<p>I am interested in engineering, but do not want to lock myself into this major in case I may change my mind ( say to math or chem major). What are the top schools which do not require me to apply to a separate engineering school?</p>
<p>Engineering has very strict requirements as far as classes go. You COULD just go to a school, take classes, and if you decide to do engineering and switch to it. But then you probably aren't going to get a degree in 4 years. If you want to do engineering and graduate in 4 years you are best off starting off in the program freshman year.</p>
<p>I never get tired of saying this (ok maybe a little). Don't worry about undergraduate rankings. Really, they mean nothing. Go to the schools that interest you and decide from first hand experience if it is a good fit for you. Meet with professors and students. The name of your undergraduate university is much less important than what you learn there. Going to a "Brand name" university is not going to save you if you hate it there and only learn enough to pass the class. If you forget everything you are supposed to have learned as soon as you are done for the semester, you are doing it wrong.</p>
<p>Anyway, if you are already undecided, just make sure you meet with all the prospective departments you could be interested in when you do visit. And remember, do more than the freakin tour. Good luck!</p>
<p>I don't see where anybody on this thread was concerned about undergraduate rankings...</p>
<p>It was this part:
[quote]
What are the top schools which do not require me to apply to a separate engineering school?
[/quote]
As far as I know, colleges of engineering are usually separate from the others.</p>
<p>I still don't see it. I think you guys are reading too much into it, though the OP is more than welcome to correct me. Rankings aren't even the subject of this thread.</p>
<p>I'm not actually referring to rankings. I just want to attend a good engineering program, but have the ability to move out of engineering into math or chemistry should my interests change,</p>
<p>Pretty much any college that offers both majors fits that criteria. However, it might add on another semester if you do it. I am pretty sure at most schools it is easier to go from engineering to math, but don't take my word for it. Visit and look at both. So long as you feel comfortable there, it is a good school.</p>
<p>Well, at Stanford you don't have to declare your major until mid-sophomore year, so that gives a lot of flexibility. MIT you apply to in general, though engineering is obviously pretty prominent there. For Cornell, you do have to apply to the engineering school, but you can switch out.</p>
<p>Also, if you want the option to go into math or chemistry, anywhere you go that will likely be pretty easy; many schools have the college "of engineering and applied mathematics/science", and most classes you take for engineering will be relevant to math or science</p>
<p>Princeton, Rice, Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth do not make you choose to go into engineering initially, additionally.</p>
<p>Just a quick correction to sberlin's post:</p>
<p>Stanford actually doesn't make you declare until the end of Fall Quarter Junior year. Hell I only declared the very end of this year (my sophomore year) but was under no pressure by the admin to do so. By the start of Junior year however they do start suggesting you get on it...</p>