High School Sophomore: Engineering schools to consider

College Search & Selection
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<p>First off, I'm a sophomore in high school right now. I don't really buy the whole "College is coming! Start planning in 6th grade!" hype, but I have planned out my academics for the rest of high school and will start visiting colleges this upcoming summer. I'm not trying to form a definite plan, but I would like to have some possibilities in mind. I'll address my college thoughts first, then leave some miscellaneous info at the bottom.</p>

<p>I think I will probably major in engineering of some kind. I love math and enjoy taking things apart to see how they work. I'll almost certainly be in the applied sciences somewhere. I have looked at a number of lists of good engineering schools.</p>

<p>Geographically, I'd probably like to remain out west. I love mountains and outdoor activities. I also despise humidity and heat. I can deal with very hot weather in the desert, but the southeast is a definite no. I have no problem with rain or clouds - in fact, I like them. I don't like crowds or smog.</p>

<p>Perhaps the most important thing to consider is what I hope to get from college. I want an education that will give me a solid start in a career and a sense for how the world really works, without sacrificing some of the best years of my life to total drudgery. I would actually like to spend 10 hours a day buried in a textbook, but when I'm done I want to be able to hang out with friends or go for a hike or otherwise have fun.</p>

<p>I don't feel the need for individual attention in class, but I'd like to get some (either from professors or TAs) outside. I want to go to school with a group of students who are motivated and competitive, but not competitive solely for the sake of competitiveness. I don't want to go to a tiny school where everyone is part of a family-type group, but I don't want to just represent a dollar sign to administration. I want a safe campus. I don't take drugs and have no interest in a school where every party involves a bunch of slackers getting high. I want a school where on-campus housing offers pleasant and active experience, but where I can still get to sleep before midnight.</p>

<p>Here are some schools I'm currently considering. If you know about any of these or have other recommendations, I'm all ears.</p>

<ul>
<li>University of Washington: solid programs. Commuter campus?</li>
<li>University of Alberta: good school, interesting city.</li>
<li>Purdue University: giant school, great engineering.</li>
<li>Oregon State: good engineering. Admits anyone (including stoners/slackers)?</li>
<li>University of Nevada - Reno: decent programs, great location, nice size. Too mediocre?</li>
<li>University of Michigan: excellent reputation. Expensive/preppy/reach?</li>
<li>University of Wisconsin - Madison: good engineering. Party school?</li>
<li>Anything you might recommend :)</li>
</ul>

<p>Facts:
- Attending school in Anchorage, AK
- Scored ~2100 on SAT, but that was a year ago and I should do better on the essay now (I only got a 7/12)
- Scored 30 on the PLAN, which should translate to 31-34 on ACT. Ran out of time on one section.
- Currently have GPA just over 4.0, should rise significantly by graduation
- I'm taking AP courses and other demanding stuff in school. Full schedule available if needed.</p>

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<p>Michigan is easily the best of those, although you are right, it is expensive-you’d probably do better by going to a smaller private school good for engineering(Northwestern, Rice, Duke(although not as well known for its overall engineering), Carnegie Mellon) and getting more attention. Michigan does have a ton of engineering related EC’s like a racing car team, plane building team, etc., and it has tons more labs than smaller schools, including a wind tunnel.</p>

<p>Oregon St.- yeah engineering is decent, but the student body isn’t exactly full of people making 2100 on the SAT like you.
Nevada- Probably worse than OSU. Reno really doesnt seem like a plus, but maybe thats me.
Wisconsin- Also an excellent school, a slight step down from Michigan, but still good. And yes, it does have a rep as a party school, as Madison is like Austin,TX in that it’s a state capital, but also a college town.
Purdue-great in engineering, but that’s it. Nowhere near as well rounded as Michigan.
Washington-huge school, bigger than U of M for sure, still good. Not sure about commuter, although it is located in Seattle so its possible.
Alberta- no clue. Is it Calgary I’m assuming, or Edmonton?</p>

<p>Other suggestions: University of Texas, Rice, Northwestern, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Carnegie Mellon(although relatively expensive for what it is IMO), Rose Hulman, Olin.</p>

<p>Don’t really know what your chances are, but assuming you have good ECS, your scores are good, and your GPA and classes taken are obviously good. I’d say you have a good shot at all those schools, and you could probably aim higher. Your location helps out a ton, as Alaska is very underrepresented states, will help more with private school admissions.</p>

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<p>How about Colorado School of Mines?</p>

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<p>Also a very good option, Mines is a totally underrated school.</p>

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<p>Clemson University: has great professors who are highly rated on ratemyprofessors.com for teaching quality and accessibility as teaching comes first at Clemson. Nationally ranked programs in Civil Engineering and Industrial Engineering and other engineering programs</p>

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<p>RPI and Case Western are good engineering schools (especially for merit aid), but RPI is on the east coast.
Rice, as someone else mentioned, is a great engineering school, but it’s in Texas (which would obviously be very hot).
I’d second (third?) the suggestion of Colorado School of Mines, though :)</p>

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<p>In addition to Colorado School Of Mines, I’d like to throw in New Mexico Institute Of Mining & Technology. It’s a public school in New Mexico with perhaps the most underrated engineering programs in the US. Coming out of the school, you can make $60,000 with a engineering degree. The largest classes that you will find at the school is 40 people and the US government supposedly throws a lot of money at the school for research.</p>

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<p>You are at perfect age to start looking at Rose-Hulman’s Catapult program…</p>

<p>[Rose-Hulman</a> Institute of Technology](<a href=“404 | Rose-Hulman”>Operation Catapult | Rose-Hulman)</p>

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<p>I believe they accept rising juniors in “Explosives Camp” at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Yes, you do learn to blow things up and even create your own fireworks show. [Missouri</a> University of Science and Technology, Distance & Continuing Education](<a href=“distance.mst.edu – Online Education | Missouri S&T”>distance.mst.edu – Online Education | Missouri S&T)</p>

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<p>Save yourself, don’t go to Purdue.</p>

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<p>If you don’t like heat/humid weather, and you like mountains, that will probably rule out midwestern schools, too. Maybe University of Colorado (Boulder)?</p>

<p>Here’s a good web site for searching for engineering schools:
[ASEE</a> Engineering K12 Center - Students](<a href=“http://www.engineeringk12.org/students/default.php]ASEE”>http://www.engineeringk12.org/students/default.php)</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the replies.</p>

<p>The overall student body is my main fear with OSU and Reno. They might offer good courses, but I like a competitive group of fellows.</p>

<p>Michigan is definitely high on my list - can anyone who’s been there describe Ann Arbor as a place to live?</p>

<p>Washington’s size is pretty monstrous (still not as bad as Purdue), but it does have some pretty attractive attributes. The academics look great and I love Seattle.</p>

<p>Alberta is in Edmonton. It has very strong engineering programs (especially nanotech), but almost nobody lives on campus. It also takes in just about anybody, though from what I’ve read there’s a pretty good mix.</p>

<p>Purdue is pretty impressive, but I’m a bit scared by the size and location. Can I have some more info from those who dislike it?</p>

<p>Re Duke: My mom went to Duke, and I visited this campus while in the area for a family reunion. I hate the climate, and somehow the school rubbed me in the wrong way.</p>

<p>Re Mines (Colorado and NM) and Rose Hulman: I love the southwest - originally from Colorado. Both mining schools are a great value. However, I’m a bit concerned with the “cookie-cutter” populations at these schools I’ve read about, where everyone fits the same stereotypical geeky roles. I’m sure this is 90% false, but the specializations on hard sciences and disproportionate male/female ratios certainly make me wonder. I’m certainly going to put my own priorities (engineering) first, but a good mix never hurts.</p>

<p>Re “Higher” Goals: I’m definitely not going to lock myself into anything, but the idea of attending an ultra-exclusive, snotty college doesn’t appeal to me. I want to be challenged so that I can learn and have fun, not for the pleasure of being better than others.</p>

<p>I’ll read some more links and post back later.</p>

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<p>noImagination, what about Texas A&M? It’s a great engineering school, the size is indeed really monstrous but the focus is not only on science and engineering and there is a more balanced male/female ratio</p>

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<p>Texas A&M is pretty impressive. It’s located right in the middle of the Dallas-San Antonio-Houston triangle, which doesn’t thrill me. However, I’ll look into it some more.</p>

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<p>I’m also adding the University of British Columbia to the list. Very impressive academics and a nice location.</p>

<p>Can anyone who went to or knows someone who went to Colorado Mines or New Mexico Tech attest to the student mix at those schools? I just don’t want to be stuck in a room where everyone is sitting in a corner reading a book on Friday night. I’m not big on partying, but there is more to life than that…</p>

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<p>I had looked at UBC earlier, and I really can’t see why I didn’t add it then. Looks great!</p>

<p>It’s also nice to have multiple colleges in the same area, so they are easy to visit (UBC, Washington).</p>

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<p>Since you like the West Coast, you should look into Harvey Mudd College. It’s a liberal arts college that focuses on engineering and math/science degrees, and it’s in the Claremont Colleges, so you would benefit from connections to those schools as well (Pitzer, Pomona, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna).</p>

<p>Someone said Georgia Tech but there are, regrettably, no substantial mountains in Georgia and it is very hot and humid. An awesome engineering school, but not a good choice if you dislike those things. Besides, Georgia Tech is a school of recluses. I mean, there are some party animals there but they are in the minority…it’s not a work hard/play hard school.</p>

<p>I second the recommendation of Colorado School of Mines (great school, and has the location elements you like)</p>

<p>Oh, and at any big university there are going to be some stoners and slackers. Hell, at any small liberal arts college there are going to be some stoners and slackers. I’m at Columbia and I know stoners and slackers, although there are fewer relative to a very large public university. Don’t let that deter you; if you don’t want to hang out with the stoners/slackers y’all will avoid each other.</p>

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<p>noimagination, I did some research on New Mexico Tech and I indeed did find that while there are students who like to do outdoor activities, many students spend their time studying or playing computer games or leaving for home and getting drunk since Socorro (where New Mexico Tech is) and that high school popular kids will probably feel out of place there. Thus, it probably isn’t the right college for you.</p>

<p>I will second the recommendation of Harvey Mudd. While they give you tons of work and it is almost as hard to get into as Harvard, they have a great mix of students and social life since there are 4 other colleges right next door to Harvey Mudd (Pomona, Pitzer, Scripps, Claremont McKenna) and Los Angeles and the mountains/skiing is only an hour away!</p>

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<p>Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to spend four (or more) years of your life. It has many attributes that would take a long time to describe. Since you are from Alaska, the climate shouldn’t concern you too much. Of course it matters what part of Alaska you’re from.</p>

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<p>Sorry for the late reply - I’ve been at a debate tournament for the past two days.</p>

<p>Re Harvey Mudd: Very interesting. Perhaps a bit of a reach, but something to consider.</p>

<p>Re GA Tech: I have no interest in living in Georgia</p>

<p>Re Slackers: The question is whether I have to endure the company of them in too many required classes.</p>

<p>Re NM Tech (pierre0913): I’m not what you would call a “high school popular kid”. I spend my lunches discussing science, politics, computers, and debate topics with friends. The significant fact is that I have these friends (sometimes skis as well :)). Reading up on NM Tech, it actually doesn’t sound bad. What scares me is the idea of being with a bunch of clones of one guy I know. He’s very smart, but is also ridiculously introverted. A conversation is like pulling teeth. My only real concern after some more reading is the very small size, but that might actually be a plus considering the opportunity for individual attention.</p>

<p>Re Ann Arbor: Sounds decent. I’m from Anchorage, so we don’t get really nasty stuff (except the week where it didn’t cross -10 this January).</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. You’ve given me some stuff to chew over.</p>