There are schools out there that the first year engineering curriculum is the same for all or you don’t select a major until after the first year.
Some you will get the major you want second year - the first is about exploration. At others, it’s competitive to get the one you want - meaning there’s no guarantee.
But after the budget is determined, perhaps that type of curriculum would work for your student - where you have another year before a decision has to be made.
Not a recommendation of schools - but giving you two examples - one where you take the same curriculum and choose a major. The other where all take the same and it can be competitive to get the specific major you want.
So maybe using the summer to explore another area of engineering, so he has had exposure to a variety over time? Now that we have all affirmed construction, I am now curious about what areas of research or other possibilities for the summer! (Side comment: my son was also always building- Lego castles with working moats, bridges with entry gates that went up, robots in the closet that greeted me…and landed in computer science, another form of “building.” With AI engineering might be a better way to go!)
@Twoin28 , when you get to the school part, he may want to check out Olin. Such a great place for a hands-on education. Not sure how it would work out financially, but could be worth a quick run of the numbers.
We loved Olin!!! Small, project based, and entrepreneurial connection to Babson next door. Originally tuition was free but no longer. But on the website " Every admitted Olin College student receives a merit scholarship." When my son was looking at schools, Olin was as selective as MIT. Olin College of Engineering | Olin College of Engineering Deadline is Dec. 15.