<p>DS2 could use some help please. He has finally narrowed his choices down to Clemson and Purdue for engineering. He liked the research opportunities at Clemson. Loved the people, loved the campus. Received the 10k OOS scholarship.
Purdue offered a terrific lab tour. Campus was icy but, that was a strange plus for him. We don't see a lot of that where we live. He liked the students but, didn't think they were as friendly as Clemson. No scholarship here but, within our budget.
He liked both academic programs and felt good about job placement at both.
Any input?
Thanks</p>
<p>Hey PokeyJoe - I was accepted to both Purdue and Clemson for engineering back in 2009 and had to make a similar decision. My dad wanted me to go to Purdue since it’s ranked higher in US News for engineering but let’s be honest engineering is going to be engineering wherever you go (it’s not like Purdue teaches you anything different) and both are excellent research universities - Creative Inquiry is a great program that encourages undergraduate research (don’t know if they have an equivalent at Purdue but many students participate in it at Clemson). After 4.5 years at Clemson (took a semester off for an internship), I have had 3 internships and I had a full time job secured before I graduated in December (and I didn’t have that great of a GPA…was just under 3.0).</p>
<p>So I feel there really isn’t much of a difference between either schools. I will say that I didn’t choose Purdue because of the weather (I’m from Boston so I was sick of the cold) and Purdue is huge ~30,000 undergrads compared to ~16,000 undergrads at Clemson. Also the amount of school spirit/family atmosphere at Clemson is something I didn’t feel at Purdue.</p>
<p>Both are great schools for engineering and I’d go wherever you feel is the best fit financially and for your son. Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions about Clemson!</p>
<p>Thanks Pierre for the great reply. I showed it to DS2. He’s mulling.</p>
<p>He’s decided to be a Clemson tiger! He went through all the details and said at the end, he thought he’d be happier there. -in spite of not getting in the honors program. We know of three kiddos who recently left their colleges for “fit” issues, so that resonated with us.</p>
<p>Pierre, do you have any advice on the meal plan? Looks like 7 days or 5 days without any weekend meals.</p>
<p>So excited for him!!</p>
<p>Congrats! I would go with the 7 day meal plan. You’ll be living on campus without any real kitchen facilities so it definitely helps to be able to go to the dining halls whenever you want to even on the weekends. The cost between the 7 day and 5 day meal plan is only $200 so I would just go ahead and pick 7 day unlimited for the first semester at least. Check up on your son’s eating habits after the first semester and if he is fine with 5 days then, you can always switch 2nd semester.</p>
<p>That confirms the way we were leaning. Thanks :)</p>
<p>My D was accepted to both Purdue and Clemson as well for engineering. We live in Indianapolis so the in-state tuition was the draw for us (mom and dad) at Purdue, and even though she has many friends there now (but not in engineering) or going there next year from her class including her best friend, she was never that excited about it. She has attended several “women in engineering” and Project Lead the Way programs there throughout high school and we did the official admissions/engineering tour. And up until last fall she thought she was going to have to “settle” and go there . . .until we visited Clemson. From the second we arrived on campus she knew that was the place for her - no comparison to Purdue (or South Carolina for that matter, which we had visited the day before). The atmosphere, the spirit and friendliness of the students, the engineering program and even the way they desribed how they teach calcualus (which she is not a fan of) - her mind was made up. </p>
<p>The General Engineering program at Clemson is great. There are big classes but the “table” format of intro engineering and math classes is awesome (half lecture, half practice problems with a group at your table while getting help from the professor/TA’s). Definitely something you won’t see at many large universities. While physics/chemistry classes are large lecture classes - the professors that teach that class are mostly dedicated to teaching intro level classes and take the time from their schedule to make sure you understand the material (Supplemental Instruction is great as well). The chemistry professor that I had for CH 101 was recently featured in the Princeton Review book of best professors for teaching in the country. Clemson’s a large university but it is definitely more undergraduate focused than many large state schools which is unique.</p>
<p>Interesting, my daughter also was accepted at Purdue, Clemson too, and we are going out there tomorrow for the Purdue for you program. Also accepted at Univ of Pitt, Drexel And Rutgers…she wants to study biomedical engineering…if she doesn’t get to transfer into the program she wants how easy is it to transfer to a diff engineering Or other school? Thinking worst case scenario…also how is it to balance schoolwork and activities? Doable? Are ther lots of research opps? Where are they? Is ther a hospital for example that the ops are? Any advice would be appreciated… Thx</p>
<p>My experience is that you’ll absolutely transfer out of general engineering into your selected major if you meet the GPA requirements (if you don’t - maybe engineering isn’t for you since freshman year is a cakewalk compared to what comes afterwards). So I wouldn’t worry about it at all. Schoolwork and activities is definitely doable - requires excellent time management skills but definitely doable. Tons of research opportunities at Clemson through Creative Inquiry (can look at some of the current ongoing projects here: <a href=“Creative Inquiry + Undergraduate Research | Clemson University, South Carolina”>Creative Inquiry + Undergraduate Research | Clemson University, South Carolina). The Bioengineering faculty is excellent and one faculty member recently received a teaching award and spoke at convocation last year (she graduated from MIT)</p>
<p>Know that was a short quick response to your questions. Let me know if you have any additional questions or want me to go into a little bit more detail about anything!</p>
<p>Thanks…what are weekends like for engineers? Study all weekend? Is going Greek recommended to have activities to do? Are you looked on as bring odd if you don’t pledge? Know anyone in marching ad! Want to know how time intensive it is…do lots of people work on campus! Doable as engineering student?</p>
<p>Engineering involves a lot of work no question about it but if you manage your time and assignments right there is definitely a lot of time to do something fun on the weekends (get it done during the week instead of procrastinating!). I know a good number of female engineers who go greek so if that’s your thing go for it. Greek life is a significant part of campus but remember only 20-30% of campus is in a greek life organization. If you decide you don’t want to pledge your freshman year but decide you want to do so, you can pledge fall of your sophomore year as well. Definitely know a lot of people who have gone that route as well. You definitely aren’t looked on as odd if you don’t pledge (I didn’t).</p>
<p>A little confused about the 2nd half of your post - marching ad? And what is doable as engineering student? I know a good number of engineers who have part-time jobs so if that’s a concern for you, it shouldn’t. Again if you have good time management skills you can have a job, be an engineering student and participate in a bunch of campus activities.</p>
<p>Ooh sorry, cannot type! Thx for your feedback…was wondering about marching band…is it doable as an engineering student…kind of nervous about time needed to participate! Are supports for academic success truly helpful? Is it primarily tutoring ? Thanks, pierre0913. :)</p>
<p>I don’t recall any engineering students I know being in Tiger Band but I’m sure there are some - one thing I can think of is conflicts with labs and practice time but you can schedule labs around that and I’m sure the band director could accommodate you if you had a conflict. Academic support at Clemson is awesome - there’s tutoring as well as a program called supplemental instruction for big freshman classes where there are nightly breakout sessions with someone who’s gotten an A before in the class. They sit in your classes with you and at night they go over the material with you. There is also academic coaching if you need help with study skills. Check out <a href=“Class of 1956 Academic Success Center | Clemson University, South Carolina”>www.clemson.edu/asc</a> for all the resources the academic success center has to offer.</p>
<p>Hi Pierre0913, do you know what GPA requirements are to transfer to biomed? Or MechE? Were you able to do a minor? If so, was it part of COE? Or could you do a “liberal arts” one with no issue? Any thoughts or experience with study abroad? Thanks!</p>
<p>Ontocollegegal, I believe the GPA requirement in general engineering for bioengineering is a 3.0 GPA. I am not aware of any requirement for mechanical engineering beyond the fact that you have to get at least a C in every general engineering class (not 100% sure about that though). I did not do a minor but I do know a few people who did do a minor. It will be tough to do if you are an engineering major because of all the work that you already have to do but it is possible with some serious time management and dedication. (I would only suggest it if it was completely relevant to what you want to do with your career) I do know many students who have studied abroad (Japan, Singapore, Germany, Haiti, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, China are some places that come to mind). Lots of students decide to do a study abroad experience. I personally opted for internships here in the US but people do study abroad (and it’s encouraged - we get frequent emails about opportunities).</p>
<p>We have been to Purdue and have the opportunity to stop by Clemson this summer. Will we be able to make a fair comparison? I’m afraid an empty campus will suffer vs a bustling one on a beautiful spring day. Maybe best to come in winter for mild weather when Purdue would be an ice cube?</p>
<p>I haven’t spent a summer in Clemson but from what others have told me it appears that nobody is around - I’d definitely come back when fall/spring classes are in session if you can. A visit though is better than none if that’s the only time you can make it. (I remember I visited Purdue in August right after classes started there and then Clemson over my April vacation the next year).</p>
<p>Hi Pierre! Our visit sched was opposite yours…I agree with your reco,but a visit is better than nothing if that is the only time To go…you will get a sense of the campus and area at the very least…</p>
<p>We made to Clemson over the summer and loved it! Those OOS scholarships will be excellent motivation for Jr year. There are always accepted student visits to see campus more active. </p>