<p>I see that the overall 4-year graduation rate at UW was 51% the last time they reported it. Does any know what it is for engineering? I'm guessing it may be lower. I've emailed the school of engineering, but they have yet to apply. If we have to budget for a 5-year program, it definitely affects the comparison with a school where a 4-year program is the norm!</p>
<p>All I know is that about 30% of the pre-engineering students drop by the end of their freshman year and another 20% drop by the end of their sophomore year.</p>
<p>You want to be careful when getting this information. Many students double major, double degree, or pursue minors as well. Are you looking for 4 year graduation rate with only one major?</p>
<p>Engineering is very doable in 4 years if you don’t drop classes and get the classes you need. That being said, the only difficult thing would be getting admitted into an engineering deptmartment. Each engineering school has their own requirements for early admission (after freshmen year) and upper admissions (end of sophomore year). You typically need to shoot for about a 3.5 to have a good chance and some departments require you get at least a 3.0 in the core classes.</p>
<p>I should also add that if you enter with AP credit, especially calculus, it will be a huge advantage to you.</p>
<p>Can you explain why AP credits in calculus will give you a huge advantage on your application? I have AP credit for calculus.</p>
<p>Well it doesn’t really give you a huge advantage on your application, it just lets you skip the beginning calculus classes and frees up your schedule a bit. The calculus classes are math 124, 125 and 126 which are required if you want to apply early admissions to most engineering departments. For the AB and BC test you get credit for 124 and 125 so you would start in 126 so this saves you 2 quarters of taking math.</p>
<p>Mostly just want to know how realistic it is to graduate in engineering (say ME) in 4 years, assuming no “detours” or change of majors, etc. Way back when I was in college (Cal Poly SLO), few engineers completed in four years, as most majors required at least a few quarters of above “full time” course load to graduate in four years. And there, you start in your engineering classes as freshmen.</p>
<p>Just trying to figure out how to weight a private school, with over 80% 4-year graduation rate agains UW (which is cheaper, assuming 4 years, but the gap narrows with 5 years).</p>
<p>@cellopop, i’m not not familiar with ME but graduating from UW with an engineering degree takes 4 years from the time you start calculus. That being said if you are set on engineering and don’t deviate from that path, you should be able to finish in 4 years. The courseload and the work will be difficult once you reach the higher level courses so that’s a reason some kids choose to span it out over 5 years.</p>
<p>Go to page 8 of this link and they plan out a 4 year schedule for you <a href=“http://www.me.washington.edu/students/undergraduate/advising/2010_advising_guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www.me.washington.edu/students/undergraduate/advising/2010_advising_guide.pdf</a></p>
<p>@jakelocker4prez,</p>
<p>Thanks! My son is taking AP calculus, so he will be able to start calculus right away (even if he doesn’t get any AP credit). He will have a couple of other AP credits, so that can help lighten the course load a bit some quarters.</p>
<p>No problem. Even if your son doesn’t get credit from the test, calculus is always easier the second time around so that will help him maintain a high GPA.</p>