<p>So the first thing I should say is I'm still waiting to hear from Vanderbilt and my odds are very slim of getting in. Ive been accepted everywhere else (honors for the ones that offer them). I have always wanted to major in Engineering since a young age because my entire family is in construction. I have always gone to small schools and I like to interact with my teachers. Facilities are important to me (i'm shallow about that :/ ) and overall prestige. I know wherever I go I will most likely be happy but I can't decide because these schools are very different.</p>
<p>So, between
A&M
Trinity University
TCU
Colorado School of Mines
and maybe Vanderbilt</p>
<p>where should i go?</p>
<p>Cost is kind of an important factor to my parents. Looks, connections (in and out of the school), community feel, and most importantly the quality and strength of program in engineering are important to ME. I also should note that I want to possibly double major (so easier is not necessarily bad) and also I don't want to have to transfer out of a university because they don't offer anything but engineering (the problem with mines). Also TCU is a top choice of mine but they hardly have an engineering program. </p>
<p>tldr: engineering, good facilities, small class sizes, community feeling are what I look for. </p>
<p>If cost is an important factor, you should list what your parents are willing to pay and the net price of each college after deducting financial aid grants (not loans) and scholarships. You can go over your parents’ contribution by an amount that you are willing to take loans (up to $5,500 for federal direct loans) and contribute your own summer and school year work earnings (probably no more than $4,500 would be a realistic limit) toward.</p>
<p>Class sizes can often by found by looking at the online class schedules at the schools’ web sites.</p>
<p>What do you mean TCU “hardly has an engineering program”? They have an ABET accredited program, so what’s wrong with it in your opinion - it looks like it’d be the best compromise for you. The “honors in engineering” program does seem very weak though and they consider that 1:20 faculty ratio is “small”… (typically, “small” = 1:14 and under).
A&M will have gigantic classes and double majoring is not easy, but it has prestige and lots of majors.
Colorado School of Mines will have smaller classes but double majoring or minors will be limited to Economics, Business, Public Affairs, International politics/economics, and Energy.
Trinity will have a class size and interaction that you look for but it’s not as prestigious as the others. The facilities are good but the choices of majors within engineering are very limited.
Based on the criteria you stated above, Vanderbilt would definitely be your best combination. Next Colorado or TCU. Next A&M. Next Trinity.</p>
<p>What about cost? Can you list how much each would cost so we can provide a cost/benefit analysis?</p>
<p>Note that double majoring is very difficult when doing engineering, because the program is very structured and doesn’t have any space for electives outside your major, so you may have to spend 5 years getting that degree (many engineers need 4 1/2 years to graduate in the first place). A Major + a minor may be more doable.</p>
<p>My DD looked at Mines and Trinity for engineering and didn’t apply to either. </p>
<p>We visited Mines and there was a ton of construction Spring 2012. You would be in school with a lot of Colorado kids who can go home on the weekend if they want.</p>
<p>Trinity apparently has really good financial aid for middle class families.</p>
<p>As a current student at Mines, here is my input.</p>
<p>The engineering program is great. For the most part, the classes are small, except for a few classes where you will have a large lecture session with much smaller lab/ review sections. You are correct that we don’t really have many majors beyond engineering or sciences, which is the only downside to me.</p>
<p>The facilities are great, as KyMom95 noted, we had some construction of new buildings going on, but that end of this segment is coming this summer with the completion of our newest dorm/dining hall.</p>
<p>You will definitely get a great community feeling here. I was not really expecting it. Most of the common core classes are the same, so if you need help, chances are at least half of your floor will be in that class and able to help you. Even outside of class and homework, you will find yourself watching TV, playing games, or going hiking up south table with your floor. At the beginning of this semester, we had about 20 people in our living room watching Sherlock season 3. This is my favorite part of Mines.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p><< tldr: engineering, good facilities, small class sizes, community feeling are what I look for. >></p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with Mines then. Have you visited?</p>
<p>My son is headed there, but he doesn’t want a big liberal arts school. It’s a perfect fit for him.</p>