I am choosing between UDel Chemical Engineering Honors Programs and Tufts, probably Biomedical Engineering or Computer Science.
The UDel option is for the upcoming Fall 2019 semester, as for Tufts, I have an opportunity to do D3 athletics there but only in a year, starting Fall 2020.
Personally, I am not fully sure that chemical engineering is the best-fit major for me, that is why I am not sure I should pursue the UDel option. Tufts seems like a better school for my wide range of interests but I can’t seem to find any up-to-date information/data about the school regarding future job opportunities, potential internships, and further academic/career development. Which school do you think would be better for an engineering student careerwise? I would appreciate any takes on Tufts engineering, as there is very limited information out there.
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UDel has one of the top 10 chem e programs in the country. I would pick them in a heartbeat over Tufts, for any type of engineering.
Tufts does have a first destination survey but I agree that it’s missing a lot of information. I would email Tufts and directly ask them your questions.
My D looked at Tufts for engineering 6 years ago and she loved the school but the engineering program overall was unimpressive. My engineering/science spouse visited with her and was very against her applying. He was kind of scornful about the school in general because science is all that matters to him and he didn’t think she’d get a good engineering education there. The school itself is top-notch: smart kids, great location and campus, good faculty and has a good alumni network so if you’re not sure about engineering it could be a great fit. What other majors could you see yourself in?
I think you should visit Tufts and, if possible, go to the Engineering Open House (https://admissions.tufts.edu/visit/open-houses/engineering-open-house/) instead of taking advice based on someone’s visit 6 years ago. Things could change a lot in the past few years: a state-of-the-art building for engineering, new faculty hired, etc. The experiences of studying engineering at Tufts can be different from at state universities. The engineering students can always get the courses they want to take, according to my child. The faculty are very supportive and the school is well-run to help students to get internships and go to conferences.
@Camom13 Thanks for the reply.
In high school, I was interested in a range of subjects including history and social studies. However, I always felt more like a tech-geek kind of guy - I am rather good at math and have an in-depth understanding of physics, as I grew up in a family full of passionate physicists (my dad studied physics, my grandpa is a physics teacher). When I first applied to colleges I didn’t have any clue about which kind of engineering I would like to pursue. In the end, it came down to applying for ChemE at my local school (UDel): must I not like it, I can always transfer to any other engineering discipline. However, the issue is that I never had any interest in chemistry. I took it in high school and was successful, but I never bothered doing anything chemistry-related outside of class.
As for other majors, today, I simply don’t see myself being, say, an International relations student, which is really good at Tufts, as I think I will be killing my engineering potential.
@freemance - if you’re a tech-geek kind of guy, wouldn’t computer science, math or ME be better fit majors? One problem with engineering (anywhere) is is the curriculum has such heavy course requirements that it’s hard to fit in a wide range of college courses outside your GEs. For some students that’s ideal - because all they want to study is STEM - but it sounds like you’d really enjoy taking social sciences in college as well. I would really “check yourself” on how committed you are to doing engineering. Imagine you were going to do a math major… which school would be your top choice?
It sounds like the experience I would receive at UDel. There are only approximately 80 (~20 per class) honors ChemE students and obviously, those students are set apart from others, as UDel takes special pride in their ChemE program. Talking to the alumni and senior students who went through this program, I was told that 2-3 very good internships over the summer during college is a realistic opportunity along with great study abroad programs during the school year.
As for Tufts, a highly selective school, it seems like I will be surrounded by such students at all times. It is great for my social development. However, I am concerned that Tufts engineers don’t get the same amount of exposure to potential internships/job recruiters as the students of more well-heard engineering schools do. That being said, right now I am trying to figure out how much better the UDel opportunities really are in comparison to the Tufts opportunities.
@CaMom13
I always saw my interest in social studies as a change of pace in between what really matters - science 
The amount of non-technical breadth requirements in the curriculum of an engineering student seems optimal, just enough to fulfill my interests in social studies.
As for the majors you suggested. I never really looked into majoring in math. ME seems like a perfect fit for me, but the classes that chemical engineers take are generally similar to those that mechanical engineers take, just with a little chemical lean to them. According to numerous articles and stats, chemical engineers generally have a lot more freedom later on, as they can pretty much do any kind of engineering job. And computer science, oh boy. I was planning to get a minor in CompSci regardless of what I major in. I tend to believe that a minor would be enough to suit my needs. If I ever need extra knowledge in the field, it is relatively “simple” to gain that knowledge at any point without actually attending college.
I don’t know you @freemance, so I can’t judge. But I can say that the workload for engineers is about 1.5 times anyone else’s workload in college. And that means a lot of engineers drop out; the ones who survive are usually the ones who really, really want it and it helps a LOT to love the topics you study because otherwise it’s a pretty painful degree. So it’s worth thinking that over.
I don’t personally think the curricula and job opportunities for ME and ChE are similar at all. If you go to the school websites and look up the exact courses taken I think you’ll see substantial divergence in coursework, especially in the amount of Chemistry required! Since your family has ties with some science types, maybe see if you can find a friend or family connection who works in engineering and ask for their feedback on your plans. I have a D who graduated this year in ME and I can assure you, the jobs she was offered would not have gone to someone with a Chem Engineering degree - and the Chem Es would say vice versa! Neither is the better degree but they really are different.
In terms of one school vs the other - you have two good choices. I would say choose your college based upon finances and what kind of environment you want because you don’t seem 100% sure about Chem Eng and if you do change your major the concern about which college has a stronger engineering department will be moot.
Sounds like you really need to narrow down what you want to do and what you are likely to be most interested in. It sounds like it’s less about the schools and more about you. I’m sure there are successful graduates at both schools. But the most successful kids seem to be the ones who have a plan and a plan B. They are open to many things but have a framework for what they want to do. Also, I don’t think you have considered at all how studying engineering at a school with other liberal arts would be different from being in a pure engineering program. Often, students change their minds. You might take a course that changes your trajectory in life. I just heard someone who went to Tufts talk about how they were torn between engineering and a liberal art. The student took both and realized a way to combine her two interests. She now had a graduate degree in engineering ( undergrad too) but it was a path she would not have been able to do at an engineering school. Was very interesting to hear.
Some random thoughts to confuse you! I always felt that it doesn’t mater where you get your engineering degree, based on my 42 years in the trade. But, my young Swarthmore friends used their double majors in engineering and liberal arts to arrive in NYC’s financial district. Another but - I was shocked that few engineering students could assemble a paragraph in college. My ability to write led to business development and greater income. Sure, Delaware is tops for engineering but don’t forget to take plenty of writing/speaking classes. BTW, USNWR ranks some excellent engineering schools below Tufts. Plus NESCAC D3 rules. I vote for Tufts. Oh. one more thing – If you chose UDel, do not let your parents visit you on St. Patrick’s day.