Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Olin College — Re-Engineering Engineering

Posted by kdawson on from the would-you-like-thinking-with-that dept.

theodp writes "In its College Issue, the NYT Magazine profiles tuition-free Olin College, which is building a different breed of engineer, stressing creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship — and, in no small part, courage. But questions remain as to whether the industry is ready for the freethinking products of Olin, and vice versa. Few of the class of 2006 are going on to grad study in engineering or jobs in the field."

2 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. This sounds like... by fujikanaeda · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...free advertising. Or was paying for buzzwords part of this "new way of thinking"?

  2. fundamentals by mehtars · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Although this program seems to give the students warm and fuzzy feelings about engineering, it seems to miss out on the fundamentals of engineering itself. In order to know what is possible and why is grounded in know the basics of math, physics, chemistry, and (depending on the major) biology.


    The next step would be implementation and applying them to real world practical problems. This is where an engineer differs from a hobbyist.


    Though I must say, the pay of an engineer isn't nearly as good as what peers get in finance or consulting (then again I am in the NY area, and those two fields seem to eat up all the smart technically inclined people).