What are some pros/cons you have experienced as a result of being in a smaller engineering program (as compared to U-Wisconsin or Purdue)? We are weighing supposed higher ranking vs. opportunities of the program. We can’t compare costs yet, as we’re waiting on scholarship decisions. Son is planning to focus on biomedical engineering, possibly premed. (We are from Missouri, so Mizzou is also in our sights.)
I have posted a similar question on the University of Wisconsin board, so I apologize if I’m breaking cross-posting rules. But that board is morely likely to be answered by UW parents/alums, who are probably biased toward UW.
My son is graduating from Iowa’s BME program in May. We also looked at UW (my alma mater) and I can offer the following perspective:
IOWA PROS
direct-admit to student’s engineering program. At UW you apply as a sophomore. When we were shopping only 1/3 of BME applicants were accepted. The others tread water for a semester and try again.
very friendly, supportive environment. Direct-admit makes for a less-competitive atmosphere. Attitude at UW was very aloof; very detached. Totally different vibe.
lots of on-campus research assistant opportunities (though you have to look for them and network)
good faculty support. My son was asked to TA a class as a junior. Profs helped him find on-campus jobs.
better chance of 4 year completion. At UW they described this as a pipe dream.
IOWA CONS
recruiting is weak, esp. for BMEs. Not a lot of med tech companies recruit at Iowa. My son got a co-op but it was tough and he went to every career fair from sophomore year on
reputation of the BME program is not as good as UW and Purdue. Hate to say it but it’s true.
The overall university at Iowa is much more of a small-school feel. UW is a good school and Madison is awesome, but UW - especially engineering - has become far too cocky and aloof.
I went to Purdue for 1 year many years ago (transferring to UW) and found it very conservative, very Bible Belt. Greek life dominated the culture. West Layflat is close to the edge of the earth. Tread carefully here!
beastman: Great feedback. I, too, am looking for a smaller engineering program for my son, who loves Wisconsin and likes Purdue. Since you brought up recruiting, may I ask if your son found a job? My daughter is a student there and her boyfriend is a soph in the BME program so I am curious from that perspective as well.
My son has 3 interviews in the Twin Cities in the next two weeks. There are definitely jobs, but it requires the student to do a lot more work than s/he probably anticipates after 4 years of hearing that jobs would be raining from the sky. Personally, I think it’s good as it more accurately represents what the real work world is like. I am optimistic that my son will move directly from IC to a real grown-up job and apt with no extended stays at my house.
It’s crucial that any undergrad engineering student find as much work experience as possible. At Iowa, 30% graduate with no experience. You don’t want to be among them. As a sophomore, the boyfriend is probably not a candidate for an internship or co-op. He should seek a job as a research asst at any of the med school, engineering, bio-anything labs at Iowa. I can explain how to do this if you like. He then leverages that job into a co-op or internship. This is the coup de grace: real work in a real biomedical device company.
Be aware that biotech is concentrated in several areas of the US: Mpls/St. Paul, Boston, parts of CA, maybe another 1 or 2.
As for your son, take him to the Iowa tour - including a breakout in the College of Engineering and not just the generic tour - and the same at Wisconsin. You and he will see the difference in the feel quite apparently.