3+2 Engineering?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Hey guys, I was wondering if anybody is in the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC that got in from a 3+2 program? For those who don't know, 3+2 is a program where you spend 3 years at a liberal arts college studying general education / engineering courses, then you attend USC (or some other engineering college) for the next 2 years to study your engineering concentration. You end up with a liberal arts degree in something like Physics, and an engineering degree from USC.</p>

<p>My questions:
- Is it equally difficult to earn admissions into USC from a 3+2 program as it is to get in as a regular freshmen undergrad? From what I understand it is not guaranteed.
- How difficult is it to become accustomed to the new environment so late in your college career?</p>

<p>I would really appreciate it if someone who went through the program could lend some insight.</p>

<p>I'm still applying to USC as a freshman (it's pretty much a reach for me), but I'm seriously considering going the 3+2 route if I don't get in, since the LAC I would be attending would give me A LOT of scholarship money, it's close to home, and I feel like I would learn the basics of engineering better in a smaller classroom environment. </p>

<p>If it matters, I plan on doing Environmental Engineering.</p>

2

<p>A lab manager here, who is a Ph.D. student in ME, earned his bachelor’s in ME in a 3+2 program after earning a physics degree from a LAC. It’s definitely possible.</p>

3

<p>if you get into USC as a freshman i’d highly suggest looking into the PDP program, which is a 4+1 program, allowing you to get your bacherlors + masters in just 5 years. you can’t apply until i think your sophomore or junior year though (acceptance is based on gpa and professor recs)</p>

4

<p>thanks for the responses guys :slight_smile:
anyone else have any opinions? i’ve heard very mixed things about 3+2 programs, so i’m just trying to learn a bit more.</p>

5

<p>if you want to be an engineer, 3+2 doesn’t help that much. unless there are “real” reasons, why bother?</p>