama over the state school. Son would have the freedom of being away from home, and would be able to get a degree he could get a job in, and not leave his parents in mountains of debt.

Hopefully, all will go well with UAB, and even better, his top choice will give him a great scholarship. But we won't know any of those things until long after application deadlines have passed for Bama, so I feel very strongly that we should apply to Bama, whether son wants to go or not.

mom2collegekids

Congrats that your son is a NMSF (and likely NMF)... BTW...has he submitted all his paperwork to his school for submission? And, have you sent his SAT score to NM Corp?

If your son is a NMF, as an engineering major at UA, he would get tuition, room, computer, $1000 stipend, study abroad $. I imagine that due to his scores, he'll likely also be awarded the $2500 annual Engineering scholarship (if he applies and enters UA as an engineering major).

I don't think UAB has its 2010 scholarships posted on their webpage like they've done in previous years. Have they given you any idea what they'll give a NMF? Have you directly asked them?

Is your son's plan to become a MD?


BTW...does anyone know why on the UA Mechanical Engineering webpage it mentions that some of its Mechanical Engineers work as Bio-medical Engineers? I realize that UA doesn't have that unique specialty (because UAB has it), but what is the deal with Mech eng'r? Are there duplication of courses? Do some Mech Eng'rs minor or dbl major in some kind of Bio-Chem program which kind of "looks" like a Bio-medical engineering major?

mom2collegekids

Montegut...

I completely understand your desire not to have "a mountain of debt" from college costs!! We also sent our boys to private schools, so we are thrilled that they both got good scholarships at UA...DS1 has the NMF scholarship...and DS2 got both the Presidential & Engineering scholarships...And each got a scholarship from my hubby's company.

We still have to pay for some things that the scholarships don't cover, but we can't complain at all.

Montegut

Mom-

First off, thanks for the paperwork tip. Oh, yea, Dad all over that. He was a NM as well, and knew the importance of the deadlines. We did submit his SAT of 2100 to the corp, as well as turn in all his paperwork.

No, son does not want to become an MD. This has been a big issue with our college search, as many schools gear the bme programs toward premeds. We're looking for a school where he can actually get a job as a bme. It would be wonderful if he could do so with just a BS, but we've been warned that that field would require a graduate degree.

So, we do have to save some money for grad school, living expenses, travel, for longer than your usual four year college. Even if son was lucky enough to get a stipend as a TA for grad school, those would be hard to cover rent, food, travel.

Glad you brought up that you do have to pay some things. You know, other parents and college reps will paint you a very rosy picture of how "it pays to come here", but would be great to hear from the horse's mouth what the reality is.

Believe me, I'm not complaining. I am very grateful that there are colleges like Bama that do reward good students after all their hard work.

I would like the "skinny" though on what the real price tag is for Bama, even with all the bells and whistles, including the engineering scholarship.

So, if you wouldn't mind giving me an honest ballpark figure for the best case scenario, I would appreciate it. And remember, the kids do have to eat! I didn't see board included on your list, just room. But that might have been just an oversight. And don't forget all those fees they all like to tack on!

Montegut

Separate post to mom on the bio-med/mech eng question.

Would love to get some feedback on this as well.

I'm assuming Bama does not have a BME major because it is a state school, and UAB offers it, so no need to duplicate state money for two nearby institutions. Also not offered at Auburn.

I would like to see the link where they talk of mech eng doing biomed work and if they do offer courses similar to bme majors.

I looked at the chemical and biological engineering department, and their curriculum seems more geared toward chemical engineering, way outside of son's interest. He's interested in developing prosthetics, not just limbs, but also eyes and ears. Thus the extra interest in UAB, with the optometry school there. Even though UAB is not his first choice school, he's more open to it as his southern option, and as a possibility for graduate work.

Since some mention was made of internships in the Birmingham area, is it possible that Bama does offer some courses that would prepare students for internship in the biomed or biotechnology field?

Would love some input on this. Thanks

feenotype

Mechanical engineering is a very versatile major. ME applications can be found in almost any field. And from what I've heard, biomedical engineering is still a relatively undeveloped field in which the work is divided by discipline to electrical engineers, materials engineers, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers and so forth. Mechanical engineers know a lot about machines so they could easily work with artifical limbs and joints, for example.

feenotype

Haven't seen much in the way of biomed/biomed internships at UA chemical engineering. Most of the internships/co-ops from UA go to the traditional chemical engineering destinations in the energy and chemical processes industry, e.g. ExxonMobile, Chevron, Kimberly-Clark, Georgia-Pacific, Eastman Chemical, Shaw Industries, etc. Most of the biological engineering work is in the research aspect of the department.

Montegut

Son wouldn't mind doing research as an internship. Any experience would be helpful.

What kind of research is being done in the bioengineering department at UA?

Maybe I should start a bio engineering thread.

Thank you for all of your help.

mom2collegekids

UA mentions Mech Eng'ring Department of Mechanical Engineering - The University of Alabama

Mechanical engineering is the most versatile of all engineering programs. Mechanical engineering encompasses the design, analysis, testing and manufacture of products used in every facet of modern society. Mechanical engineers design components, machines, systems or processes.

Mechanical engineers pursue careers in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, computer, communication, defense, energy, railroad, and robotics industries, just to name a few. Mechanical engineers are also found in almost all manufacturing industries. Increasingly, mechanical engineers are needed in the environmental and bio-medical fields. Without a doubt, virtually every product or service in modern life has probably been touched in some way by a mechanical engineer.

------------------------

another mention... University of Alabama Undergraduate Catalog 2008-10

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (ME) AND PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING GRAPHICS (DR)

Professor William H. Sutton. Department Head
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall

Professor Beth A. Todd, Coordinator for Undergraduate Programs
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall

Professor C. Bryan Graham, Coordinator for Engineering Graphics Programs
Office: 290 Hardaway Hall

Mechanical engineering is the most versatile of all engineering programs. Mechanical engineers pursue careers in a wide variety of industries, research laboratories, educational activities, and government agencies. Mechanical engineering graduates can become involved in research, design, and management in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy conservation, precision engineering, railroad, heavy machinery, manufacturing, food/forest products, textiles, paper, consumer appliances, robotics, power plants, electronics, computer automation, agriculture, heating and air-conditioning, construction, transportation, and mining. A significant number of mechanical engineering graduates use mechanical engineering as the foundation for careers in business administration, law, medicine, and other professions. Many graduates are also accepted for advanced study in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, medicine, law, business administration, and dentistry.





BTW...keep in mind, kids often change their minds about their majors...

mom2collegekids

I know that some kids in CBHP have done internships in the biomed/biotech field. Let me see if any of their projects/research are mentioned on the CBHP website.

mom2collegekids

Yes, there are still some costs...even with the NMF scholarship...but they aren't big costs. My DS1 (NMF) didn't declare a major when he applied, so he missed out on the additional scholarship that his dept would have given him, so we have to pay for some of his food, books, and class fees. He did get an extra scholarship from my hubby's company, so that pays for some of his meal plan (but not all of it). NMF scholarship doesn't cover "board"....just tuition and room, computer, etc.

If your son takes the NMF scholarship plus the $2500 engineering scholarship, then you'll probably only have to pay for class fees (about $150 total), and the "difference" in his meal plan that the engineering scholarship doesn't cover. The cheapest FRESHMAN meal plan is about 3100 a year (including req'd Dining Dollars). But, after Freshman year, you can choose a cheaper plan.

If he brings a car to campus, the parking fee is about $200 (I forget the exact amount). The $1000 stipend he gets for NMF will pay for most or all of his books.


and...even with the scholarships...you have to pay all the deposits in Spring of each year (deposits for housing and tuition)...the deposits are then credited back to you later.





Computer-Based Honors Program (CBHP)

The Computer-Based Honors Program at The University of Alabama

Your son should really visit UA and talk to Dr. Sharpe at CBHP. He would be able to tell your son about bio-medical opportunities. Dr. Sharpe - altho his PhD is in Information Systems, is also a pharmacist, so he has a medical background.

feenotype

Probably not much that would interest your son. One professor works in nanoscale materials for biomedical use, another works in biomaterials for pharmaceutical use, but you won't find things like prosthetics. As I've said all along, within Alabama, your best bet is UAB.

What's your son's top choice?