<p>Purdue is definitely top-tier. Top-tierness is not just based on selectivity. State universities are by nature slightly less selective than comparable privates simply due to size (this varies depending on the state — in CA, I am sure this may be different). Purdue EE has a top notch reputation and many faculty members from these aforementioned schools are Purdue Ph.Ds. </p>
<p>WPI is also exceptionally good for ECE (I go here), although I have a feeling that for some majors (CS, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, for example), WPI lags behind peer schools. If you get a scholarship and its more “regional” rep doesn’t bother you, WPI is a good place to go.</p>
<p>I would also suggest considering your state flagship. Most state flagships have very good engineering programs (I am thinking Michigan, California, Texas, but many others as well) at an affordable price and give out scholarships as well. State U undergrad is often harder than tech school undergrad because they don’t mind weeding out students as students can switch out of engineering.</p>
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<p>No offense; RPI is a good school but this statement is laughable. Surely, many RPI students could survive at MIT but SAT’s don’t say everything (MIT students with poorer SAT scores probably had some other exceptional quality such as creativity or hard workingness that enabled them to be admitted). I am sure that leaving aside a full scholarship (even then most of the time), very few if any would pass up MIT for RPI.</p>
<p>Can you please explain the learning processing issues a little more. He’s done tremendously in high school yet you are having him aim lower. Is it a self-esteem issue or does he need extra time on tests, etc. </p>
<p>My take as an engineer on your list:</p>
<p>RPI - best school on your list, probably by a lot. I think you need to be at the top of your game to do well there. If there are learning issues, this might not be the best place. </p>
<p>University of Rochester - more known as an overall good academic school in the same mold as Johns Hopkins but with a less desirable location. This may be a very good option because the math and science are top notch and it’s more like a liberal arts college in a sense of faculty relations. It doesn’t get the engineering recruiting that the more “techie” schools get because they don’t produce large numbers of engineers. Undergraduates do a lot of research because there just aren’t that many grad students. </p>
<p>Rose-Hulman - a lot of people on this board have great things to say about it. I’ve only met and interviewed one guy from there and he wasn’t that great. </p>
<p>Worcester Poly - This is a very different school. It seems very education centered and has a wide spectrum of students. We (people I work with) think that there is serious grade inflation at this school and we think its because a component of teacher evaluation for tenure is student ratings (kind of like the prisoners running the prison). I see a lot of resumes with very high GPAs. Nonetheless, they produce some really excellent engineers. Seems great for those with self-esteem issues. </p>
<p>I agree with your general statement but I would disagree with a few of your generalizations. First of all, you say WPI “seems great for those with self-esteem issues.” As a student who attends WPI, I would say very few students here have self-esteem issues. However, I would agree about the wide spectrum of students here: internationals, very bright students, mediocre students, gamers, etc.). </p>
<p>There is a lot of competition for excellence. However, I do agree about the grade inflation being a problem. One component, as you mentioned is the evaluations. Another is the NR policy (if you fail, it doesn’t affect your GPA – essentially meaning 2.0 is the floor for GPA). It isn’t all that challenging to get A’s here and that is one of the reason sthat I am considering transferring out along with limited research opportunities in my department. Nonetheless, there are some truly brilliant students here.</p>
<p>I wasn’t suggesting that there are a lot of students with self-esteem issues. What I was suggesting is that it’s not as harsh as many engineering programs and thus, in my opinion, it would actually be a great place for someone who is capable of succeeding as an engineer, but not emotionally able to handle the brutality of most programs. I agree with everything else you said, especially, “there are some truly brilliant students here”.</p>
<p>A few thoughts (Engineering parent, here). I confess that I have skimmed this thread only, so apologize if my comments are redundant.</p>
<p>IMO, the best way to assuage your concerns about employment prospects coming out of a “lesser” school (lol, all of the schools on your target list are great; I just know that this is your concern). Check with the Career Services office or the Engineering Dept staff and find out what companies routinely recruit and interview at each school. Companies which come back to a given school over and over again do so because they like to hire its graduates. If companies which might be of eventual interest to your S show up, I think you can relax a bit about your concern. (PS… we did NOT do this when our S was applying; he was successful in his job hunt, even in a tough year - 2009; but he had to do much more of his own networking because his field of interest had low representation at his campus’ recruiting events).</p>
<p>Try very hard, on campus visits, to have your S sit in on actual classroom sessions. I think he will get the “vibe” as to whether professors are accessible, students are collegial and the environment will suit his learning style. Worth taking the extra time at any campus of real interest, vs. just taking the tour or consulting with Admissions staff or even Deans in their offices.</p>
<p>Not to be the devil’s advocate, but I still think that keeping an “ear to the street” as far as the latest technology along with keeping yourself marketable is the key to longevity in engineering.</p>
<p>…says the B- math undergrad major from Michigan State and GENERAL engineering graduate major from U-Wisconsin with 20+ years of experience (and counting).</p>