Hands On Undergraduate ME Programs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I'm a SoCal High School Senior, and I've been looking at different schools to apply to for mechanical engineering, and there seems to be some great schools out there. Schools like MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley consistently rank highest in the U.S., and that's great and all, but I haven't seen much emphasis on any hands-on engineering for these top schools, and much less for undergraduate students. My intention is to - apart from getting a great academic education - involve myself in cool extracurricular activities, but big name schools like Stanford don't really seem to focus on hands on experience - especially for undergraduates.</p>

<p>1.) So my first question is: how accurate is this? Do these great engineering schools (MIT, Stanford, Berkeley) give much hands on experience to undergraduates?</p>

<p>Some background: I am planning to major in mechanical engineering, and hope to work in mechanical design and prototyping. Although I don't consider myself an expert at all, I've had a good amount of experience in my school's machine shop, and I'd absolutely LOVE to go to a school with an awesome machine shop - especially one where I can work in as a freshman all the way to senior year. Additionally, I've had some great experience using SolidWorks, so I really want to get involved with CAD when at school. Something that has really interested me is the SAE racing teams (here's a great video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eUQqdAQQJk"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eUQqdAQQJk&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p>

<p>2.) My next question is: which schools have the best hands on mechanical engineering programs for undergrads? Ideally, freshman through senior year. This includes clubs, extracurricular classes, research, internships</p>

<p>3.) Best equipment for students? (machine shops, 3D printers, etc.)</p>

<p>4.) Best industry connections?</p>

<p>I'd love to go a prestigious school like MIT, but not if I can't focus on anything other than academics. I really want to get involved in some cool clubs, classes, internships, research opportunities, and make business connections. The key is to have a good mix between academics and hands on experience.</p>

<p>Some schools I have in mind (other than MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley)
- University of Michigan
- Cal Poly SLO
- Cornell
- RIT
- Purdue
- Cal Poly Pomona
- Georgia Tech
- Oregon State
- UCLA
- University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post,
Thanks everyone!</p>

2

<p>I think the Cal Polys are your best bet since you are instate…and you get to work on the annual Cal Poly Rose Parade float…and meet life-long friends (or as my cousin would say, meet a life-long mate! :wink: )</p>

<p>Unless your parents will pay the high OOS rates for GT, UIUC, OSU, Purdue and UMich, take those off.</p>

<p>What is your budget? how much will your parents pay each year? </p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

3

<p>MIT and Stanford both provide hands-on experience to ME students (and have plenty of resources for those who want more than the required courses). While both have comprehensive mechanical engineering curricula that cover all facets of mechanical engineering, they both have strong design programs and require ME students to study design and manufacturing. MIT requires all ME students to learn how to use machine tools. The ME department at Stanford has a product design major that might be of more interest to you than the standard ME major. They both have fabrication resources for students within and without mechanical engineering (try googling “Machine Shop Access around MIT” and “Stanford product realization lab”).</p>

4

<p>All schools have some level of hands-on application. </p>

<p>Cal Poly is a great choice if it is in-state for you.</p>

5

<p>Since you are considering top schools such as MIT and Stanford, and since you are in SoCal, you should take a serious look at Harvey Mudd in Claremont. Mudd’s engineering education is on par with any of the schools that you mentioned. It is unusual in that it offers a General Engineering degree only. The general engineering degree has not prevented graduates from finding excellent employment. Your specific questions about hands-on opportunities can be addressed by a student blog. Search the HMC dot edu website for “Machine shop: the ultimate tour destination” for a current student’s description of the student machine shops at HMC.</p>

6

<p>Take a look at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. About an hour and a half from Purdue.</p>

<p>“Hands on experience”… On the following webpage, they say “Rose-Hulman’s undergraduate programs specialize in giving undergraduates invaluable hands-on experience, one-to-one mentoring, and access to advanced labs and equipment.”
<a href=“Academics | Rose-Hulman”>404 | Rose-Hulman;

<p>Rose-Hulman is ranked as the best engineering school among colleges which do not offer a Ph.D degree. Reputed to give excellent merit aid.</p>

<p>According to an article in the Washington Post, Rose-Hulman grads have among the top 25 starting salaries in the country.
<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/11/where-to-go-to-college-if-you-want-the-highest-starting-salary/?hpid=z8”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/11/where-to-go-to-college-if-you-want-the-highest-starting-salary/?hpid=z8&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>I’ve definitely interested in the Cal Polys, because they seem very hands on. And although I am being realistic, I’m thinking of big schools like MIT and Stanford. However, when I’ve seen Berkeley and Stanford’s engineering websites, I didn’t get the feeling that they have focused much on hands on work. However, I have checked out Stanford’s product lab, and it seems very cool. What about industry connections? I have heard that Michigan is very well acquainted with the automotive industry, and that would be extremely beneficial.</p>

8

<p>Mich may be linked to the auto industry because of its location. However, UMich is very expensive OOS. And, merit at UMich can be VERY hit or miss. Kids with ACT 35 have reported getting nothing from UMich. :(</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay???</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>If you have an interest in the automotive area, then apply to Alabama. Sounds like you’d get free tuition there plus $2500 per year…an award of $110,000.00</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1689117-for-mechanical-and-electrical-engineers-international-german-student-exchange-program.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1689117-for-mechanical-and-electrical-engineers-international-german-student-exchange-program.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>“”
Students in the program will first complete two years of engineering and German language course work at The University of Alabama, as well as an internship the summer before their sophomore year with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance, Alabama.</p>

<p>The students will then travel to Hochschule Esslingen for one semester of course work and one semester of professional practice during their 
junior year.</p>

<p>Mercedes-Benz is not the only consumer in the program. Other industries in the Esslingen area include Daimler, Bosch and Behr.</p>

<p>Balasubramanian said the mission of the exchange program is to prepare students for the variety of German and multinational companies in the southeastern United States.</p>

<p>“The students work as interns in a German automotive company or supplier,” he said. “They get a deep insight into how a German company works, and we hope that when the students come back from their year abroad that they then go to work for a German multinational in Alabama or the Southeastern region.”
“”</p>

9

<p>Another suggestion that you look harder at Harvey Mudd. Great hands on experience there, and you will have no trouble finding employment as an ME or getting into grad school with a Mudd degree.</p>

10

<p>Harvey Mudd is absolutely a good school! I’ve heard nothing but great things from it. Because it is an undergrad-only school, it is very focused undergrads, not to mention its small student population. But to be completely honest, I personally would prefer a larger student population.</p>

<p>I don’t like to mention my parents’ income; however, for our purposes, it is between $50,000 and $60,000. When it comes to exact to figures, I do not know specifically how much my parents can pay. Nonetheless, they are very supportive and tell me that they will do everything possible to pay for a good school. I also understand that financial aid, scholarships, and loans, will give me a better financial opportunity.</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>nonweighted GPA: 3.96
weighted GPA: 4.71
class percentile: 1%…(our school doesn’t officially give class ranks, but I know that I come in 4th place)
SAT/ACT (not very good yet): 1830; 28</p>

<p>I am not a very strong believer in stats, though. I have interned with Boeing, have been participating in our school’s engineering program for four years, am involved in our school’s motorsports club, robotics club, key club, and volleyball.</p>

<p>I’d love to hear any more answers to my first questions too! Thanks</p>