<p>Which honors program would you recommend for a boy going into mechanical engineering. He has a 36 ACT, everything else to go with this, and is debating between these two final schools. Ohio State University or University of Cincinnati? I feel UC's co-op program is better and more personalized, but OSU has higher rankings. Any engineers or with advise?</p>
<p>You and he might want to check the schools’ career centers and co-op offices to see what employers recruit co-op students and graduating senior at each school.</p>
<p>What actually matters when comparing the quality of co-op programs is placement rate and what employers students get placed into for their co-ops.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be concerned about the rankings. My daughter was leaning towards OSU because their engineering department was ranked higher than any other school she was accepted to. But after attending their accepted engineering students program, and comparing what we learned with her other schools, she choose a lower ranked school that offered a better curriculum and more research opportunities.</p>
<p>I do recall another father pulling my husband aside and touting Cincinnati to him, but since it was a moot point, we didn’t think too much about it.</p>
<p>OSU made a point of all of the co-op opportunities they have, though, so it gave me the impression it wouldn’t be difficult to secure one.</p>
<p>Thanks, I will check placement rate and what employers students get placed into again on Monday, or tomorrow. It is just so overwhelming when both are trying to recruit your son. They both had lists of great companies, yet at OSU the co-op seems to be something more self driven and recommended, so if your son is in everything and super overcommited to all, he may not make the time for 2-3 co-ops. At UC the 3-4 co-ops are mandatory and worked into the 5 year master program, or so they say. They start freshman year with prep classes such as filmed practice interviews with critiquing and help with advise. Also they have a huge job fair required for the kids to go to for recruiting, while OSU’s seems optional. My son will be starting as a freshman with more than 50 credit hours. He loves both schools and needs to decide.</p>
<p>UC is the founder of the co-op program.</p>
<p>The only reason to attend University of Cincinnati is if he really loves the campus. Academically, OSU is superior for engineering i.e higher graduation rate, more opportunities, better resources etc. OSU supports co-op too so don’t take co-op as a significant factor. If he has 36 ACT, he is a better fit at The Ohio State University-Columbus.</p>
<p>Originally he wanted to go to OSU, after taking tours UC seemed to have all of the top kids in the tour (35-36 ACT’s etc) 10-12 and it was extremely impressive. There were sophomores and juniors who had done several co-ops and even jobs waiting. OSU’s tour had 3 boys, none of which were in the honors program they were all juniors and just arranging their first interns. We later took the honors tour and it didn’t seem to be that much more impressive. I know the stats speak higher of OSU, but we didn’t see this. Was it just a good tour of one and bad of the other? Would love some help from someone with experience. Thanks</p>
<p>Ask the question here mom:</p>
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