<p>What's WashU Engineering like? Specifically, Chem/MatSci?
I had it on my shortlist, but I've heard not-so-great things about it's engineering program (except BME) and it's fairly low on the lists..
Is there a redeeming factor? Or is it second tier as compared to say, UCBerkeley or even Rice?</p>
<p>I would encourage you to do some more research, because WashU does not offer an undergraduate degree (yet!) in Materials Science. It seems like you are very focused on rankings, so I can’t tell you much more than that. When i was applying to colleges, I didn’t need a “redeeming factor” to want to go to an engineering school (WashU) with incredible support for undergraduate research, department-specific study abroad options, a highly collaborative student culture, and a curriculum that allows/promotes earning a minor or major outside the school of engineering. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Ah, well Tumbletiger, that sort of thing IS the redeeming factor I was looking for! Though I’m fairly set on MatSci, so I might have to drop it anyway, but I really was attracted to the school 
It does seem lovely. It’s not me, it’s the parents very fixated on rankings. International parents, Whattyagonnado.</p>
<p>If you’re really interested in the chemical aspects of materials science, WashU could still be a great fit. I am heavily considering a PhD in materials science, so I’ve adapted the chemE curriculum by: taking 2 materials classes for engineering electives (so far, possibly even 1 more), finding a summer research position in a materials science lab at another university, and by doing research in a chemE lab at WashU that is very much related to materials science.</p>
<p>That’s… actually very attractive. Cause for one of my other choice, Berkeley, i will def major in Chem + MatSci. It’s a good idea, and i’ve heard WashU is really good about combining majors and taking dual majors and stuff.</p>
<p>Materials Science is part of the Mech E program.</p>
<p>The department’s name is “Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science” aka MEMS. </p>
<p>There isn’t a degree in MS, but there are certainly lots of courses offered such as Materials Science, Materials Engineering, and others (at both undergrad and grad level).</p>
<p>As for the engineering school itself…that’s really subjective. It’s a solid school, even if not ranked highly.</p>
<p><a href=“http://mems.wustl.edu%5B/url%5D”>http://mems.wustl.edu</a></p>
<p>Also important to note that the engineering school is basically doubling in size over the next ~8-10 years which theoretically should increase its reputation. If you come here you will be here at a time of exciting change and improvement.</p>
<p>The ranking definitely is relatively low, but it has more to do with graduate programs than undergraduate programs. With highly qualified students and low students:professors ratio, I cannot believe that UCB undergraduate engineering is better than WU. If I have a choice, I will pick WU for undergraduate and UCB for graduate.</p>
<p>I think Wash U grad Engineering is severely underranked, likely still due to a lagging name recognition in the engineering program. That said, I enjoy my undergrad so much that the only place I applied to for my Masters’ (CS and EE) in Engineering is Wash U.</p>
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<p>Ditto for me - I’m EE.</p>
<p>How are the employment opportunities in the west coast for graduates of WU engineering? More I look at WU, more I like it. I am not sure how easy to get a job outside of the midwest.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about jobs 5+ years in advance.</p>
<p>I just got admitted to WUSTL engineering, and am looking for some feedback on their Mech. Eng. dept. Still waiting on other acceptances like Rice, Cal and NW, but am pretty excited about WUSTL. </p>
<p>How is the career center, and placement in summer internships? My older siblings had fantastic opportunities at their undergrad schools, and they say that it’s one of the most important things to consider…</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Mech Eng specifically, but the engineering school (and Wash U in general) seems to be on top of things in terms of career services, and the career center at Wash U is really good too. Engineering departments also have their own e-mail list servs for sending out job offers / internship opportunities when someone in the department gets notice about something specifi. I get a dozenish emails a week between the CS and ESE lists. </p>
<p>Most people in Engineering seem to get a job fairly easily.</p>
<p>I know my post is kind of vague but I’ve mainly focused on the academics / graduate school.</p>
<p>I’m studying mechanical engineering and I’m impressed with the program so far.</p>
<p>Have you visited Wash U yet? Not that this is the best indicator, but the quality of the engineering buildings (the new ones and the old ones) impressed me immensely. They are probably one of the main aspects of the university that made me choose to apply ED. (applied planning on chemical engineering, but now thinking about biomedical)</p>
<p>Not visited yet, but plan on doing so in the next 2 weeks…I am trying to get relevant information before I get swayed by something silly on campus. lol,</p>
<p>@AsianGinger, what other schools were on your radar before you applied ED here? Did you visit any other schools?</p>
<p>@RaVNz can you be more specific about what impresses you? Have you found the students to be more co-operative or competitive?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I feel like the professors are very comfortable with the material and I am learning a lot from them. The students, like all of the others at Wash U, are very collaborative and never competitive.</p>
<p>haha well my mom is a private college counselor so for her “research,” I’ve been dragged on over 100 college visits :P</p>
<p>and before I visited Wash U, my top choices were Notre Dame, Tufts, Michigan, CWRU, Penn, and Johns Hopkins…i was also going to go out on a limb and apply to MIT, but that would’ve never happened</p>
<p>@AsianGinger: your list of schools looks like my daughters!! We visited WashU last year and yes, it is a very impressive campus. Did you end up applying to the other schools as well? Is the campus feel of Penn completely different than the others?</p>