Engineering School Easier to get into than a Top Undergrad Program?

<p>“On the other hand, accepted engineers usually have significantly higher stats than accepted non-engineers. This apparent discrepancy is because engineers are a very self-selected group.”</p>

<p>That’s part of it, but not the whole story. Most selective Arts & Sciences colleges practice “holistic admissisions” to a far greater extent than most engineering colleges do.
They are far more likely to accept the personality star, the extracurricular standout, the person with the incredible personal story, but with perhaps weaker stats, over the straight nerd with nothing more to their resume than a bunch of APs and SATs. The engineering colleges are more likely to accept the high stats people, because they are more concerned about them physically being able to do the work, so what these people will contribute to society above merely completing the program becomes more of a distant secondary consideration.</p>

<p>So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They have higher stats because more emphasis is placed on higher stats in admissions. In addition to the more homogeneous pool, as you said.</p>

<p>

Georgia Tech students have, on average, higher stats than Purdue students. What doesn’t make sense?</p>

<p>monydad great insight post</p>

<p>@noimagination, the stats are VERY different, yet they are both very top engineering schools.</p>

<p>Engineering rankings aren’t based entirely on admissions statistics, just like the quality of a school isn’t based on the acceptance percentage.</p>

<p>If you are interested in Engineering, you should apply as a prospective engineer. Engineering course requirements start with the first semester, so it is important that you get on track right away. You can always transfer into Arts & Sciences if you decide that engineering isn’t for you after all, and many of those courses (especially freshman year) will satisfy your A&S requirements, but very few of your A&S courses will be accepted toward an engineering degree if you start in A&S and then transfer into engineering.</p>

<p>Transferring from Engineering to Arts and Sciences would be easier than Arts and Sciences to Engineering correct?</p>

<p>Correct. It is always easier to move from a more specialized program (such as Engineering or Business) into a less specialized program, rather than the other way around. ABET requires that its member programs require undergraduates to complete something like 28 or 30 required courses in engineering and related sciences, but a student majoring in math, physics or even Comp Sci in A&S need only satisfy the core + major requirements, which usually mean fewer required classes and more flexibility to take classes in other departments. So a student transferring into engineering in the sophomore year or later might need to do a 5th year in order to graduate with an engineering degree.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Umm, that it is almost exclusively an engineering school and engineering students on average have higher stats than non-engineering students. The average stats in engineering between the two schools are probably somewhat more similar.</p>

<p>^ Are you agreeing with me?</p>

<p>^ I guess so.</p>

<p>While I agree in large part of engineering students and the schools they are drawn to being largly stat based admissions, it is worth noting that GaTech has adopted a holistic admissions process over the last 7+/- years. Stats are 50% of the process, ECs, LORs, & essays are the other 50%.</p>

<p>The percentage you quote seems extremely high. Can you provide any evidence to support your 50/50 statement?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Georgia Tech is only 50% engineering. The largest major on campus (about 10%) is Management. The largest major among admitted students is Undeclared.</p>