<p>It's the time of year when families of hs juniors start researching colleges... and bumping into unknown little Olin College on various college ranking lists and such. </p>
<p>It seemed a good time for a conversation-starter thread with a list of other schools that were looked at by students who had interest in Olin. There may be some good compare/contrast insights.</p>
<p>I’ll take a stab at starting a list the based on what we’ve learned and heard (some of it is hear-say). Others can chime in too. The categories are my own, nothing official. </p>
<ul>
<li>indicates that I’ve heard case(s) of student turning down the school in favor of Olin. I’m sure there are more than I marked. (Often it could go the other way too) </li>
</ul>
<p>STEM colleges (mostly Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
<p>Ivy-ish
<p>Other Private Universities & LAC
<p>State Flagships
<p>Here’s my D’s list of places to which she applied, which I imagine is somewhat atypical for an Olin applicant (though, admittedly, three of her schools are on Colorado_mom’s list):</p>
<p>Princeton
Stanford
Carleton
Williams
Middlebury
Bowdoin
Olin</p>
<p>As you can see, Olin is the only pure STEM school on her list. Most of our focus over the last year has been on LACs, but she visited Olin and fell in love. I think some of the classic LAC strengths–undergraduate focus, excellent teaching, small classes–are also hallmarks of Olin.</p>
<p>Rayrick - I think that often the Olin applicants are looking at other STEM school. But the fact that some are not are part of what makes Olin and interesting place. </p>
<p>Thought of some more that I researched… Clarkson, RIT, U of R, Gonzaga, Trinity/Tx</p>
<p>Later I thought of Pomona (we visited) and Bucknell and Lehigh (I researched). I’ll redo the list, omitting colleges where I’m not sure that any Olin-wannabees applied… and adding the Rayrick list.</p>
<p>LIST OF COLLEGES WHERE OLIN APPLICANTS ALSO APPLIED. (* indicates I’ve heard of an Olin student turning down an acceptance there). </p>
<p>STEM colleges (mostly Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
<p>Ivy-ish
<p>Other Private Universities & LAC
<p>State Flagships
<p>I turned down Rose-Hulman and Milwaukee School of Engineering for Olin. All the other schools I applied to are random and small and mostly Christian so I doubt anyone else ever has or will ever apply to them and Olin.</p>
<p>When I went to my newer scheme for the above list (excluding colleges of interest when it did not result in a colelge app), I dropped Clarkson. I’ll put in a Clarkson plug though, since DH and I both attended. Today we received the Alumni magazine, and it was good reminder that they’ve been doing innovative programs too. </p>
<p>Based on my emails with the Clarkson admission dept a few years gbo, I felt that DS could possibly get close to half tuition scholarship (not sure if that was due just to very high stats or also to double-legacy). He did not consider Clarkson seriously due to travel logistics from CO and his preference for city access. I still think it’s worth a look for other families ;)</p>
<p>DS was accepted at Olin, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Rose Hulman, and Harvey Mudd, all chosen for their excellence in computer engineering. He graduated from Olin and went right to work in his career goal of computer software engineering.</p>
<p>How’s he liking the work, leftcoaster (don’t answer if you don’t feel at liberty to say)? Did he feel well prepared by his time at Olin?</p>
<p>I know many of your DSs and DDs have also applied to LACs. Here’s an interesting article.</p>
<p>[James</a> M. Gentile: Growing Scientists at America’s Top Liberal Arts Colleges](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Growing Scientists at America's Top Liberal Arts Colleges | HuffPost College)</p>
<p>Rayrick, He was very confident and ready to go. It’s hard for me to speak for him, but I believe that in additional to technical stuff, he also learned a lot of practical skills such as how to design, how to present to groups, how to work in teams. Also, Olin seems to attract and support the kind of kid who thrives on learning & loves a tough challenge, and that probably helped a lot during the initial stages of his work when he needed to jump in and “own” the code.</p>
<p>Mom90 - Interesting article. Hope College tops the grant list. I applied there in 1980, and even then they were receiving many science grants. That surprised me. I knew about it due to association with Reformed Church - we knew many students from church that considered or attended Hope. </p>
<p>leftcoaster - That’s encouraging feedback about your son’s successful career. Our son is Olin 2015er, but he’s taken more traditional intro engineering courses elsewhere too. He prefers the Olin approach and environment that you describe.</p>
<p>My son is also an Olin 2015er. He chose Olin over Mudd, Rice, GaTech, WPI, UF Honors and has NEVER been happier.</p>
<p>Did anyone consider Swarthmore Engineering v Olin?</p>
<p>I didn’t know much about Swarthmore at the time… but I’ve seen positive comments pop up about it in various places since then.</p>
<p>would you say its more hands on than theoretical? that’s teh kind of engineering we are looking for in a program for our son.</p>
<p>DS is at Olin, DD went to Swarthmore, but not in engineering. If you have questions, pm me.</p>
<p>Olin is VERY hands-on. Much more so than theoretical.</p>
<p>That’s true - the Olin hand-on approach (lots real life project work) really appealed to my son. </p>
<p>Olin has a brainy bunch of students and theoretical work too. It is different that engineering tech hand-on programs that would go lighter on the math etc. Just making the clarification in case it helps folks that are at the beginning of their college research.</p>