The end is near. It may come down to Tufts vs. Drexel for Chemical Engineering. Considering the Engineering Program itself as well as the overall undergrad experience, Philly vs. Boston and anything else what might be some thoughts on the above topic?
As always - THANKS!!!
Drexel offers a quarter calendar, with three quarters of classes, so schools starts in late September and runs through mid June. Drexel students can do a four year co op or a five year co op degree program in chemical engineering. The four year co op offers one co op assignment in a company, the five year co op plan offers three co op assignments. Both cost exactly the same for tuition, and you will get payed for the time you work in a company. The spring quarter ends in mid June. Drexel’s schedule matches U of California campuses, but not most east coast campuses.
Tufts is a more traditional liberal arts college with a smaller engineering department, on a semester based calendar.
The spring semester ends in mid May, so you are on track for summer positions that start in late May or early June.
Both Drexel and Tufts incorporate materials science faculty in the chemical engineering department. Both also have faculty studying bimolecular engineering and tissue engineering.
Boston is somewhat safer and nicer than Philadelphia. Camden NJ seems to affect Phili negatively, although its improving there. Both cities have easy access to NYC. The job market is stronger in Boston and NYC compared to Philadelphia in high tech.
What’s does the financial picture look like for each option.
What’s a better car the Mercedes or Toyota? Depends? Both schools will get you want to go. Just like both cars. But there are other factors to consider.
Thanks. 5 year Masters at Drexel and a good package. Not yet sure of Tufts, but SOON.
Much appreciated.
The quality and level of academics, facilities, peers, resources…will be far better at Tufts which has a budget magnitudes larger than Drexel’s.
Both campuses are nice. Both are near a historical metropolis and both offer plenty to do in campus (with a nudge to Tufts, again, because of their larger budget, but it’s not like you’d be bored at Drexel.)
Ultimately if costs are equal Tufts would be better. But if you can get into Tufts you can probably get a large scholarship at Drexel in which case you’d have to think of what’s affordable and what’s the best value.
Drexel, with a co-op focused curriculum, is likely to have a more pre-professional feel. Tufts is likely to have a more liberal arts feel. Whether that matters to you is something you need to decide for yourself. Tufts appears to have a formal co-op program only in biomedical engineering; those in other majors who are interested in doing co-op or extended (longer than summer) paid internship may want to ask directly whether Tufts’ leave of absence policy can be used to make one’s own unofficial co-op (be sure to ask about financial aid implications as well).