<p>I’m a recent engineering graduate. I remembered browsing this site when I was in high school and generally being nervous and uncertain about everything. So I thought I’d chip in about my experience at CU.</p>
<p>Here’s the short answer: Your first impression is correct. </p>
<p>On humanities and social sciences (HSS): The quality itself isn’t that bad; the problem is quantity and availability.</p>
<p>The engineering curriculum requires 1 HSS class per semester for the first two years (so 4 semesters), and any 2 HSS electives within the 4 years. You MAY choose to take more HSS electives to fill your free electives. You have to understand, however, that once you get to Cooper, 80/90% of your peers will hate even those minimum requirements. At least in my 4 years, that was the gist: everyone was very science-y and math-y and just favored the numbers. What electives are offered? Not a whole lot. Now there are a couple classes that are pretty interesting but the spectrum isn’t wide. Chances are, half of them will clash with your schedule, the remaining quarter of them will be easy-A classes that every other student aims for, interesting or not, and the other remaining quarter is left for students to soul-lessly meet the credit requirements. </p>
<p>On electives in general:</p>
<p>What are some engineering electives? Again, not a lot of choices. The curriculum lists a lot of classes but it depends on professor availability and what’s offered changes with each semester. Again, most of them will be out of scope because they clash with your schedule. Also again, ruthless competition for easy-A classes. You’ll know why if you ever get to Cooper. Anything to bring your GPA up. </p>
<p>Students are free to take electives in the other schools such as art or architecture. Not many take up on this option because 1) a lot of those classes have prerequisites that you just don’t have time to meet and 2) engineering students like to take engineering-related classes.</p>
<p>Regarding the engineering track:</p>
<p>You said you might not want to pursue pure engineering or researching. If that’s true, my advice is not to go to Cooper. That is precisely what Cooper engineering is oriented around. The curriculum is designed in such a way to prepare you for your precise major. By the time you’re doing your senior project, you’ll be very very familiar with your field. You’ll learn to tolerate it even if you have grown to hate it while you’ve studied there. If you’re not definitely certain you want to study engineering, and you don’t plan on going to grad school for a masters degree or a phd in some other related field, I really advise you to look into other schools.</p>
<p>Regarding this question:
Additionally, is there even a slightest possibility to survive in NYC on an annual living expense budget of $10K?</p>
<p>I’m tending towards, no… However, it really depends on how much you value your quality of life. For example, you can choose to live with six other people in a 2/BR apartment and pay minimal rent. But think about the peace and quiet you’re giving up. On the other hand, if your home is in NYC or NJ and you decide to commute, go for it. </p>
<p>Hope this helped.</p>