Help w/decision:U Pitt or U Del

<p>My son is was accepted at University of PIttsburgh and University of Delaware. He originally applied for bio but requested a major change to engineering. (Not 100 % sure on engineering but definitely interested) He is in state for pitt and got 5000 merit money (not honors college :() for Delaware so money at these schools is not a deciding factor. Also got 15000 merit money at Gettysburg but he's probably not interested in the 3-2 program. Also was accepted at TCNJ but he has little interest in attending there. He likes big but decided Penn State Main is just too big. Wait listed at Bucknell
:( --which would have been too expensive any way. </p>

<p>Any advice/opinions/comparisons about Pitt and Delaware Engineering?<br>
(advising, academiccs, academic support, co-op opportunities, reputation,selectivity,employment etc) ? Should he investigate the3-2 program at Gettysburg further?</p>

<p>and if he should change his mind about engineering? </p>

<p>Thanks so much for any opinions......</p>

<p>Anyone have an opinion?</p>

<p>Billy, I believe that both their engineering departments are ranked about the same. If money is the same also, I would just pick the environment he likes the best. They are both big schools and will offer a lot of options if he decides to change his major. Best of luck!</p>

<p>We visited both schools last year. They have a very different feel. Pitt is urban, and UDelaware felt more like a small town (I don't know how it's characterized). Pitt has a higher US News ranking, for whatever that's worth. They're different enough that your S may have a definite preference if he visits during admitted student days.</p>

<p>Delaware and Pitt are actually tied at 52nd in overall undergraduate rankings but Delaware is in the top ten in the country for chemical engineering. USNEWS 2008 Engineering Ranking Compilation </p>

<hr>

<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)</p>

<ol>
<li>Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 4.9</li>
<li>Stanford University (CA) 4.7</li>
<li>University of California–Berkeley * 4.7</li>
<li>California Institute of Technology 4.6</li>
<li>Georgia Institute of Technology * 4.5</li>
<li>U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign * 4.5</li>
<li>Cornell University (NY) 4.4</li>
<li>University of Michigan–Ann Arbor * 4.4</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 4.2</li>
<li>Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)* 4.2</li>
<li>University of Texas–Austin * 4.2</li>
<li>Princeton University (NJ) 4.1</li>
<li>Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison * 4.0</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.9</li>
<li>Northwestern University (IL) 3.9</li>
<li>Virginia Tech * 3.9</li>
<li>Pennsylvania State U.–University Park * 3.8</li>
<li>Rice University (TX) 3.8</li>
<li>Texas A&M Univ.–College Station * 3.8</li>
<li>Columbia University (NY) 3.7</li>
<li>Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY) 3.7</li>
<li>Univ. of California–Los Angeles * 3.7</li>
<li>Univ. of Minnesota–Twin Cities * 3.7</li>
<li>University of Washington * 3.7</li>
<li>Duke University (NC) 3.6</li>
<li>Ohio State University–Columbus * 3.6</li>
<li>Univ. of California–San Diego * 3.6</li>
<li>Univ. of Maryland–College Park * 3.6</li>
<li>North Carolina State U.–Raleigh * 3.5</li>
<li>University of Florida * 3.5</li>
<li>University of Pennsylvania 3.5</li>
<li>Univ. of Southern California 3.5</li>
<li>Harvard University (MA) 3.4</li>
<li>University of California–Davis * 3.4</li>
<li>University of Colorado–Boulder * 3.4</li>
<li>University of Virginia * 3.4</li>
<li>Arizona State University * 3.3</li>
<li>Case Western Reserve Univ. (OH) 3.3</li>
<li>Iowa State University * 3.3</li>
<li>Lehigh University (PA) 3.3</li>
<li>Univ. of California–Santa Barbara * 3.3</li>
<li>Yale University (CT) 3.3</li>
<li>Brown University (RI) 3.2</li>
<li>Michigan State University * 3.2</li>
<li>University of Notre Dame (IN) 3.2</li>
<li>Vanderbilt University (TN) 3.2</li>
<li>Washington University in St. Louis 3.2</li>
<li>Dartmouth College (NH) 3.1</li>
<li>Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick (NJ)* 3.1</li>
<li>University of Arizona * 3.1</li>
<li>University of California–Irvine * 3.1</li>
<li>Colorado School of Mines * 3.0</li>
<li>University of Delaware * 3.0</li>
<li>Univ. of Massachusetts–Amherst * 3.0</li>
<li>University of Missouri–Rolla * 3.0</li>
<li>University of Pittsburgh * 3.0</li>
<li>Auburn University (AL)* 2.9</li>
<li>Boston University 2.9</li>
<li>Clemson University (SC)* 2.9</li>
<li>Colorado State University * 2.9</li>
<li>Drexel University (PA) 2.9</li>
<li>Illinois Institute of Technology 2.9</li>
<li>Northeastern University (MA) 2.9</li>
<li>Tufts University (MA) 2.9</li>
<li>University at Buffalo–SUNY * 2.9</li>
<li>University of Illinois–Chicago * 2.9</li>
<li>University of Iowa * 2.9</li>
<li>University of Tennessee * 2.9</li>
<li>Worcester Polytechnic Inst. (MA) 2.9</li>
<li>Kansas State University * 2.8</li>
<li>Michigan Technological University * 2.8</li>
<li>Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY) 2.8</li>
<li>SUNY–Stony Brook * 2.8</li>
<li>University of Utah * 2.8</li>
<li>Washington State University * 2.8</li>
<li>Oregon State University * 2.7</li>
<li>Polytechnic University (NY) 2.7</li>
<li>Syracuse University (NY) 2.7</li>
<li>University of Cincinnati * 2.7</li>
<li>University of Connecticut * 2.7</li>
<li>University of Kansas * 2.7</li>
<li>U. of North Carolina–Charlotte * 2.7</li>
<li>University of Oklahoma * 2.7</li>
<li>University of Rochester (NY) 2.7</li>
<li>Clarkson University (NY) 2.6</li>
<li>New Jersey Inst. of Technology * 2.6</li>
<li>Oklahoma State University * 2.6</li>
<li>Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) 2.6</li>
<li>Texas Tech University * 2.6</li>
<li>Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln * 2.6</li>
<li>University of New Mexico * 2.6</li>
<li>Brigham Young Univ.–Provo (UT) 2.5</li>
<li>George Washington University (DC) 2.5</li>
<li>Louisiana State U.–Baton Rouge * 2.5</li>
<li>University of Alabama * 2.5</li>
<li>Univ. of California–Riverside * 2.5</li>
<li>University of Houston * 2.5</li>
<li>University of Kentucky * 2.5</li>
<li>Univ. of Missouri–Columbia * 2.5</li>
</ol>

<p>Undergraduate engineering specialties:
Chemical
(At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
Methodology
1 Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
2 University of California–Berkeley *
3 Univ. of Minnesota–Twin Cities *
4 Stanford University (CA)
5 Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison *
6 California Institute of Technology
7 Princeton University (NJ)
8 U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign *
9 University of Texas–Austin *
10 University of Delaware *
11 Georgia Institute of Technology *
11 University of Michigan–Ann Arbor *
13 Cornell University (NY)
14 Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
15 Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)*
16 Pennsylvania State U.–University Park *
17 Texas A&M Univ.–College Station *
17 Univ. of California–Santa Barbara *
19 North Carolina State U.–Raleigh *
20 Rice University (TX)
20 University of Pennsylvania
22 Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY)
23 Iowa State University *
23 Northwestern University (IL)
23 University of Notre Dame (IN)
23 University of Virginia *
23 University of Washington *</p>