<p>Hi, So I am interested in going to college for a bachelors of science in engineering...not quite sure which kind yet. So I have been looking at rankings for engineering schools and of course MIT, CalTech etc are top ten. However, I visited WPI this week and thought it was decent, I liked it a little better on paper. However, I thought that WPI was considered a very good engineering school, but when looking at rankings it is pretty down there...like 55! So I am a bit confused. </p>
<p>Today I visited Northeastern and went on their engineering wednesday tour...I really liked the campus and the co-op program and the fact that they have a legitamate graphic design (they call it communication design) program which is my second choice, but impossible as a double major. I really loved northeastern...but I am worried because it doesn't rank highly for engineering.</p>
<p>Are these rankings right and do they even matter? Are WPI and Northeastern really in the 50's and 60's for engineering schools?? I really thought WPI was considered very good...so now I'm just weary about the rankings and how much they actually matter.</p>
<p>Rankings are usually subjective and probably not that accurate, so it’s usually best not to factor them into your decision. You should try visiting the colleges if you can, or maybe find some people who go there and ask some questions (I’m assuming you’d be able to find them in the college forums). And I’m pretty sure that 50 isn’t that bad anyway…</p>
<p>There probably are a lot of schools between CalTech and MIT and WPI and Northeastern. I’m not saying that they’re bad colleges, just that the gap is there. </p>
<p>You’re not comparing MIT to Michigan here. The colleges you listed are multiple tiers below in admissions standards.</p>
<p>Here is the methodology for how USNWR ranks engineering schools:</p>
<p>"The U.S. News rankings of undergraduate engineering programs accredited by ABET, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, are based solely on the peer judgments of deans and senior faculty who rated each program they are familiar with on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished). Engineering school deans and faculty members (two surveys were sent to each ABET-accredited engineering program) were surveyed for this ranking in spring 2010.</p>
<p>We have separate rankings for undergraduate engineering programs at colleges that offer doctoral degrees in engineering and for engineering programs at colleges whose terminal degree in engineering is a bachelor’s or master’s. Research at the graduate level often influences the undergraduate curriculum, and schools with doctoral programs in engineering tend to have the widest possible range of offerings. Students who prefer a program focused on undergraduates can consult the list of top programs at schools whose terminal degree is the bachelor’s or master’s. Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed returned ratings of the group whose terminal degree in engineering is a bachelor’s or master’s; 58 percent did so for the doctoral group."</p>
<p>So in essence, engineering school deans and faculty members are sent a list of schools with a “fill in the bubble” scale of 1 to 5 for them to rate each school that they are FAMILIAR with. Only 58% of surveys were returned for schools with a doctorate program and just 37% were returned for undergrad/masters only.</p>
<p>There are obvious flaws in this methodology. First it is a self selected sample, therefore not statistically valid. Also, as the “peers” only evaluate schools that they are familiar with this will skew results towards the larger and historically prestigious programs. This makes it difficult for less well known programs to move up. It’s a self fulfilling methodology. </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that the company that produces these rankings ceased publication of their news magazine recently. Their main business now seems to rank everything from colleges to hospitals. The primary market for their college guides are fretful parents that want to make sure that Johnny or Jenny gets in to the “right” college. They helped create the mania that permeates the college application process. </p>
<p>Your much better off believing your own eyes and deciding on a college based on your own criteria.</p>
<p>USNWR rankings do not take into account quality of teaching or student satisfaction with their educational experience. It’s a bunch of bunk designed to stir the pot and sell magazines.</p>
<p>^^ I agree. Those lists give alot of helpful statistical information, but the rank itself is not useful. Think about it: How could a specific school be the best choice for, say, an engineering major and a theater major? Yet that’s exactly what the rankings imply.</p>
<p>When students choose or reject a school based on rank, they’re letting other people make decisions for them. Don’t follow the herd; research the schools and decide for yourself what YOUR #1 school is.</p>
<p>College rankings are not important at all. They give you an incredibly generalized/inaccurate idea of how good a school is for you, and you should treat it as such.</p>
<p>I won’t comment on the general utility of rankings, but I will comment on the MIT/Caltech vs. WPI/Northeastern issue. MIT and CalTech are ranked highly because they have small, selective undergraduate populations and because they are major institutes of research. Both schools have high levels of research activity/funding across the board. CalTech has the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is a central NASA science/engineering center. You will find that MIT/Caltech have had dozens of National Academy of Engineering members and nobel prize winners in the faculty. You’ll find that WPI/Northeastern have had few if any. </p>
<p>In my view, there are several upsides to going to a major research university. One advantage is that your professors will be much more likely to be authorities in their field and their recommendations will hold more weight. They will also know more about how research is done in the field and will be able to provide better advising on a research career. Of course, you will also have better opportunities to assist professors with their research. A second advantage is that your school will have a bigger name and will draw more employers to on campus recruiting, which will make finding a job easier. A third advantage is that most grad schools and research labs prefer their institution’s undergraduates for employment/admissions. </p>
<p>WPI is not ranked that highly (either in the overall or the engineering rankings) because it has a low level of research activity/funding. In general, professors at WPI do less research and more teaching than professors at major research universities. </p>
<p>There are a few advantages here. One is that your professors will probably know you better and will likely write more personal recommendations. Another is that if you need help in your classes, you’ll be able to get help from professors and not just TAs. You may also find that professors put more effort into teaching since it is their primary responsibility.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who replied, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I have a few more questions:
While I was wondering about rankings as for choosing colleges, I was also wondering if they matter heavily when getting employed for jobs. Realistically, I’d love to go to Carnegie Mellon or other engineering schools that are well known nationally because it would make me “stand out” on my resume, however, the likelihood of getting enough scholarship money to justify going to schools so expensive is the issue. I know I can probably get a lot more financial aid at slightly lower “ranked” schools, but is that a huge sacrifice for career choices later? The schools with the big names also usually have the higher starting salaries, so is it better to go somewhere with a slightly less well known program and save a ton of money or come out of college with a ton of debt, but possibly land a higher paying job?</p>
<p>*I thought that WPI was considered a very good engineering school, but when looking at rankings it is pretty down there…like 55! *</p>
<p>55 is not “down there”. There are 50 states in the union and many states have several schools that are strong in engineering, so being #55 is not bad in any way. </p>
<p>Gosh, the state of Calif alone must have at least 15 schools that are strong in engineering…Stanford, Cal Tech, Harvey Mudd, Berkeley, USC, UCSD, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, Santa Clara, Cal poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, USD, CSULB, CSUF, SJSU, LMU, etc. Graduating from any of those schools can net a great job.</p>
<p>If just one state (albeit a big one) can have that many strong engineering programs, then it’s not reasonable to think that a school ranked in the 50s isn’t good. It’s safe to think that most ranked and ABET accredited engineering program are good. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that the rankings are not purely based on academics…there are many subjective things that also come into play…and those things have little or nothing to do with how good the engineering education is.</p>
<p>There is a 3rd tier univ by my home. It’s engineering is probably ranked around 100…but it is a very good engineering program. VERY good.</p>