<p>I'm pretty set on majoring in engineering. My GPA and SAT is decent, I've taken some APs, and have done some nice extra curricular activities. I have some topics I need solid opinions on.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How are the 3/2 and 4+1 programs? They sound really good, offering two diplomas, and allowing students to take classes at very reputable tech colleges. However, I've heard that most students don't bother with them (does that mean they don't end up with engineering degrees?). Why do many people not do these programs? Are they not very good, or just too much of a bother?</p></li>
<li><p>What are some LACs with reputable engineering programs? I'm not going to bother with Cal Tech and Harvey Mudd, so colleges with about or over 25% acceptance rates are more in my ballpark.</p></li>
<li><p>Should I just apply to a technical school and not bother with the liberal arts colleges? I'm currently thinking of Wellesley (physics), Scripps, Haverford, and I can't make heads or tails out of any of them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. I'm just having a really hard time narrowing down my options and looking in the right places, so if you are at an engineering school that you really enjoy I'd like to hear about it.</p>
<p>If you are set on engineering, I’d think you be best off at a college that offers engineering. Some other very good LACs with engineering that I know of offhand are Bucknell (PA), Lafayette (PA), Union (NY), and Trinity (CT). Some good mid-sized universities such as URochester, Lehigh, Villanova (to name a few) might be good options as well.</p>
<p>The problem with 3/2 programs is that you miss your senior year at the first college. You’re cramming all your engineering courses into the last 2 years, which isn’t optimal. I think it’s much better to start taking them freshman year and spread them over the four years (and it’s better to decide you don’t actually like engineering in your first year than in your fourth).</p>
<p>Smith is a liberal arts college with a great, well-funded engineering department. It has a variety of research opportunities and a number of interesting STEM programs, including a new junior year study-abroad program aimed at science and engineering majors. Swarthmore is another traditional liberal arts college with engineering. They both offer a general engineering degree, but you can specialize in various areas. In any case, I’d say you’re better off doing that and then getting a masters, than doing a 5-year bachelors through a 3/2 or 4/1 program.</p>
<p>I think Scripps might be a good choice; you may even be able to hold a Harvey Mudd degree or take classes at Mudd (actually, I’m pretty sure you’re allowed to take up to 2/3 of your classes at Mudd, Pomona, McKenna, and Pitzer). You should still try Mudd; you may get in, you never know. Keep it as a reach school.</p>
<p>Do you want to be an engineer or just study engineering. There is a difference. </p>
<p>If the former is true, skip the LACs unless it’s Harvey Mudd. I think that it’s beneficial to study engineering at a research university. </p>
<p>There are several midsize engineering schools that have more of a LAC feel to them. Prominent among them are Rice, Princeton, Lehigh, Rochester, Johns Hopkins, Tufts. Maybe WUSTL in certain areas. </p>
<p>I think that schools like these can provide a nice balance and still have sufficiently rich offerings and research opportunities. </p>
<p>I disagree. I used to think the same thing when I went to MIT, but now that I’m more familiar with STEM offerings from LACs (as well as STEM graduates from LACs), that’s no longer the case. As with anything, there’s a tradeoff. A research university will have more facilities, a broader range of research options, and more electives, but you will still find plenty of these at a well-funded LAC (and you can supplement them by taking courses at a consortium school or through junior year study-away or study-abroad). The quality of instruction and amount of faculty interaction will be higher at the LAC. You can become a good engineer (or bad engineer) at either place.</p>
<p>Boy, this question of 3/2 programs is being heard more and more frequently of late.</p>
<p>Search CC and you’ll find numerous posts regarding LAC 3/2 programs. The totally unscientific consensus is that 3/2 programs sound great on paper, but ultimately are not a popular choice, or at least many participants don’t complete them. That’s why it may be best for most students whom are interested in Engineering, with a taste of the Liberal Arts, to enroll at a engineering university from the get-go. Every comprehensive university with a School of Engineering will have ample offerings in the Liberal Arts. As was said earlier, a mid-size engineering university may fit the bill. Even STEM schools like Rensselaer are upgrading their Social Science and Arts offerings. And some universities with very good engineering departments excel in the arts also. For example;</p>
<p>U of Tulsa
Northwestern U
Case Western Reserve University
U of Portland</p>
<p>I know quite a few students who are happy at IIT, Rose-Hulman, Case Western, Harvey Mudd, and Olin.</p>
<p>If you are determined to pursue engineering, consider Case, Rochester, Lehigh, Rensselaer, Bucknell, Lafayette, Trinity, Union, and Smith (all with admission rate>25%).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. I’m also considering a masters in engineering if I like it enough. Not necessarily at an LAC, but I’d like to have a very good undergrad education.</p>
<p>One of my ex-bosses went to Swarthmore for engineering. He eventually became CEO of company that was sold for billions, so I would assume Swarthmore has good engineering.
If you are female, Mt Holyoke and Smith.</p>
<p>You haven’t specified your GPA or SAT, be sure you compare these with any school that you look at. Don’t forget to run the net price calculator as well. If you want an LAC with a 3/2 program that has great STEM offerings and good merit aid, take a look at Eckerd College. They have a program with WUSTL and Columbia. Best of luck in your search.</p>