<p>Could it ever make sense to enter a 3-2 program for financial reasons? (LAC offers full ride / full tuition)</p>
<p>I am considering becoming an engineer. If I were to be offered a large scholarship at an LAC that I really like, could this be a sensible option?</p>
<p>One potential problem some 3-2’s have mentioned to me is that while they had excellent scholarships at their first school, they did not at their second school.
So while their second school met their need (since my school is great with financial aid), it was still a huge increase in cost for the last two years.</p>
<p>In other words, just be aware that the second school is under no obligation to give you the same financial package, and if it’s not enough you could be sol.</p>
<p>Hi
So what exactly is a 3-2 program? If I understand well, you take 3 yrs in one school and 2 yrs in another? So why would you do that?</p>
<p>Sorry I am not familiar with word
Thanks</p>
<p>You spend three years at a small liberal arts college (such as Williams) and transfer automatically to a University (such as Columbia) after 3 years. You spend two years there an come out with a B.A. from the college and a B.S. from the University.</p>
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<p>That is the idea of a 3/2. There are a variety of reasons why you might consider it. One is mentioned above, where a Liberal Arts school gives a student a full scholarship for the first three years, thus making the 3/2 program cheaper than attending a traditional engineering school the entire time (which is very often 5 years, anyway). </p>
<p>Another reason is if you want an experience that can only be offered at the Liberal Arts school but still want an engineering degree. For example, someone who wants a top tier engineering degree and to attend a historically black university cannot do that at one school, but would be accommodated with a 3/2 program that starts at Morehouse College then finishes at Columbia or Georgia Tech. </p>
<p>Third, it is often easier to get into a college via a 3/2 program than as a freshman applicant. For example, I mentioned that someone can start a 3/2 at Morehouse then end at Columbia or Georgia Tech. Morehouse has much lower admissions requirements than Columbia or Georgia Tech. </p>
<p>There are obviously other reasons (students who have to live at home, students already at a Liberal Arts school that decide to pursue engineering, etc.) but those give you an idea of why someone would consider such a program.</p>