Here is what we are looking for–any input/suggestions are most welcome.
Son is currently a sophomore. We are looking to put together a list of schools for more “average” students. For purposes of this exercise use a GPA in the low 3s UW (current, hoping to raise). Use a standardized test score in the mid 1200s since we have nothing to go on yet. Wants: small school (under 7500), thinking chemical engineering for major, in the northeast. Does not have to be an “engineering” school–wants flexibility of other options. Also considering industrial design as a major. Not considering costs at this point. Will have one child in college already and once we have a list together will run the NPCs to check affordability. Here are a few we thought might be worth visiting if affordable:
Southern CT State University (in state option)
UMass Dartmouth
Endicott
Wentworth Institute of Technology
University of Southern Maine
Alfred University
Norwich University
Clarkson
Check out Rowan University in NJ. Their engineering program is really wonderful and continues to gain national recognition. Brand new lab building opened just over a year ago. Beautiful new freshman dorm with central air, on site eatery, etc. Enrollment is somewhat larger than you requested (about 16,000), but has a small school feel as campus is completely walk-able and the largest class size my son has had is about 30 students.
@dustyfeathers I’m not sure his stats are good enough for Stevens or Union. UMaine a bit big but it may be one to consider. Also, he’s definitely not married to chem either. He “gets” it and does very well, and I think that’s why he’s looking at that.
My son is a student at Alfred University and is very happy there. He was admitted to their engineering school, but decided to change majors (to Geology). High school GPA was 3.5 SAT 1140. He was also accepted to Western New England University and Clarkson.
You can use the abet site to filter by progam “chemical engineering” and state. And you should use it to double check that schools you are considering are abet accredited in the program he chooses. http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx
Stevens and WPI might be a bit of a reach, but should be looked into. Clarkson is a good choice and also known for a strong Chemical engineering program. You might want to consider U of Maine’s main campus in Orono for engineering as this is the mother program for engineering in Maine.
Of the colleges you have listed, Clarkson is the only one that actually offers a major in Chemical Engineering which is approved by ABET, The Accrediting Board of Engineering Technology. Most of the schools on your list do not show a chemical engineering major on their websites. Alfred University is about the top in the country for a somewhat related and special major called Ceramic Engineering. See the ABET Chem Eng list @ https://www.aiche.org/community/students/career-resources-k-12-students-parents/accredited-programs-chemical-engineering
Of the ABET accredited Chem. Eng. majors, the least competitive school for admission for an out of state resident is Clarkson. Thirty-eight percent of their students come from the top 10% of their high school class (see https://www.clarkson.edu/about-clarkson/history-facts). They are good students.
Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering are not the same concentrations. Biomedical Engineers can be focused in the direction of Chemical, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
A major in a more general engineering field can be found at Wentworth and it would be ABET accredited in engineering. Wentworth does not offer Chemistry. Accredited programs are important when it comes to corporate hiring. Chemistry majors do not have the job same opportunities as graduates from ABET accredited courses. Wentworth would be less competitive than Clarkson for admission. At WPI and probably Stevens, about 68% of the students are from the top 10% of their HS class.
As your son is a sophomore, he has time to do more research on different majors and interests. The best engineers also have a range of interests. Your son might be interested in reading this story @ https://www.wpi.edu/news/driven-explore.
:bz
@Engineer80
My prior statement read:
“Of the colleges you have listed, Clarkson is the only one that actually offers a major in Chemical Engineering which is approved by ABET,”
That statement referred to “colleges you have listed.” This was a reference to the original posting (OP) made by “tavenrgirl” which does not include Stevens or WPI or RPI, or RIT, etc on the list. Please note that I also supplied the complete ABET accredited ChE list @ https://www.aiche.org/community/students/career-resources-k-12-students-parents/accredited-programs-chemical-engineering. This list includes Stevens.
Thanks to all for your input. Very much appreciated. We spent a LOT of time yesterday looking at different schools/programs/majors. We read somewhere that chem e doesn’t really involve a lot of chem, so now I’m not sure if he would still like to pursue that. Personally I think mechanical engineering is where he’d thrive, plus it seems to be the most versatile. Maybe people in the know could chime in on that. Also, after reading up on some of the schools we have revised his list.
Southern CT State University (in state option)-REMOVED; UMaine-ADDED in its place
UMass Dartmouth-REMOVED
Endicott-unsure on this one… it’s not ABET certified yet but maybe it will be by the time he’s applying?
Wentworth Institute of Technology
University of Southern Maine-REMOVED
Alfred University
Norwich University-REMOVED
Clarkson
ADDED:
Manhattan
Western New England
Gannon-too religious? Currently goes to Catholic hs though
Geneva-too religious? too small?
Philadelphia U
University of New Haven
Roger Williams
Yes, ME is the most basic and versatile of the engineering majors. The Romans are credited with starting Civil Engineering which is generally consider the oldest.
There are two kinds of ABET accreditation: overall program (e.g., "engineering’) and specific engineering majors (e.g., ME, EE, CE, etc.). An ME accredited program for a specific concentration is more rigorous for that major than the overall “engineering” rating where they then offer concentrations not individually accredited.
Clarkson by established reputation and GPA ME et al, wide major selection, needs very strong math grades;
U of Maine Orono, very similar to Clarkson, (as out of state, admission more difficult);
Wentworth for same reasons but GPA of entering student are not as strong, wide choice range;
4 U of New Haven, wide choice range;
5 Western New England, about the same, wide choice range;
Gannon, about the same with wide choices;
7 Philadelphia U, only general engineering and ME options;
8 Roger Williams, general engineering accreditation only, no individual ME ABET accreditation;
8 Geneva, same as Roger Williams.
Some of these schools and some other schools also offer “Engineering Technology” degrees which are accredited by ABET. General rule: the math courses in “technology” programs are not as rigorous and may be missing some of the foundation required to go on further in your studies without taking some coursework between you bachelors and you Masters degrees. If possible, commit to the regular BS degree.
Thank you for the question! It was a good exercise!
Engineering Technology is a watered down, technician level program lacking the rigorous math and calculus based basic science courses (physics, chemistry, probability and stochastic processes, etc.). Most ET graduates top out as low level engineering assistants, lab technicians, etc. Some schools that offer both engineering and ET including one I once taught at steer students who aren’t doing well in engineering into ET telling them they will have the same opporunities as engineering graduates. They don’t. Stay with the regular BS or BE degree in engineering.
Here in NJ for example Stevens, Princeton, and Rutgers offer only engineering. Fairleigh Dickinson and NJIT also have ET. By the way, chemical engineers do take a substantial amount of chemistry. At Stevens for example ChE majors when I attended took general, organic, physical, and theoretical chemistry, and chemical thermodynamics. The latter three are highly math intensive and theoretically driven courses.
Additionally, many companies won’t hire ET graduates at all, or if they do not as regular engineers and put them immediately into design or R&D work. Many engineering graduate schools won’t accept ET undergrads into their master’s program either at all or if they do without substantial make up (no credit) coursework. If one’s desire is to obtain a state Professional Engineer (PE) license, all state engineering examination boards require substantially more than the 3 years of work experience to sit for the exam than is the norm for ABET engineering degree holders. Some states do not permit ET seniors to take the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam as they do engineers.
Technically, Civil is one of the two oldest engineering specialities. When engineers first began to specialize, the initial distinction was between “military engineers” and “civilian (= civil) engineers”.
Military engineering still exists too, but it isn’t generally practiced or taught outside of military settings.
All reputable engineering schools require string math and science grades. If one is not strong in these areas both by GPA and SAT/ACT scores he/she is well advised to consider a different field of study. All the science, general engineering, and discipline-specific engineering courses in engineering school use calculus and other advanced math tools in solving problems. The first semester math course in engineering is differential and integral calculus, second is integration/complex functions, third is vector/multivariable calculus, and part of third/fourth differential equations. Again, you’re not through with the math after that, as all the other technical courses use them as tools. Even economics has calculus (or at least a good course does). Get proficient and comfortable with math as early as possible, preferably take calculus in high school (whether as AP or not, at least get the fundamentals).
My D is a Chem E. If you are willing to look elsewhere for a school then there are some schools in Ohio to consider. First is the U of Akron. It is an excellent school for those interesting in a Chem E degree with an emphasis in polymer science as it is a hub for the rubber industry. Ohio University would be a strong consideration as they are seeking engineering majors and offer good scholarships through their Russ College of Engineering. The Universities of Toledo and Cincinnati have mandatory coop programs. All would be good for good but not necessarily top students. They are all about double the size you are looking for but it may be a challenge to find a smaller school with a Chem E program that is not pretty selective. They might offer an OOS competitive scholarships with his projected grades and scores.
Oood luck.