<p>Hi!</p>
<p>So I was wondering if you had to start chemical engineering as a college freshman, or if you could start with other majors that are strong for ChemE (chem, physics, maths, etc) and then do ChemE as a Graduate.</p>
<p>I definitely want to be a chemical engineer but the cheaper colleges don't have ChemE programs so I was wondering if that was an option (to save money). Would it be a disadvantage?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>What schools are you looking at? Are you positive you don’t have any (affordable) options for chemE?
If not, it’s actually probably better to do undergrad as an engineering major (even if not chemE) than chem. Yes, it’s possible to make a switch, but there’s a LOT of courses you’d have to make up before you’d be accepted into a graduate degree program.
There really isn’t all that much overlap between chem and chemE as you proably think. (Same goes for bio and bioE/bme)</p>
<p>Well, the thing is I’m an international student and my need for financial aid will reduce my chances in many colleges (and it’s already difficult to find a school offering ChemE that does help international students).</p>
<p>So i was thinking that i could go to a liberal arts college for the bachelors degree and then transfer. But I don’t think it will be worth it if i have to make up that many courses… Can you think of any other ways/alternatives?</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply :)</p>
<p>I’ve heard of people who majored in science in liberal arts colleges and then went to engineering at Penn, Berkeley etc that’s why I was tinkling about it…</p>
<p>Are you talking 3-2 programs? People who do that get 2 undergrad degrees, btw. Also, financial aid is NOT guaranteed by the second school (ie Penn), so you might be screwing yourself over (especially as an international student). You’re looking at possibly $60k a year for 2 years, on top of however much you’re paying for the 3 years at the LAC. </p>
<p>It may indeed be cheaper to go to a university that offers ChemE. What are your stats? If you take a hit on prestige (I know a lot of international students don’t like to), you’ll be more likely to receive merit aid. </p>
<p>Also, this link might be helpful in finding schools that are need-blind for internationals:
[Schools</a> Awarding International Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/]Schools”>Schools Awarding International Financial Aid)</p>
<p>Some schools with chemical engineering do have list prices which are significantly lower than others, so the net price may be lower than that of a higher priced school with financial aid grants and scholarships; if these lower list prices are affordable, then they may be worth a look. Examples include Minnesota Twin Cities, Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, New Mexico, New Mexico State, New Mexico Mines, Virginia Tech, NCSU, NC A&T. For example, North Dakota is $23,667 per year, while Minnesota Twin Cities is $28,982 per year.</p>
<p>You may also want to check if any of the large merit scholarships at schools with chemical engineering listed here are available to international students:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Major in Mechanical Engineering, minor in Chemistry. Put all you electives into materials, polymers, chemical type stuff, and maybe nanotech if offered.</p>
<p>Thank you for your answers! I’ll check out the links you sent me!</p>
<p>@Johnson181 , here is my info:
I’m a female rising Senior from Guinea Bissau (a really small country in West Africa). But my mother is from Burundi (small country in east Africa) I came to the US for the second semester of the 2011-2012 school year, but it was supposed to be my senior year in Senegal (Neighboring Country in West Africa) where I was Studying. So I actually repeated my Junior year when I got to the US (Nebraska) because it was advised to me for language purposes (English is not the language in those countries).
So I am kind of hoping that diversity will help me (there are practically no people from my country, or from my mother’s country in the universities I’m thinking about)</p>
<p>For the grades in africa, it’s different. Students are grouped in classrooms and it’s the teachers that walk in and out. we can have multiple 9th grade classes or 10th grade etc but over all:</p>
<p>Freshman year (in Africa): Top of the class</p>
<p>Sophomore year (in Africa): Top of the class</p>
<p>Junior Year (in Africa): Top of all the Junior classes</p>
<p>Junior Class (In the US): GPA: 3.86; 2 AP classes (French, Biology) in 11th grade and 2APs in 12th grade (Physics & Chem) but I only took the exam for one and the results aren’t in yet. </p>
<p>SAT (took it only once, will retake): 2050
Reading: 670 ; Maths: 690 ; Writing 640
ACT (only once, will retake): 28
I wasn’t prepared at all so when I retake it I’m expecting at least 30.
Will take chemistry, physics, and maths subject tests</p>
<p>My School and Africa didn’t focus at all on AP’s, Extra-curriculars and activities like sports or experiences (Job, internship, etc) so I mostly started here: </p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
Junior Year (Africa): First Place in National German Contest
Was nominated for National english contest (they only select the best)
Junior Year (US): National french Contest (#1 in Nebraska, #5 in the Nation ; C-class
Senior year (US): I will be in the National Honors Society
A part from that I also for honor certificates from the school in Africa in 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grade for academic performance.</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars :
Piano (8th-9th Grade Africa) (and before that 2 years in germany)
Gymnastics (8th-9th grade Africa)
Dance (HipHop) (8th-11th Grade Africa)
English Club member (7th-11th Grade Africa); Held office: Vice president of external relations in 10th Grade and President of external relations in 11th Grade
JV Basketball (11th,12th grade US) (and before that a year in 8th grade)
JV Tennis (11th,12th Grade US)
Prom Decorations Committee (11th Grade US)
School officer (treasurer) in 12th grade US</p>
<p>Career:
Internship in the International Union for Conversation of Nature of Dakar, Senegal
Internship with the United Nations</p>
<p>Volounteering:
In International Union for Conservation of Nature in Guinea Bissau- 40h
a United Nations Program to create a Natural Reserve in Guinea Bissau 30h
in International School of Dakar, Senegal where I work with gifted middleschoolers
Server in a buffet for teachers (10th Africa) 4h
Present Traditional Burundi clothes during an international exposition at church (10grade Africa) 4h
Concessions Stand during matches (11th grade US) 3h
Participation in a gathering in memory of the Rwanda genocide victims, decoration, serve food (10th grade Africa) 4h
Junior Volunteering organized by School (11th grade US): Teaching little girls to swim 2h
English Club assistant: Organizing the 2nd Prom ever in College Sacre-Coeur summer AFTER 11th Grade US)</p>
<p>I have signed up for many interesting classes and activities (mock trial, speech, managing sports teams) for my Senior year and am planning to do more volunteering. </p>
<p>I know my teachers would write recommendations. </p>
<p>I have lived in 4 different Countries (Guinea Bissau, Portugal, germany and Senegal), have travelled a lot and speak 5 languages fluently (Portuguese,French, English, German and Kriol which is is African) and an other african language so-so. I love languages and am planning to learn Arabic and Japanese.</p>
<p>I’ll probably apply on early decision for the schools, i don’t know if that affects chances at all</p>
<p>You can only apply early decision to 1 school, by the way. It’s early action you’re probably thinking about. </p>
<p>But you’re probably right - lots of schools will probably want you just to increase the number of countries they can say attend (and you also have a good academic record). I’m sure there are schools that offer engineering that will be more than willing to offer you scholarships, so don’t count those out yet!</p>
<p>(Side note - it sounds like you must have awesome life experiences! Very cool)</p>
<p>Have you figured out your price limit? Also check the net price calculator on each school’s web site to see what need-based financial aid it may give.</p>
<p>Some yearly prices for schools with chemical engineering, assuming that you are a resident of Nebraska and not considered an “international” applicant:</p>
<p>University of Nebraska - Lincoln: $17,496
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities: $28,982
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa: $12,630 after applying full tuition + $2,500 per year scholarship
University of North Dakota: $16,889 with regional tuition discount for Nebraska residents
Howard University: $5,471 after applying Founder’s Scholarship</p>
<p>Misread the Howard list; your current scores would “only” get the Capstone Scholarship, leaving a remaining cost of attendance of $9,377 per year, not $5,471 per year.</p>
<p>Higher SAT and/or ACT scores may improve scholarship eligibility at many schools.</p>
<p>@Johnson181 that you! Can you please tell me what the difference between early application and early decision is?</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I am pretty sure that i will be considered an international applicant. I have looked into some of those colleges and am actually interested in UN-Lincoln but like I said it depends a lot on their financial aid or scholarships for internationals. My mother said she would be able to pay around 12k but would go up till (moving, etc) 15k depending on the university.</p>
<p>Hopefully this clears it up: [Early</a> Decision versus Action Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissionsconsultants.com/college/earlydecision.asp]Early”>Early Action and Early Decision Admissions Explained)</p>
<p>Another option for you to look into private schools that (while not top 25, if that’s what your mother cares about for costs) give a ton of scholarships out. I don’t know what they give out now, but I know Tulane (which does offer ChemE) offered me 35k (would’ve left me at 15k a year, but I didn’t want to go to college down the street from my high school). And that was pure merit aid.</p>
<p>Dig around here for other schools that offer a ton of scholarship $$ - posting in [Financial</a> Aid & Scholarships - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/]Financial”>Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums) might bring more results than the engineering board.</p>
<p>You may want to check what the definition of “international” student is at each school, since some non-US citizens (e.g. permanent residents, refugees) are not considered “international” by some schools.</p>
<p>If you are an “international” student, that can make it rather difficult to get financial aid and scholarships.</p>
<p>Yes i know… :(</p>
<p>The Alabama and Howard scholarships pages did not seem to clearly say that international students were excluded from the listed scholarships; you may want to ask these schools directly about whether you can get them (or whether you are an “international” student for their purposes). You may want to check other schools as well.</p>