<p>Marsian, The thing with Virginia Tech is that,although it is most known for engineering, only a little over 20% of each class graduates in engineering, a little less than 20% graduate in business (according to the common data set) with many other majors also represented. There really are lots of other programs that a kid can move into if engineering does not work out. It of course does not have an LAC feel though if that is really what someone is more interested in.</p>
<p>I don’t think this kid is on this board, but Ohio resident has chosen Univ of Kentucky over Ohio State.</p>
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<p>Schools in the southeast with under 5,000 students, engineering majors, and “reasonably good” overall student bodies (25th percentile of SAT CR and M >= 500):</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Search Results](<a href=“College Navigator - Search Results”>College Navigator - Search Results)</p>
<p>Not exactly a big list, and not one that contains the obvious well known engineering schools.</p>
<p>Without the regional restriction, the list expands:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Search Results](<a href=“College Navigator - Search Results”>College Navigator - Search Results)</p>
<p>Some of the obvious ones, like Caltech and Harvey Mudd, are highly selective reach-for-everyone schools.</p>
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<p>Small classes in the sciences.
Individualized attention and mentoring from professors.
Quantitative material taught by professors and not TAs.
Cooperative as opposed to competitive student culture.</p>
<p>I hope you can fully appreciate the wonderful and unique education you have been offered. Over these next four years, when you’re the recipient of Pomona’s extraordinary support and encouragement for students who find themselves among a brilliant cohort of classmates and professors from all over the world, I hope you’ll come back to CC and post again!</p>
<p>sevmom – I’m fairly familiar with VT, as well as GT and NCSU, and I know that they have other good programs besides engineering. However, they are not anything like small liberal arts colleges that some students may be seeking. My point was that someone might choose engineering at one of those schools rather than a much smaller school, then not like engineering and be totally unhappy at a large university.</p>
<p>ucb – Interesting lists – and useful for those who might be struggling with this question. Thanks for posting. Furman and UNC-Asheville have transfer programs rather than regular engineering programs, although that does bring up the point that these are programs that an undecided student might go into to feed into engineering. VMI will only draw people who want a military school. Apart from Mercer and Washington & Lee (which has physics/engineering and chemistry/engineering majors rather than a separate engineering school), I had not heard of any of the others. Moreover, I have talked to several engineers in this area who say that their firms almost exclusively look at NC State, Clemson, GT, and VT, the big names in the area, and increasingly at UNC-Charlotte.</p>
<p>Some kids who truly would not or could not be comfortable at larger schools probably would not be looking at a place like Virginia Tech anyway, even if they were interested in engineering. Despite being fairly large, Virginia Tech does not have an overwhelming feel to it and things like Honors College and Residential Leadership programs could also make the school seem smaller. However, kids looking for a true LAC experience are probably looking elsewhere.</p>
<p>Carleton College vs University of Notre Dame.</p>
<p>Accepted at Yale vs waitlisted at Williams - for prospective engineering major.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence versus Earlham for a student with interests in literature, foreign languages, and economics (Sarah Lawrence is limited in the latter two).</p>
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<p>Some of the recruiters may not go to small schools because they are small. Sending a recruiter to recruit a hundred graduating students in the major at a big school is more cost effective than sending a recruiter to recruit five graduating students in the major at a small school.</p>
<p>Just popped up, from an international: Lafayette vs. Texas A&M.</p>
<p>My son got a nice scholarship to Rutgers making it only $10,000/year however he turned it down for full-pay to Cornell U - College of Engineering? I hope everyone isn’t insulting him for making that choice! Yes it will take some sacrifice on our part but I think the experience and job opportunities will make it a good choice. No we are not taking huge loans.
FYI my daughter is a junior at Rutgers and loves it. However as a nursing major it didn’t make much sense for her to go anywhere else. I just wish she got merit aid.</p>
<p>I was going to post Lafayette vs Texas A&M, but annasdad beat me too it.</p>