<p>a. Good financial aid schools – check their net price calculators (“meet full need” schools do vary in how they define “need” and what student contribution they expect).
b. Big merit scholarship schools – see the lists in the sticky threads at the top of the financial aid and scholarship forum section.
c. In-state public schools – check their net price calculators and merit scholarships because there may be better aid and scholarships for in-state students.</p>
<p>Use UA’s Net Price Calculator to determine your estimated cost. You’ll still have to pay for room and board, books, etc. The $2,500 helps cover those cost, but you’ll still need Pell grants, loans, etc. </p>
<p>ChemEng may be UA’s strongest program. The school has about $20 million a year in research expenditures, which isn’t particularly high, compared to it’s peers. However, most undergrads don’t get involved with research (though it is a nice option to have), instead they get involved with student project teams and complete a senior design project. You can still get involved in research, even though UA isn’t a huge engineering research hub. The following link will give you more info on research and “project” based options (the Engineering + Program).</p>
<p>Duke has an excellent but limited program. They only offer BS degree’s in Biomedical, Civil, Computer, EE and Mechanical. They do not have a ChemE program. Over 2/3’s of the degree’s are awarded in Biomedical and Computer engineering.</p>
<p>If you want chemE, I would strongly recommend deciding to like cooping if you want a job at graduation. Employers want more than GPA and degree. They want work experience. We have known several 4.0 kids that did not get job offers bc they decided they didn’t want to take the time to coop. It isn’t “time” away from your education and goals. It is time building your skills as an engineer.</p>
<p>Duke has a highly rated school in some things, but many of the big state schools are much more highly rated for Engineering of all types. </p>
<p>Ultimately, is like someone said above…go for an ABET school for undergrad that is really enough. If all you want is a BS, go for somewhere that has employers that interest you seeking their students.</p>
<p>Be careful of the money aspect. Most will say how much money they will give you, but that usually includes part of it being covered by loans. Loans are not financial aid. As long as you go in understanding that you can make good decisions.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say a coop is required…as much as doing “something” other than simply going to class and getting good grades would be a great idea. Internships, undergrad research, and design projects are all good. In an interview, they likely will ask you more about the design project you worked on, than what classes you took (as everyone else in your major took the same core classes). </p>
<p>@Torveaux Duke’s engineering faculty is incredibly productive on a per capita basis. Engineering rankings are biased in favor of large schools with dozens of mediocre faculty members. Schools like Duke, Columbia and Harvard don’t fall into that category. This is why they are chronically under-ranked as engineering schools.</p>
<p>What do you mean by productive? Do they produce the best engineers in the field? One of the poorest ways to view a college is by how much the professors do that is not really teaching. If a professor is just doing research and being ‘productive’ that does not equate with being a good instructor. Sure, it is great to have access to some good research, but that happens everywhere. </p>
<p>The rankings actually tend to favor smaller schools with bigger ‘per student’ budgets like Harvard and Duke. That is why at my house we use a composite ranking so it is less subject to spending related ranking. Look for ranking methodologies that have to do with producing great engineers or whose engineers are most likely to work as engineers.</p>
<p>I am fairly certain that Duke does not offer Chemical Engineering. </p>
<p>I think Cornell, MIT, Northwestern, Princeton and Rice are great options among private universities. Among public universities, I would check out Delaware and Minnesota. Given your 4.0 GPA and 34 ACT, you may want to apply to Michigan in case they give you a nice scholarship. </p>
<p>MS State is another one strong in eng - and with good stats good scholarship for OOS, not sure about ChE program but suspect it is fine. Suggesting to consider due to your home location. UA is a great option for OOS scholarship with good stats.</p>
<p>Figure out what school will give you the merit awards to be affordable. Co-op, internship, etc is helpful to land first job. When job market is hot, not needed as much as when job market is tighter. See opportunities as they become available/look for them.</p>
<p>Thrilled when DD landed summer eng internship that will continue every summer. Huge affirmation about her field of study (civil eng) - great company is training her ‘under their wing’ and she is being paid a strong hourly rate.</p>
<p><<<<
is U Alabama engineering good? do their undergrads get jobs and how good are the research opportunities
<<<<</p>
<p>Nah…no jobs for their grads. Their engineering program is one of the first 5 in the entire country (1837), but no one ever gets any jobs…I guess they’ll just keep trying. lol… just kidding.</p>
<p>Of course their grads get jobs…very well paid jobs. And, yes their program is good…and fully accredited. </p>
<p>Bama has a brand new huge Science and Engineering Complex. Research opps at the univ, but also internships and co-ops available. The state of Alabama is home to the second largest research park in the nation…Cummings Research Park.</p>
<p>with your stats you would get free tuition plus 2500 per year… With a Pell grant and other aid, it should be affordable. Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can after Jan 1. </p>
<p>Bama’s app is live, so apply now.</p>
<p>You should also apply to the elite Computer Based Honors Program…more merit money there.</p>
<p>CEO of Lockheed Martin is a graduate of UoA, not in engineering though, but I wouldn’t be surprised a lot of engineers from UoA will be hired to Lockheed Martin.</p>
<p>Are you a NMSF? If so, and you become a finalist, there are hundreds of schools that will offer you FULL RIDES or close to it. For example, USC (California) will offer $25000 a year (half tuition) for NMF and their engineering school is considered top 15 </p>