<p>I have read all the details about the 3/2 engineering program that Grinnell offers, but one nagging facet of the program bothers me. I am told that if I meet certain minimum requirements in my course at Grinnell I am 'assured' a place at one of the many institutions listed. However, I went through the Columbia website to find that nearly 100 colleges were affiliated for its 3/2 program! Am I missing something here or are there that many positions(which I really doubt!)?</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>I just came across this, knowing little about Grinnell or Columbia. However, I have talked to colleges about 3/2 programs in general and this is what I have been told:</p>
<p>As freshman, there is a group of kids (10?) who are always intereted in the program. However, by their junior year, they love the school too much to leave early. In the end, maybe only one, if any, student chooses to pursue the 3/2 program. </p>
<p>When programs are affiliated, if the engineering prof af the LAC recommends the particular student, they are almost always admitted, granted they meet certain requirements that are predetermined (GPA in science classes etc.). </p>
<p>Last year I believe CalTech had only 4 students apply as transfers for their 3/2 program, and 3 got in. The way I understood, if you want to pursue it and do well in your classes, it is reletively easy to get into the engineering school.</p>
<p>hey arsenalsweep thanks for the reply. Another thing that was on my mind was if it was worth spending that extra year pursuing the 3/2 program? Does anyone out there think its a waste of time?</p>
<p>Almost 30 years ago, I witnessed a few classmates go to Wash U or elsewhere for the engineering double degree.</p>
<p>Yes, it was worth it to them, they tell me.</p>
<p>But, there is one flaw -- you are not as close to your Grinnell alums in later years as you missed a year of classes and graduation with them. And, in many ways you are not comfortable as an alum with the "other" school.</p>
<p>So, when making the decision, either do not give a darn about the issue referenced above or make contact with the school you feel closest to and keep your contacts alive so that you do feel comfortable at the alumni gatherings.</p>
<p>Barely anyone actually does it, but I think anyone capable of being admitted to Grinnell is also capable of doing well enough here to get accepted into 3/2 programs with affiliated schools.</p>
<p>How is the Physics department at Grinnell? Just wondering because Physics at liberal Arts colleges are usually kind of fishy.....</p>
<p>The 1.2 billion dollar endowment mainly can be attributed to Noyce -- the founder of the silicon chip and the cofounder of Intel. Noyce was a Grinnell physics major.</p>
<p>Now with millions of his dollars plowed into the science building -- which is finishing phase 3 of improvements -- I would venture to guess that the program is stronger than when Noyce attended.</p>
<p>It was nothing to write home about in the good old days -- now it is something to see.</p>