<p>For engineers, how good is Brown’s engineering program? Since I’m not entirely sure of my career goals, I would like to go to a well-rounded school in case it turns out that I don’t want to go into engineering, and a school that is very strong in engineering in case I do. The academic freedom that Brown offers really appeals to me, since I’d like to try a few different things that I might like. I noticed, though, that when people talk about engineering, they generally think MIT/Caltech (not sure if I want to go there), CMU, Cornell (definitely thinking about it). Being an Ivy, I’m sure that Brown is strong in pretty much everything, but how is its engineering? Thanks.</p>
<p>Engineering (as a whole) was its most popular declared major for this year's incoming class, so it can't be that bad.</p>
<p>Realize, however, that engineering is a 26 course major. If you decide to stick with it, this only leaves 6 courses to take whatever you want with taking a typical 4 course per semester load.</p>
<p>I know many people in the engineering program, about 70% stayed with it, but a solid 30 decide to do somethign completely different.</p>
<p>BUMP 10char</p>
<p>At the risk of being annoying, BUMP.</p>
<p>Brown's engineering is consistently ranked dead last in Ivies. According to USNWR (although rating graduate schools, reasonable to believe within range) for example, ranking is:</p>
<ol>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Princeton</li>
<li>Harvard</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Penn</li>
<li>Yale</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
</ol>
<p>Brown does not make the list of the top 50 programs and is behind--perhaps far behind--such schools as Florida, Rutgers, North Carolina State, etc. On the other hand, there may be a specific undergraduate program that is good but overall, quite weak.</p>
<p>While this is true, Brown's engineering does offer some unique mixes with economics in the form of the COE major which I believe to be a very strong program. For straight up engineering, it's not considered a great school for that kind of program, but then again, that is not the only reason to choose a place.</p>
<p>One of hte beautiful things about Brown will be the ease of motion away from engineering if you find you don't love it, even into something with 0 science relation in a seemless, paperworkless manner.</p>
<p>I'd say Brown is a great school to major in engineering as long as you don't plan on becoming an engineer. An engineering background can be useful in business, law, or other endeavors, and the freedom of Brown's curriculum would allow you to mix your study of engineering with other disciplines. If you're doing something other than engineering, the perceived quality of your undergraduate education obviously will not matter, unlike if you enter engineering proper after undergrad.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I think I'm more interested in Cornell engineering, but I'm visiting Brown on Monday because I think it's definitely worth giving a good look at.</p>
<p>I went to the engineering open house on the 17th, and they mentioned a B.A. in engineering. does anyone know anything about this less intense option?</p>
<p>"Brown's engineering is consistently ranked dead last in Ivies. According to USNWR (although rating graduate schools, reasonable to believe within range) for example, ranking is:</p>
<ol>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Princeton</li>
<li>Harvard</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Penn</li>
<li>Yale</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
</ol>
<p>Brown does not make the list of the top 50 programs and is behind--perhaps far behind--such schools as Florida, Rutgers, North Carolina State, etc. On the other hand, there may be a specific undergraduate program that is good but overall, quite weak."</p>
<p>To be fair, for undergrad it's ranked above Dartmouth and Yale, and just one spot behind Harvard and Penn (which admittedly isn't saying much). Brown engineering is probably best for people who want to do computer engineering (due to its strong comp sci program), or some kind of applied mathematics/engineering combo looking towards finance etc.</p>
<p>Good choice to go to Cornell if you want the Ivies' best engineering and an opportunity for a broad-based liberal arts education as well.</p>