<p>Hi,
I'm applying to UChicago for undergraduate. I know it doesn't offer engineering degree but all sciences there are pretty strong. No matter where I go for college, I will do a master or phd in engineering in the future. So is UChicago a good place for me? If I go to UChicago, I may major in physics or computer science to prepare for mechanical engineering or computer engineering. Am I still competitive to go to top engineering schools (MIT, etc.) provided that I keep good academic record in college? Just how disadvantaged will I (B.A. or B.S. degree) be when competing with students with B.S. in engineering to apply to graduate engineering schools?
Thanks in advance.</p>
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<p>This is a really bad thing to bank on. You haven’t taken a single class in engineering and you are already saying you want to do graduate school? It is fine to plan on that possibility because to get in, it helps to have taken measures to prepare yourself before it is too late, but you shouldn’t chose your undergraduate program based on what you assume you will be interested in after 4 years.</p>
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<p>UChicago is a fantastic school. That said, I never think it is a good idea to go major in something that isn’t engineering if you already know your ultimate goal is to be an engineer. What happens if after four years you realize you have had enough school and just want a job? That happens a lot, and you will not have an easy time getting an engineering job with just a physics degree.</p>
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<p>Yes you will still be competitive, and you won’t likely be disadvantaged much against those with a ** in engineering when it comes to graduate school. Like I said before, though, you can’t just assume you will still be interested in graduate school in four years, and you will be disadvantaged against degreed engineering if you try and get a job in engineering.</p>
<p>You might not be disadvantaged in admission but you will have a LOT of remedial coursework to take and that can slow down your progress.</p>
<p>Why would anyone go to a school with no engineering curriculum if they want to get a graduate degree in engineering? What is the point of that? How will you know that you want to get an advanced degree in a field if you have no exposure to that field? Could you explain your thought process? Are you just hung up on UChicago for some reason?</p>
<p>Actually, I am impressed by the academic atmosphere of UChicago. It’s said to be the best in US and I think I’m just that kind of person.</p>
<p>I think that you’ll be fine at UChicago with a computer science or physical science (Physics or Chem) major, or both (CS and Physics). </p>
<p>It might be good to try to take some introductory engineering courses somewhere else over the summer after freshman year so that you’re not too disadvantaged and understand the difference between engineering and science. There are a bunch of schools that offer these courses. </p>
<p>UChicago does have a pretty unique academic environment with the Core. </p>
<p>You might also consider Columbia which, if you go arts and science, at least has engineering courses available.</p>
<p>If you are considering Chicago, why not Northwestern? They DO have engineering, and NU can also give you access to a well-rounded top-flight curriculum. This makes sense to me, but hey, it’s your decision. Keep in mind I might be a little biased…</p>
<p>University prestigiousness isn’t nearly as important for job placement and career advancement as simply doing well in an accredited engineering program and getting appropriate work experience. If you’re considering UoChicago, have scores to get in, and serious about engineering, you could go to nearby Illinois Institute of Technology and probably get a huge merit scholarship. For engineering grad school, it won’t matter whether you did well at IIT, Purdue, or UoChicago, except that you’d be “late in the game” arriving from UoChicago with a physics degree.</p>
<p>Chicago is special because of the unique highly intellectual aspect of the Core and the school. It’s not about the prestige. </p>
<p>I believe that the OP is asking if he can have his cake (The Core) and eat it too (Have the fun, intellectually stimulating, and well paid life of an engineer). </p>
<p>I think he can. </p>
<p>My point was Columbia also has a Core and a separate engineering school. I believe that you can take some classes in engineering as an arts and science major and be in a better position to have a shorter road in a Masters program.</p>
<p>My thoughts…</p>
<p>U of Chicago doesn’t really show up in engineering or applied sciences circles, at least in industry. UI-Urbana has a much bigger presence in terms of successful alumni and reputation.</p>
<p>Secondly, engineering isn’t really something you just glean from a textbook, like say math or physics. In engineering, your classmates matter more for 1) future industry contacts and 2) most importantly, what you can learn from them. </p>
<p>The biggest value of going to a premier tech school, like Stanford or Cal Tech, is what you can learn from your classmates. That is probably worth the tuition alone.</p>