Civil Engineering- Tufts vs. Dartmouth? Please HELP!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>I totally cannot decide which place to go to. I am an international and I'm going to study Civil Engineering with a minor/ second major if possible in Architecture. I plan on working for a while before going on to grad school to study Architecture. I was in need of almost full aid, and using that criterion to decide isn't helpful anymore because Tufts and Dartmouth have both been very generous with their packages. Dartmouth has a slightly higher work-study and a higher EFC by around $300-400. I've been researching a lot but I really cannot figure out where to go. Both Dartmouth and Tufts have ABET accredited programs but Dartmouth's isn't specific, and its architecture program is more or less restricted to Studio Art with a concentration in architecture. Tufts does have a program in architectural studies but I'm not sure which school will give me an edge when it comes to getting a job or getting into grad school. Although I have been waitlisted in very good schools like Harvard, Princeton, UPenn and Duke, I'm not very optimistic about those working out.</p>

<p>From what I understand...</p>

<p>Dartmouth</p>

<p>Pros:
- Engineering broad based, no specific degree in 'civil' or 'mechanical' may mean more available options
- has the 'Ivy League' factor and the prestige (? might help with jobs/grad school)</p>

<p>Cons:
- Engineering more broad based also means no specialisation
- In an isolated place- less internship opportunities etc (? I'm not sure)
- architecture program is just a studio concentration</p>

<p>Tufts</p>

<p>Pros:
- Engineering program is specialised
- architectural studies available as a second major
- Boston suburbs</p>

<p>Cons:
- Is not very well-known outside US, and not as famous as Dartmouth (More difficulty in finding jobs/ getting into grad school?)
- Cost of living in city may be higher (I'm still ...stretching things around for getting the cash)</p>

<p>Both the options look equally good to me..Could somebody please help me out with this?</p>

2

<p>You’re right that Dartmouth’s engineering is very broad. You won’t even get an ABET accredited degree unless you spend 5 years there. However, that’s not a bad thing. I know a kid with similar interests to yours at Darmouth - his major is something like engineering sciences, studio art, and art history. He’s managed to line up some internships while home for the summer at architecture firms. </p>

<p>I go to Tufts and the engineering school here is awesome. It’s small and personalized, and you’re right, we do have an architecture track within or off of civil engineering. You can’t go wrong with either school. Where do you want to live for the next four years? In a rural area or a stone’s throw away from Boston?</p>

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<p>Statisitcs have shown that after equalizing standardized test scores, there is no advantage from graduating from an Ivy league over a state college in competitive grad school admissions. Also I cannot imagine why someone with a general “Bachelor of Science in Engineering” would have an advantage in the job market over someone with a specialized engineering degree. For 95% of jobs it’s the other way around.</p>

<p>The school you choose will likely have little practical effect on life after college; You should attend the school you like the most.</p>

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<p>What can u do with a dartmouth engineering degree… -_-. companies are going to pick the specialist.</p>