So basically, I am deciding between Ohio State and Cincinnati for engineering undecided. For Cincy, I am a direct admit to the engineering program, while I’m not at Ohio State. Direct admits to Ohio State’s engineering program are automatically put into ENG1187, a first-year engineering course. Non-directs can take this class first year (either semester) if there is space available. I really want to go to Ohio State because the strong programs they have, many of my high school friends are going there, the social aspect, etc. but I don’t want to be behind because of this class. Thoughts?
IMO the bigger question isn’t the one class, but if you will be able to get into the Ohio State engineering program at all. Did you research what the odds of transferring into the Ohio State engineering program would be for you? Unless you are certain of the threshold needed to transfer in and that you can meet them (internal transfers into popular programs can be very difficult), I’d opt for Cincinnati if you do want to become an engineer.
that’s not the problem. all students, direct admit or not still have to reapply for the engineering program at the end of the first year. It’s the first year classes in which direct admits have priority over.
https://advising.engineering.osu.edu/sites/advising.engineering.osu.edu/files/uploads/Admission_To_Major/engineering_major_application_information_su2016-sp2017.pdf lists the technical and overall GPAs needed to assure entry into the various engineering majors. Industrial and mechanical appear to be the most competitive (highest GPAs needed); food / agricultural / biological / ecological appears to be the least competitive. Which type of engineering are you interested in?
It looks like the ENGR 1181-1182 sequence is required for all engineering majors (there is the honors sequence 1281-1282 and a scholars sequence 1181.02-1182.02, though it looks like you have to be in the honors or scholars program to choose these options): https://eed.osu.edu/first-year-engineering-program .
tOSU’s class schedule is at https://courses.osu.edu/psp/csosuct/EMPLOYEE/PUB/c/COMMUNITY_ACCESS.CLASS_SEARCH.GBL . It looks like ENGR 1181 was quite full in fall 2015, but has space in spring 2016. So you would likely have to take it one semester later than those who were admitted to pre-engineering.
Cincinnati’s engineering program is as strong as OSU’s and their coop program is fantastic.
I would ask how certain are you that you want to be an engineer? If you are certain then I would give UC the nod. As long as the programs are ABET accredited, the difference in the strength of the engineering programs is not going to be as dramatic as it would be in other programs of study. UC does have a fine engineering program and it has a top notch coop program. An area where it might interest you to attend OSU would be if you weren’t interested in a coop (UC’s is mandatory) or you weren’t sure that engineering is the direction you ultimately want to go. While UC is no slouch it won’t have the depth of programs that OSU does.
I want to be an aeronautical engineer, however if I don’t like that, I would go into some sort of business.
I would recommend OSU. As a current student here, I can say for certain that the engineering program is strong, and that if you remember to schedule classes early, getting into the Engine class won’t be hard. Additionally, Fisher is extremely good as a business school (well ranked, very, very well funded, etc.)