<p>I have a daughter who is very interested in attending Wesleyan - she absolutely loved it when we visited in August. However, she would like to study engineering (environmental). I think someone on this board was pursing the 3-2 (or 2-1-1-1) engineering program at Wesleyan (XMatt perhaps). If anyone has any information, I would greatly appreciate his or her insight. My daughter would like to major in Earth and Environmental Sciences but I think I read somewhere that you had to major in Physics to do engineering - is this the case? She's especially interested in how doable this is and how many students actually end up completing both degrees. </p>
<p>Can't speak for Wesleyan specifically, but in general 3-2 engineering programs at top LACs are rarely utilized. In practice, most LAC students who go into engineering get a 4-year BA degree in a related science, then pursue an engineering MS degree in grad school. </p>
<p>The 3-2 plan requires a lot of coursework in physics, chemistry, and math (for environmental engineering, there is probably a particular emphasis on chemistry). So those students who do complete 3-2 engineering programs typically major in one of these three fields. Physics is probably the most common choice, but chemistry should be a viable alternative for environmental engineering.</p>
<p>The "Earth and Environmental Science" major probably won't contribute much towards the engineering requirements. If there is relatively little overlap, then it would be difficult to complete the requirements for this major, while simultaneously completing the engineering requirements in physics, math, and chemistry.</p>
<p>I graduated from Wes in the 1980's and originally attended because I wanted to do the 3-2 engineering program (good backdoor way to get into Caltech). There were requirements (heavy physics, math, etc.) but it wasn't too bad and I was recommended by a physics professor and offered admission to Caltech for the engineering part of the program (this was as a junior at Wes). Alas, at that point I had lost interest in engineering, ending up graduating with an Economics major and the rest is history as they say.....</p>
<p>Thanks very much for your replies. Yes, we've heard that most students at LACs don't end up pursuing engineering degrees because they dont want to leave the campus, because they want to graduate with their class, because their interests change, etc. This is somewhat of a concern, of course. Whatever happens, I know she will be thrilled if she is accepted to Wesleyan and she will work out her major once she is there. Shnj thanks for sharing your personal experience - she'll be relieved to hear that it is doable. We understand that Wesleyan has strong science programs and great opportunities to participate in research as an undergraduate, which are big draws for my daughter. She will be applying Regular Decision, so we wont know for awhile, and hopes to have her application sent in within the next couple of weeks.</p>