<p>I'm applying to about 10 schools, I think.</p>
<p>So should I attend the school that's best at engineering, the best overall, or one that is in between (one that's good overall on my list and good at engineering relative to my list)?</p>
<p>Go to the one that's the best fit for you. There's no best answer for everybody.</p>
<p>i agree with ken.</p>
<p>also, you should try to assess your goals. do you want to be an engineer? are majoring in engineering for other reasons?</p>
<p>Well I know I should go to the place that's best for me...</p>
<p>But, if I'm going to be an engineer, is the overall goodness of my undergraduate school relevant?</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>(Assume that both schools are equally 'right or me')
School A:
9/10 overall
5/10 at engineering</p>
<p>School B:
5/10 overall
9/10 at engineering.</p>
<p>So, assuming I am going to be an engineering (and I'm looking to get into the best graduate engineering school I can), and I'm stuck between these two schools, which school would I choose?</p>
<p>You're trying to tag numbers to these hypotheticals, and it's really not something that you can pin numbers to.</p>
<p>Look for whether or not programs have reputable engineering programs and go from there. In general, the quality of the engineering program is more important than the quality of the overall university, but rankings say VERY little about how good a program actually is. Delve into it. Ask the engineering departments questions and see how often they place their grads in highly-ranked graduate schools.</p>
<p>There are way too many variables in this for anyone to be able to say definitely one way or another.</p>
<p>I used numbers in my example because it was easy.</p>
<p>The only question I want answered is how important (or unimportant) the overall goodness of a school is if you're going to be an engineer, lol. </p>
<p>I know it varies from person to person, school to school, etc. but I asked a very general question and I want a very general answer.</p>
<p>Well... As I said before, the quality of the engineering program is more important than the quality of the overall university, but you need to do a more in-depth examination than just looking at the rankings.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know it varies from person to person, school to school, etc. but I asked a very general question and I want a very general answer.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You probably know the "general" answer already. The fact is that nothing general can be accurately said about this... like aibarr said, it all varies too much.</p>
<p>In "general" go with the more reputable engineering school. However, thats not necessarily the best thing for YOU (or any one particular person).
I had a choice between a top engineering school (like top 3) and a not so top engineering school, thats pretty good too. I went with the not so top one because it turned out that it suited me better, and I'm pretty happy with my choice... just an example to help you make a better decision for yourself.</p>
<p>The more you advance in your career the less your school will matter... but the experiences will stick with you. So choose wisely!</p>
<p>Ok, thanks.</p>
<p>So don't apply/attend any school that isn't strong in engineering, if I'm capable of getting into much better ones (and if I'm looking to get into a good graduate school)?</p>
<p>But, yes, I"ll start (heavily) researching all of my colleges.</p>
<p>Which schools are you talking about. That might help.</p>
<p>Here's a few:</p>
<p>Tulane University
Georgia Tech
Grinnell College
Hendrix College
Furman University
Purdue University
Wake Forest University
Boston College
Boston University</p>
<p>Unless I'm mistaken, Grinnell and Hendrix don't offer engineering. They only participate in a 3-2 program with another college that does offer it. Also, I heard Tulane eliminated most of their engineering programs. My point is to make sure the colleges offer the programs you want.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech, Purdue, and... well i would say just those two are known for engineering... both are very good choices.</p>
<p>Tech and Purdue are both good choices for engineering. If you want a school that's good at engineering and decent in everything else as well, try looking at some other places like Illinois, Michigan, and UT Austin.</p>
<p>Besides GA Tech and Purdue, how good are the other schools? I've never even heard of some of them.</p>
<p>Unless I'm mistaken, Grinnell and Hendrix don't offer engineering. They only participate in a 3-2 program with another college that does offer it. Also, I heard Tulane eliminated most of their engineering programs. My point is to make sure the colleges offer the programs you want.</p>
<hr>
<p>Yes, but Grinnell, I heard, would give me a great shot at a good (engineering) graduate school. Hendrix would do the same, but to a much less degree; it's my safety. </p>
<p>Besides GA Tech and Purdue, how good are the other schools? I've never even heard of some of them.</p>
<hr>
<p>They're all decent to really good overall. As far as engineering, I'm not even sure yet. </p>
<p>Just another thought. What are the top 10 schools for law? Let's say Cornell in 6th overall (I have no clue what they really are, but this is just hypothetical, so anyway...). Would a future engineer going to Georgia Tech, which is ranked in the top 10 in virtually every engineering field, be the equivalent of a future lawyer going to Cornell?</p>
<p>you're so silly :P</p>
<p>But I thought Georgia Tech was elite in engineering?</p>
<p>So how would that not be the same thing (in my hypothetical example)?</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>See- in terms of undergraduate educational expense, engineering is probably the highest, which is why liberal arts schools, with the exception of engineering specialty liberal arts schools, have 3-2 programs with research Universities. It takes a lot of money to invest in engineering labs, equipments and maintain them.</p>
<p>Find your local community college and go there for two years. Then you will know what to do next.</p>