Anyone here get 19 on Block Design subtest of Wechsler IQ test?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Strange question, I know. </p>

<p>My kid got the top score (19) on the Block Design subtest of the Wechsler IQ Test (the one for children)when she was 7.</p>

<p>Then she started reading constantly, all the time, hours daily and all weekend. For years and years.</p>

<p>Now as an 11th grader, the question is, ‘what kind of career should she consider?’</p>

<p>She spent all her time reading before now. Sure she went to school and did well, did her homework almost all of the time, even if last-minute, and did well in ‘the hardest science classes’ offered at her school and is taking calculus in 11th grade (but not so interested, getting a C). She got 700 on SAT in math and 29 on ACT in math, although she will be studying for them this time before taking them again in June.</p>

<p>She recently discovered she loves organic chemistry, it brings back memories of 8th grade with her awesome science teacher.</p>

<p>What I want to know is–should she consider engineering? What kind? I fully realize that her lackluster interest in calculus isn’t promising, but then again, her teacher is the computer teacher and she isn’t an inspiring math teacher. It’s not really her field. Again, I realize that a kid who loves math will do well in math in spite of a lackluster teacher. </p>

<p>It’s just that I don’t know what block design points to as a career, and someone told me math and computer science. </p>

<p>So… does anyone here have that kind of score? What are you pursuing? While my kid read all the time, she is ‘waking up’ from that now and starting, finally, to think about her future. It’s my fault about all the reading, I encouraged it foolishly, and now she has to start learning about the possibilities in life and where her talents lie. She at least has ruled out being a writer, which might be thought to be the obvious choice for a career. At this point, ruling out is just as important as picking a field.</p>

<p>Anyone have any thoughts of a career that requires very considerable block design ability?</p>

2

<p>Her block design test score would imply an aptitude for spatial thinking. This would benefit her in most engineering fields, especially subjects that deal with mechanics (civil, mechanical, chemical, aerospace). However, I would not put too much stock in a single IQ test she took over a decade ago. Of much more importance is her interests and what she would be willing to dedicate herself to. You say she enjoys chemistry? Chemical, biomedical, and materials science all involved chemistry. Do not worry about the calculus issue. Engineering uses math, but for most undergrad majors it is nothing more strenuous than the required calculus sequence.</p>

3

<p>I don’t see much use in that one block design test. In my engineering education and 2 years of engineering work experience, I did not need much spatial skills. The skills that were important are mathematical, problem solving, and strong work ethic. I did not need to rotate anything or other “spatial” skills, unless it strongly correlates with math. But I would think that is closer related to logic skills.</p>

4

<p>I have been poking around in this section for several hours now, and I am coming away with the realization that you better have a strong commitment to hard hard work to make it in any kind of engineering program. My 11th grader just has no experience in working hard, after a lifetime of fun reading, and I’m the one checking out engineering based on her SAT math score (700), which doesn’t seem that great now that I’ve looked at what engineering schools want (780 in math, I think I saw, for one not so great-rated eng school). </p>

<p>How on earth does a person in high school discover they love engineering? It’s not like there are engineering classes offered in the typical high school. Also, how would you get ready for the grueling experience that engineering college classes sound like they are?</p>

5

<p>What does SHE want to do? One of my kids got a 19 on that section. Big deal. Guess what – he’s an avid reader, too. He’ll never major in engineering or chemistry. I find it troubling that you think pursuing reading as a passion is ‘foolish.’ For me, reading was my escape from a mediocre school system and students who didn’t care about learning for its own sake – and I learned a lot more than any class in the process.</p>

<p>Block design scores don’t point to anything as a <em>career</em> – it’s an IQ test, not a job aptitude assessment.</p>

6

<p>Oh, I was a huge reader in grade school and high school, too, and still love to read, when I have time. I was in umpteen schools before high school graduation, and I read to escape boredom and no friends. I had a wonderful time. So I wanted my kids to all be readers, and was unfortunately quite successful with this child. All my kids read, but not to the exclusion of most everything else, as she has done until this year. </p>

<p>I’m just concerned that I stifled some talent in her when I encouraged reading, that’s all. Guilt is under all this, of course. She did exceptionally well as a kid on block design, so it’s a natural talent. I just wondered if she could take advantage of it, after all these years. Was it good for anything in terms of a possible college major and career.</p>

<p>So I’m just exploring for her. I have a free weekend and I wanted to get input from engineering folks. My kid is hopefully busy studying for her tests. </p>

<p>What does she want to do? She hasn’t a clue, except not writing.</p>

<p>But you know what? I’m embarrassed I posted this at all, and I hope no one else responds so this can go to the back of the board and be forgotten!</p>

7

<p>First off, the average SAT math score is NOT 780 at your standard engineering school.</p>

<p>Second, a lot of kids have no exposure to engineering in high school, and even less exposure to hard work. When you get to engineering school, you adapt. </p>

<p>Third, if she’s an avid reader of the sciences, then she is much more academic than her high school peers. In high school I played football and video games all day.</p>

8

<p>Sorry if this is an unwanted post, but maybe this will help you out: </p>

<p>My son thought he would like engineering because he has always loved building things, finding out how things work and them making them work better. Since he was little, he has always come up with “inventions”. He loved math and physics, and they came easily to him. (Please note, he is also an excellent writer and got the maximum scores on writing tests…reading, not too interested). Finally, he did an engineering apprenticeship (shadowing of sorts at different job sites) to see what different kinds of engineers did.</p>

<p>As a freshman, he only had one actual engineering class as I recall. It was mostly just “grade 13”, so that freshman year wasn’t very helpful to decide about engineering. (His other interests were Music Performance and German - strange, I know.) But as he went on and took more engineering classes, he found that he really did like them a lot. I guess what I’m saying is that you can make a good guess at what you will like, but you just have to jump in and try it out. It is much easier to start in engineering and change to a liberal arts major than it is to enter an engineering curriculum late. If she has interest in it, perhaps she should give it a try.</p>

9

<p>I didn’t expect any more responses, and thanks for your input. My thinking exactly–she should start off in engineering, and if she hates it, hey, she got in on the ground floor as a freshman, and we can just move right out of that building, so to speak! and into another major. Just that if you don’t start off in engineering, you will spend an extra year min in college if you discover later that you want engineering.
Unfortunately, I didn’t expose her to lots of building materials as a kid, so who knows whether she had interest. </p>

<p>By the way, where did your son get those engineering apprentices? I haven’t heard of that. That might give a clue about whether engineering is her path.</p>

<p>Thanks for your post. I think I just worded my intro poorly, and I’m embarrassed about it.</p>

10

<p>When my d was small, the only thing I could do to “punish” her was to tell her she couldn’t read her books. She continues to be a great reader. She is also a great writer too. The apptitude tests taken at school says she could do whatever she wants, because she does well in everything - music, art, math, english, science. Her math SAT was a 750 She doesn’t know what she wants to do either, but we focused on a school with an engineering program. (we didn’t choose the school with the strongest Engineering program because if it does become her true passion, she can alway go on to graduate school.) but a school that had other things she might be interest in. She loved physic (especially the electrical stuff) and loves math. She doesn’t want to teach and doesn’t want to write. Will she stay with Engineering, who knows, but it is the best place to start. as the above post says, easier to change out than to change in. It was really important to her for the school she chose to have a core. (it will be a tough challenge but she says she is up to it and I believe she can handle it) I know she will eventually find her way because she just loves to learn (and read, and read, and read)- how many really know what they want going in.</p>

11

<p>Melbymom: What college is your D at? Which ones did she seriously consider?</p>

12

<p>she is a senior in high school. see private message</p>

13

<p>Being a strong reader is probably the best thing a person can do to become a strong student. In anything. (I’m an educator) I suggest that anyone interested in engineering or other sciences try different camps. My son attended robotics camp, engineering camp, math and physics camp, and computer programming camp over the years and loved them all. He’s going to major in computer engineering with a minor in computer science. And you can hardly get him out of a fantasy novel.</p>

<p>He got a 770 math and 710 CR on the SAT, by the way.</p>

14

<p>Ditto operahorn’s idea about classes and camps. These were very helpful for my kids to discover areas they liked best. The apprenticeships were offered through our guidance office and run by our “intermediate unit” which is a subset of our state department of education. Their mission is to offer a wide variety of services and programs to supplement the schools. Our guidance office also finds job shadowing experiences for interested students (mostly in teaching and medicine/nursing as far as I can see, but I think they would try to find others if needed). Yet another way to do this is to personally find somebody in the field of interest and ask if you can job shadow them for a day or two - I have personally done this successfully on three occasions. </p>

<p>Ask around at your high school, local colleges and your own community. I bet you can find some opportunities! :)</p>

15

<p>On a different note, I am perplexed by my kids’ lack of interest in reading. They both prefer math and science, are both excellent writers, but avoid reading books for pleasure. I wonder if english teachers just beat all of the fun out of reading by the slow pace and over-analysis, because my kids used to like reading when they were younger.</p>

16

<p>Thanks to everyone for their input and ideas. I will investigate these camps and try to find a job shadowing experience or two for my D.</p>

<p>Lkf725, my theory is that people for whom math is a strength don’t necessarily like reading. I have seen this occur several times. Some do, some don’t.</p>

<p>If you have a young child who loves to build, it is possible you have a budding math type on your hands. The way to encourage fiction reading in that type of child is to present them, when they are in 1st or 2nd grade, with the series by David Sobol, The Encyclopedia Brown detective stories. 6 pages of story, then the question, “How did Encyclopedia (the young boy detective) know that so-and-so stole the jewels?” The reader has to review the story to find the clue. Then the solution is in the back of the book. There are several mysteries (6 pages of story) in each book. This is a very good way to attract a math type to fiction. Then move on to Alfred Hitchcock’s Three Investigators series. The main character, Jupiter, is a science brain youngster and I think science/math types identify with him. Anyway, after the child has read some of those, you are well on the way to having a fiction reader. Then the Redwall series would be a great series. Then Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, etc.
Once you have a child firmly entrenched in reading fiction, and they do it a lot at home, hopefully the English class reading won’t have that bad effect that you, and many others, have spoken of.
Don’t know the age of your kids currently, but if still in high school, present them with The Day of the Triffids. An older book but a great read.</p>

17

<p>Similar profile here.
She can read to her hearts content at St. Johns (Santa Fe or Annapolis)… they have required science/math courses too. </p>

<p>How is her writing aptitude? A career as a science writer perhaps?</p>

<p>Sounds like Chemistry or CS might be of interest. </p>

<p>There are also plenty of colleges that allow undergrads to design their own majors… perhaps that might be an option to consider?</p>

18

<p>Mr ego, are you an engineer? If you have a similar profile–well, what does that mean? You are also very talented in block design? If so, what field are you in and do you think this talent is of help to you in your field? </p>

<p>Yeah, I know about St. John’s College. My niece had a summer program there in high school. She did love that school.</p>

<p>Science writing? Hmmm. She thinks no writing for a career, but she was thinking of creative writing.</p>

<p>Thanks for your response!</p>

19

<p>How interesting that this topic has come up! Our student (now heading into his JR college year of engineering in the fall) attended a more liberal arts HS with heavy emphasis on writing, reading, languages and such. Yes, he had great exp with chem(took it as a fresh and soph in HS) as well as the usual Calcs and Physics. He did however become an excellent reader and writer! In fact, he has effortlessly written 10+ page research papers for the few liberals arts courses that are required for his eng degree, all the while complaining as he wrote the papers and then ended up with excellent grades on those papers and commenting that he really did not think they were “very well-written”. Go figure! Then there comes the engineering/physics/linear/mechanics/dynamics/calc III courses that he has had to fulfill up to this point. He works extremely long hours on these courses and deep down I feel that he works almost too much for these courses (Oh, I know they are difficult!). When asked why he wanted to continue in engineering, his response has always been that the liberal arts classes just weren’t challengining; too boring! Personally, I think that he likes that fact that for the most part there is only one answer when he walks in to solve a problem on a test and that the answer is not totally dependant on a TA’s opinion. I think he likes finding a solution to a problem and feeling the success in doing that. Writing a paper to him means many (too many) interpretations! He has been quite successful so far in pursuing his engineering degree, at the expense of perhaps a less than stellar social life on campus. But, hey, he is with other engineers and I guess misery loves company. The headmaster of his school used to say that given his writing skills and the six years of Latin as a foundation, he will be one of the more literate engineers walking around! We hope this is true.</p>

20

<p>^ I agree about your son’s preference for objective rather than opinion-based grading.</p>

<p>The high block design score would indicate her natural ability in math or science or engineering.</p>

<p>[Block</a> design test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_design_test]Block”>Block design test - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>There aren’t as many girls as guys in engineering, and I think one reason is that many girls are also successful at many other subjects, like reading and writing, so they opt to pursue these other options. A little extra encouragement is in order to expose her to career paths in science and math and engineering.</p>

<p>By the way, I did a lot of writing as an engineer, and those of us that could write used to take a little pleasure in watching the agony of self-proclaimed hotshots, but non-writers, once they were required to come up with something coherent.</p>

<p>One more thing - I think that writing large bodies of software made me a better English language writer. In my experience, there are strong parallels between composing a large written narrative and composing a large software program segment.</p>