<p>I have heard only a little about this program. I think the basic outline is you spend 3 years at a liberal arts college working on a BA (?) in physics or chemistry, then transfer to a technical/engineering school for 2 years to get a BS (?) degree in a specific field.</p>
<p>Is this right? I'm not sure which degree you get where. Please correct me if I'm wrong, the descriptions I read were very confusing.</p>
<p>Has anyone considered this program? What are the benefits or disadvantages?</p>
<p>You’re basically spending 5 years (5.5-6 in most cases, I believe) to get a 4 year degree. You also have to leave your friends of 3 years behind to go to a new school you might not particularly enjoy. Why? I see no advantage in this, unless you’re really, REALLY desperate to get a LAC experience and can’t get into Bucknell/Harvey Mudd/Rice and schools like that.</p>
<p>Yes, you’re right. I have been looking into a program like this too. 3 years at liberal arts college and 2 years at tech school.<br>
I was actually really set on doing this, until people told me the BA degree was pretty much pointless from the LAC. So now I have been looking into other programs, but that is still one I’m considering.
Benefits: You get the resources of both schools, an extra degree from the LAC, and the Liberal Arts experience (usually wonderful campuses), interaction with people of other majors
Disadvantages: an extra year, a (from what I have heard) almost pointless extra degree (a BA), usually not the best known schools involved</p>
<p>Ray192, you have a good point about leaving behind friends to go to a new school. Hadn’t thought about that.
Salve!- also interesting point about a rather pointless BA.</p>
<p>So… how could a physics or chemistry BA be useful in the future? It might be a good idea to get 2 degrees in 5 years instead of longer, but only if you can use both. I don’t plan on becoming a teacher, and the LAC ‘experience’ is something I can live without.
I am also surprised that someone could get a good engineering education in only 2 years of study and experience. Does the 3+2 program skip a lot compared to a regular 4-yr engineering education, or does it compromise?</p>
<p>These programs ar enot that useful. I don’t think many people go through with the 3/2 programs. Some schools have partnerships with Cal Tech and other prestigious schools but if you don’t get into Caltech as a freshman, it is probably ridiculously hard/impossible to get through in the 3+2 programs. Plus you are socially and academically disconnected. It is fine if you go to a LAC and later decide to become an engineer but it seems strange to start in a 3/2 program.</p>