Drexel vs Temple Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Drexel University
1

<p>My situation is as stated:</p>

<p>Temple:
Got into the bio engineering program and got $5000 a year in scholarships(bio engineering started at temple in fall 2013), have my housing and meal planned pick, and etc( can still opt out from the best of my knowledge)</p>

<p>Drexel:
Got into undeclared engineering and got $25000 a year in scholarships. My academic adviser says that I only need a 2.5 GPA first semester to transfer start spring to the bio engineering school. My concerns are whether this be true.</p>

<p>From my understands, I know Drexel has the co-ops going for it, but I'm not guaranteed one, the cost is still more than Temples(not much of a factor in my decision), and there is still a risk of not getting into the bio engineering school start spring semester.</p>

<p>At temple, the area aside, I know the engineering school isn't as renowned as Drexel, but from my understanding I would think the bio engineering curriculum at temple would be easier as it's a very new program there.</p>

<p>Can anyone help with my decision, I don't want a "Go here, screw that school and etc" just some more info to help me better understand my options. I have till Wednesday to get back to Drexel.</p>

<p>And i understand that its "my decision", but all I am asking is for some advise essentially.</p>

2

<p>Also, my understand is that drexels engineering program would be a lot harder than temples?</p>

3

<p>Hey man!
First, I just want to set something straight. Are you talking about BioMEDICAL engineering, or Biological Engineering? These are two different fields. Drexel offers Biomedical engineering for undergraduates, while Temple offers Bioengineering for undergraduates. Therefore, the education you’d get (theoretically), would be, in some ways, different between the two fields. </p>

<p>Now, in terms of the rigor of the curriculum: I think you’re correct in believing that Temple’s curriculum would be easier. But is that really what you want? Personally, my philosophy has always been “What you put in is what you’ll get out”. In other words, the curriculum that forces you to work harder will teach you more. One other thing you’re right about is the reputability. A degree from Drexel’s well-established Biomedical Engineering program would likely appear better than a degree from Temple’s year-old Bioengineering program. </p>

<p>I’m a little bit confused on one thing; Are you an incoming freshman, or are you transferring from a current college to Temple/Drexel?</p>

4

<p>From my understand bioengineering and biomedical engineering is the same thing? And ik the guy who started the program at Drexel has now started the program at Temple(and brought many of Drexels and other schools top professors and etc). I get where you coming from, easier to harder programs, but it could go either way. And incoming freshmen.</p>

5

<p>Also regarding the bioengineering/biomed is the same but you pick one of three? Differnt focus areas to concentrate it, but I’ve looked at the curriculums at both Drexel and temple, they are the same for the most part.</p>

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<p>And I intend to focus on medical devices(design and etc) </p>

7

<p>Oh, you’re talking about Peter Lelkes. He’s a pretty awesome guy. He definitely wasn’t the founder of Drexel’s Biomed program (It’s the oldest Biomedical Engineering program in the US, probably mid 20th century), but I know him from the Drexel’s Medical school, he was a pretty prolific guy. Props to Temple on snagging him. While the saying goes “a school is as only as good as it’s teachers”, I wouldn’t necessarily hedge my whole education on a good department-head. </p>

<p>My older brother did his undergraduate in Biomedical engineering and graduated sort-of frustrated with the field not turning out to be what he was really looking for; He decided to pursue a Ph.D in BioEngineering which he found much different and much more rewarding for what he wanted to do. Now, granted, the disparity between the two fields could be because of the schools he was at and the level he did the coursework, but overall, the fields are not the same. I guess, as you’ve said, the undergraduate curriculums seem similar across both schools. </p>

<p>To answer your questions about Drexel: As a freshman in engineering, you have basically the same ciriculuum as every other engineer, regardless of whether you’re civil or chemical or electrical or whatever. Biomed is the only exception in that they have one class they take freshman year that is different than what other engineers take. Many engineers enter undecided or switch to Biomed in the freshman year though, so the school has a mechanism in place to bring them up to speed with the rest of the freshmen Biomed’s at the end of the year. So coming into the school, you wouldn’t have any trouble getting into the biomedical program.</p>

<p>On the topic of Co-Op’s, you’re correct in that you’re not guaranteed a co-op. If you were, as a student, guaranteed a Co-Op position, it would ruin the whole point of Co-Op, which is not only giving you valuable work experience, but also giving you the skills necessary to find employment when you graduate. Drexel doesn’t guarantee Co-Ops because if they did, students would just sit back and have jobs fall into their lap; which isn’t ANYTHING like the real world. That being said, especially in Engineering, it’s pretty hard not to get a Co-op. 98% of students do every cycle, and as long as you haven’t slacked off on making resume’s, applying for jobs, learning how to interview, and making yourself marketable (all things that the school teaches you how to do), you’ll find one.</p>

<p>I try to be as objective as I can, but my experience with engineering at Drexel so far has been really excellent and I can’t wait for what the future holds for me. The lighter curriculum at Temple might sound nice, but I wouldn’t know how to feel about being so early to enter such a small, new program, that hasn’t necessarily figured everything out yet, as it hasn’t graduated a class yet. To some people that might be enticing, and maybe you’re one of them. I don’t know you nearly well enough to tell you what the right decision will be for you; I can only tell you what I think is best based off of my own decisions. Ultimately, the decision should only come down to what you think will be best for you.</p>

<p>let me know if you have any other questions. </p>

8

<p>Yes Peter is his name, and my fault if I misspoke about him founding the drexel program(ik he had some higher position there just couldn’t remember). However from what my academic advisor is telling me she said I need a 3.5 GPA first semster in order to transfer to the BME school, and I’ve been told this is rather hard. My thinking is, not to go to the easier school, but I don’t want to risk my parents 40 grand at Drexel if I don’t get into the BME program. Where at temple it’s a lot cheaper and I am already in, though kinda new I still think I can make up for that by doing well at Temple, and going to a more renowned engineering college for a MS/PH.D in bioengineering as well. </p>

9

<p>There is Philadelphia University as well for engineering programs in Philly. It seems like a gem. Any thoughts?</p>

10

<p>I don’t know too much about PhilaU but it has somewhat of a niche role. While I think there are a few different engineering majors there, I think the majority of PhilaU engineering is, for the most part, textile engineering. While this field is typically not a big part of most other engineering cirriculum, it seems that PhilaU’s engineering curriculum is more oriented towards people who want to be in product design and consumer markets, where as many engineering fields (Materials, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical) are often removed from these areas. It can’t hurt to look into it if that type of curriculum interests you. </p>