Work in progress-crossing the bridge: an engineering preliminary program

In Chile the transition from high school level to university is characterized as a process full of challenges and difficulties. Good secondary level students fail in their initial assessments and grades, suffering traumatic consequences that severely damage their self esteem. During 2003 academic terms Santa Maria Technical University (UTFSM) at Valparaiso, Chile, offered a pilot program to good last level high school students who had previously to be recommended by their corresponding math or physics teacher. They could attend first year engineering courses such as math and introduction to engineering (Module I) or physics and introduction to engineering (Module II). Afterwards, if they succeeded in these courses and if they decided to enter UTFSM through the Chilean SAT, those subjects could automatically be validated.