Non-Engineering Majors Who Loved FIRST

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

Which scholarships are you talking about (besides the animation one for the art school and the teacher scholarship)?

Last time I checked (5 minutes ago), it was mostly science-technology based, and for specific schools for the most part. 5 million dollars or not, the scholarships are worthless unless they're filled. I don't know what the exact coorelation is, but maybe there should be some research on the normal costs of these schools, the average income of the towns that the students who are encouraged to apply come from, and what kind of a dent the scholarships actually do.

There are some engineer-major specific scholarships, but there are others that just require you to have been on a FIRST Robotics Team. However, as you mentioned, the engineer-specific scholarships seem to be worth a lot more (like full tuition) than other general ones.

[Jessica Boucher]

And if you dig a little deeper into the descriptions for the "you only have to be on a FIRST team to apply" scholarships, the schools specialize in science & tech related fields (except for that one Christian school).

Another good research topic would be to plot these schools on a map, see the regions in which students are applying, and see the schools that aren't getting their scholarships fulfilled. It may be that a certain section of the nation is applying and won't apply to schools on the other end of the nation because of family issues or lack of funds for transportation.

Again, its all about the impact that scholarship would make.

[Amanda Morrison]

I stand very corrected. Jason Morella serves as a fine role model for English-loving FIRSTers.

Maybe we'd ought to find someone better at basketball, though?

[SkitzoSmurf]

I was involved with FIRST for 3 years and loved every aspect, however I knew that engineering wasnt for me due to my problems with math and physics. To be honest however, I wasn't quite sure anything was for me. I didn't want to try engineering and then blow someone up because I'm horrible at it. It's kind of like not deciding to become a chef, because you suck so bad at cooking that you would burn a salad. I did know two things, I wanted to do something business like in the entertainment, or music industry, and I knew I didn't have alot of money to spend getting there. So here's my story, I am attending the community college of Rhode Island, with no regrets. I am earning good grades working on my general business associates degree, and saving money. I plan to transfer after my graduation in 2005 to a big business school, and minor in entertainment and events management and see where I go from there. I'm thinking on the three B's right now, Berkely, Babson, or Bryant.
Loved FIRST, loved the experience, loved the people, loved the concepts. LOVED EVERYTHING. However, when it comes to building, I'm just a hacksaw peon waiting for my next piece of metal to cut, I leave the funcionability problems to everyone else.

[Ashley Weed]

I'm glad I finally came into this thread to read. I realized late in my first semester at college, that engineering may not have been the reason I enjoyed FIRST. I was involved all 4 years of high school, and the last two I was very serious with my driver tasks. However, while taking engineering labs in college, I have noticed that I never actually took part in the fabrication and building, and enjoyed the logistical parts of engineering moreso than anything else.
Although, I very much enjoyed Robotics, and engineering. I am still pursuing a childhood dream of becoming a doctor, and tied it in with engineering through a major of Bioengineering in the medical school track.
I have considered trying to find something on the logistical end that I so much enjoyed about FIRST, however it has been difficult trying to tie in medicine with that.
Best of Luck to anyone who found a small aspect of FIRST other than engineering. I hope you are able to tie in your major with something you enjoy.

[Jessica Boucher]

I'm really loving all the responses that there have been to this thread...good to see everyone coming out of the woodwork

I was putzing around today in the rulebook section of the FIRST site, doing some research for a possible post in a Chairmans Award thread, and I came across this...

The FIRST mission is to change the way America’s young people regard science and technology and to inspire an appreciation for the real-life rewards and career opportunities in these fields.

and

The Chairman’s Award was created to keep the central focus of the FIRST Robotics Competition as our ultimate goal for transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honor for science and technology, as well as encourage more of today’s youth to become scientists, engineers, and technologists.

Which makes me want to pose the question to the teams who are doing their Chairmans Award now...how many students that you know are planning on going into engineering are the ones actually compiling the Chairmans Award? It would make sense that they wouldn't be focusing their energies here at this point in time.

YET ANOTHER good idea for a study would be the breakdown of the functions of students on teams throughout the year.

[Jim McGeehin]

FIRST got me to love working with people and learning new things. Granted, I love learning how things work, but there are better people than I. I loved talking to scouts and judges, answering questions from news reporters and students alike.

I'm in Commerce and Engineering, learning the business end of the engineering world. FIRST really showed me what I was good at and what I needed to work on.

[indieFan]

Yes, Jason Morrella was an English teacher, as was I. (I, however, gave it up and went back to school for an engineering degree under the idea that engineering couldn't be as difficult as teaching 8th graders.)

For those that are into English, I'm curious what your favorite genre/time period is. My personal preferences are the Renaissance and Middle English.

indieFan

[Lisa Rodriguez]

I'm SOO happy this post it here!!
I have been in FIRST for 3 years now, and I'm a junior. IEverytime I talk to someone about FIRST, people ask me what kind of engineer I want to be, my general reply is "no way, that's just not me." I'm not a engineer person, sure, I like helping putting the robot together, helping maintain and repart it, but I will never be an engineer. I see what out engineers do and almost faint. There's no way I could ever be an engineer and do all the math and work. I'm currently looking at marine biology for a major, and if there's a team near or from my college (whatever it will be) I will DEFINETLY help, and I woudn't trade the experience for ANYTHING. FIRST is about more than science and technology, it's like any group or people working together and using various skills. I have learned how to speak publicly ( i used to freak out, now i do it 2-3 times a week) and how to deal with people and teenagers (yahh go us!). I have learned to fraternize and suck up without being obvious () and had immeasureable amounts of fun. It's good to see scholarship money for non-engineering major. And its good to see a post about it and know I'm not the only one!!

[Todd Derbyshire]

This thread has been long overdue...

Currently right now I am a sophmore at the University of New Hampshire Dual majoring in Justice Studies/ Psychology. This was a far cry from what I originally stated on my applications to each school during my senior year at high school. I was accepted to the BU's, Penn State's for engineering but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do yet with my life. So UNH came along made me a generous offer and I took it and went undeclared for a year and now I decided to go to law school and become a lawyer. The beginnng of this track came in my trials of FIRST as a strategist. I became a rules lawyer and circumvented many rules and proved things that could be done when engineers thought they couldn't. I credit FIRST for a lot of changes in my life all of which are positive in which without this program I don't know where I would be today.