<p>Son #1 is at a large state school--NCSU--majoring in engineering (and history). The first several years of classes are large, not hands-on and often designed to be weed-outs. He's up to his neck in physics in differential equations and has only built one small thing.</p>
<p>Son #2 also wants to major in engineering--but would never make it through the program at NCSU. He would be bored and lose focus.</p>
<p>He is very bright--he got a 34 on his ACT fall of his junior year, took AP Calculus as a freshman and has a 3.9 unweighted GPA. That having been said, he's not got very many APs as he is more focused on being 17 than learning. While his extra-curriculars are pretty thin--he has had amazing volunteer experiences over his summers.</p>
<p>He loves to build and tinker. While he has great difficultly remembering facts he's an amazing lateral thinker and sees connections and draws conclusions faster than anyone I know. He does calculus in his head--but often can't add straight. He loves being around smart people--but hates pressure.</p>
<p>For him to go to a smaller private school he will have to get significant merit aid. We will not be getting ANY need aid. Son #1 applied to Bucknell, Lafayette, Tulane, CWRU, Rochester, CMU, Rice, Duke, etc.--14 of them! He only got a few offers worth more than $20K--which still left more than we were willing to pay for undergraduate education.</p>
<p>Son #2 would likely be fine at a "Technical" school rather than university--and I don't really know ANYTHING about them. Cal Tech and MIT are out. Too much pressure even if he could get in. And too expensive. I expect that Olin and Cooper Union are out. He's not willing to do the work to "shine" enough to get in. What other smaller tech schools might be a good fit for a very bright kid who loves hands-on learning? That would offer him merit aid....?</p>
<p>Alternatively, anyone got any great ideas on small colleges/universities that offer "Engineering Science" type majors? Those looks inter-disciplinary enough to keep his interest. Union, Trinity....and what?</p>
<p>These are all smaller schools with higher than average percentage of students in engineering. I can’t say anything about merit or the type of engineering but might be a place to start.</p>
<p>University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Fairmont State University
LeTourneau University
South Carolina State University
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
McPherson College
Stevens Institute of Technology
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Oregon Institute of Technology
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
New Jersey Institute of Technology
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Pittsburg State University
Western Carolina University
University of Wisconsin-Stout
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Berea College
Keene State College
SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
University of Hartford
Clarkson University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
California Maritime Academy
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
New England Institute of Technology
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology-Okmulgee
Northern New Mexico College</p>
<p>Your son may be a best fit for (i) Low tuition, engineering/technology focused institutions (ii) lower cost universities that offer co-op programs</p>
<p>NMT is a small engineering school with a very low total UG student enrollment of less than 1500 & offers Petroleum engineering which garners some of the highest starting salaries for engineering.
[School</a> Facts](<a href=“http://www.nmt.edu/fast-facts]School”>http://www.nmt.edu/fast-facts)</p>
<p>You may also investigate other engineering intensive schools such as Colorado School of Mines, NJIT, South Dakota School of Mines & Missouri S&T. From financial aid standpoint, engineering at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa might be another option. </p>
<p>Your son may be able to obtain presidential scholarship; for additional details contact 419 530 5701.
[The</a> University of Toledo - Undergraduate Admission](<a href=“A to Z List”>Presidential Scholarship)</p>
<p>I’m a little confused about what you are looking for - small engineering school with more of a hands-on focus or a LAC-style school that also has engineering (Union etc.)? </p>
<p>Sadilly, only 19 out of 70 majors at SUNY Alfred are 4 year programs, the rest are two year programs. (Associate Degree). Alfred State SUNY College of Technology is located across the street from Alfred University, so Alfred is a college town, no doubt about that. :)</p>
<p>For hands on learners you definitely should look at schools with good co-op programs where students alternative semesters with work and classes; some schools known for their co-op programs would include Northeastern, Drexel, RIT, Univ of Cinncinnati, Kettering, Wentworth, Univ of Toledo</p>
<p>For my money, the best hands on small school at the moment is Olin College. Their admission comes with half tuition but full tuition is 40k+ and so one needs to spend at least 37-40k if not qualified for FA.</p>
<p>One problem with Olin is that it is so TINY, the freshman class was **82 **students. Acceptance rate of 9% for males 41% for females
We looked into it for our son and we really liked the curriculum a lot. The year he applied they were accepting even fewer students in order to hold onto 17 spots for deferred admissions from the prior year. So, those are long odds!</p>
<p>With your son’s stats he would be eligible for $11,500/year in merit at Alfred University NY.</p>
<p>Tuition room and board for the private programs of mechanical engineering and undecided engineering would be around $33,825/year and merit would bring it down to $22,325 COA.</p>
<p>Tuition room and board for the NYS programs would also be around $33,825/year and merit would bring it down to $22,325 COA. The NYS programs are Biomedical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Glass Engineering Science, and Materials Science & Engineering.</p>
<p>Inamori School of Engineering offers co-op, hands on learning, research opportunities etc.
There is also an Honors Program, must interview to be considered.</p>
This is a concern. In order to be a licensed engineer in many fields, one must graduate from an ABET-accredited program. Be careful that you don’t wander so far from “traditional” engineering that you leave out this critical bit.</p>
<p>Iowa State - Not a small school, but they do have co-op. And they reward OOS aid based on scores. (you can go tho their website and they will generate a number…)</p>
<p>Someone mentioned Rose Hulman… Good school, but it would have cost my D more to go there than Iowa State, Purdue and Northwestern.</p>
<p>As an engineer, I’m concerned about your #2 son finding success/happiness in an engineering career. Engineering is not all “hands on” tinkering. In fact, the <em>vast majority</em> of time is spent on what you’re describing as “boring” things. </p>
<p>Seriously, if you believe he can’t hack a traditional engineering education, what makes you think he’ll be happy in engineering? From what you’re describing, at best he’ll wind up in some mindless engineering team support role. </p>
<p>I really don’t mean to be harsh… Not at all my intention… but that’s where those guys wind up.</p>
<p>Perhaps a better line of work for him would be as a high school science/math teacher. I don’t know where you’re located, but here on Long Island, the salaries are very competitive with engineering (low six figures), plus there is a lot of time off, retirement, healthcare. </p>
<p>There would be plenty of opportunity to invent interesting “hands on” labs for his students. There are also robot clubs and competitions, etc… Not to mention the satisfaction of helping young minds.</p>
<p>Even with the glut of teachers, there are positions available for math and science.</p>
<p>I actually don’t think he will he happy as an engineer. He’s more of an inventor than an engineer. But HE thinks that’s what he wants to do…so that’s where we are looking now. I actually can’t fathom where he will eventually land. He’s part Steve Jobs, part Ben Bernanke and part Frank Lloyd Wright–in terms of what he loves and what he’s good at. But untested on everything and drowning in adolescent ennui!</p>
<p>Maybe Trinity University (TX)? He would probably get significant merit aid and they have an ABET accredited program. It is a smaller school (2400 students)</p>
41% for females 