Help a Chemical Engineering Major Choose Where to Attend

College Search & Selection
1

Hello all,

I intend on majoring in Chemical Engineering and was recently accepted into the following universities. I am interested mainly in conducing research (mostly relating to pharmaceutical production and bioelectrical engineering), and reputation of the degree. If possible, I am asking for some advice in selecting a college. Thank you in advance.

Acceptances:

-Stony Brook University: (Honors College, small research opportunities, $15k scholarship, only accepted to pre-Chemical and Molecular Engineering)

-Drexel University: (Honors College, 3 semester-long co-op, B.S./M.S. Program, $106k scholarship, unnecessary stress?, course offerings not applicable to research)

-Stevens Institute of Technology: (4+1 Master’s Program, $83k scholarship, high median starting salary, weak reputation in research and academia, not a fan of Hoboken)

-University of Maryland Baltimore County: (zero financial aid, rejected from the Honors College, decent research opportunities with nearby schools (University of Maryland Medical Center, JHU), poor reputation with employers)

-University of Massachusetts Amherst: ($48k scholarship, not admitted into Honors Program, plethora of research opportunities, party school?, power struggle in Chemical Engineering department…(re: Google))

-University of Delaware: (accepted into Chemical Engineering, $40k scholarship, admitted into Honors Program, abundant with research opportunities, highest median starting salary, reputation high with DuPont and other companies I am interested in, ranked #10 by USN&WR, able to take courses geared toward my research)

-NYU Tandon: ($4k scholarship (lol), some research opportunities (which seem to be dying, since NYU bought it…), horrible commute, would have to live at home and still have $70k debt (subsidized), school has great reputation, high salary among schools)

For the record, my parents are willing to provide me with $120k in terms of contribution. Additionally, I was waitlisted at Lehigh University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Should I wait for these decisions in mid-April? I don’t think I’ll get financial aid.

2

Post the schools and their net prices AFTER aid.

3

Sure. But keep in mind, I don’t solely want to attend the cheapest option. I want to attend the best option for my interests and career. Also, my parents are willing to contribute $120k. These prices are without their contribution.

-Stony Brook University: $89,890

-Drexel University: $166,535

-Stevens Institute of Technology: $237,412

-University of Maryland Baltimore County: $139,952

-University of Massachusetts Amherst: $125,072

-University of Delaware: $146,296

-NYU Tandon: $203,232

4

Are they all ABET accredited in Chem E? It looks like Stony Brook, UMBC, and U Del are the only once affordable with your Stafford Loans. U Del is probably best known of those, particularly with their support from DuPont.

5

I’d go with U.Del. It it highly ranked in ChemE.

6

In other words:

Stony Brook: affordable with no debt, parents have about $30k left over
University of Massachusetts Amherst: affordable with ~$5k debt or work earnings or frugal living
University of Maryland Baltimore County: affordable with ~$20k debt or work earnings or frugal living
University of Delaware: affordable with $26k debt or work earnings or frugal living
Drexel University: barely affordable if you take federal direct loans up to $27k and add work earnings and/or frugal living
NYU Tandon: not affordable
Stevens Institute of Technology: not affordable

Important detail: were you admitted to the chemical engineering major at each school? If not:

Stony Brook: 3.2 GPA with B or higher in specified courses and B- or higher in other courses; http://www.stonybrook.edu/cme/courses.html
University of Massachusetts Amherst: 2.0 GPA with C or higher grades in specified courses; https://engineering.umass.edu/current-students/admission-major
University of Maryland Baltimore County: student in the (pre-)major must earn at least 2 B and 2 C grades in 4 specified courses to remain in the major; http://cbee.umbc.edu/academics/admissions/ .
University of Delaware: 3.2 GPA with B or higher in specified courses to apply for competitive admission (not guaranteed); http://www.udel.edu/registrar/students/restmajorsinfo.html

7

Your chances of getting off the waitlist are slim. And without FA these will be unaffordable. I’d cross them off your list.

8

As long as the programs are accredited, ratings don’t mean much. I was a chemical engineering major from a school not known or highly rated for that major. In my first job out of school I was working right along side people who graduated from highly ranked programs and we were all making the same salary.