Hello guys, I am currently a high school senior and I wish pursue mechanical engineering as my major. I am admitted as pre-engineering at UW and pre-major at OSU. I do the research and hear about UW has a competitive major application process and OSU has slightly moderate one, which is kinda safe for me. but from the US news rank, UW had a slighly better program. So I am very hesitate about those two choices
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What criteria are important for your decision?
The major application process won’t matter for you if you’re pre-major.
The difficulty of getting in my dream major really affects my choice, but if you say the application process doesn’t matter, I guess my choice depends on how decent the ME program is and how is the school environment(academically, socially)
It can matter, depending on what GPA or other criteria are needed to enter the major.
https://www.engr.washington.edu/current/admissions/admitstats (competitive, average GPA of ME admits is 3.6; essay required when applying to major)
https://advising.engineering.osu.edu/current-students/applying-your-major (3.4 prerequisite GPA to guarantee admission to ME, otherwise competitive)
Terribly sorry for the confusion, I meant pre-admit and not pre-major. So you won’t need to apply for the major if you’re pre-admit at the UW, but you will at OSU if you go there, as well as at the UW if you’re pre major and not pre admit. Silly words.
If you’re already in for the major as a pre-admit person, all you need to do is maintain a decent GPA and not get into major disciplinary trouble, I think.
Since UW would be the safer option (because of pre-admit) and the better program according to what you said, I would lean toward the UW, but other factors (social and academic, as OP stated) could sway the decision the other direction, as well as the specific topics you’re interested in exploring in ME, if you know them already, and what the universities and their ME departments offer in those topics.
@Chaosjwu what do you want socially and academically, as well as theme-related for ME (if you know that already; its 100% fine if you don’t)? Once we know that we can help see which school more satisfies your wants, and then advise which we think would be better for you.
Pre-engineering students at Washington and Ohio State need to compete for entry into their majors; see links in #5.
Sorry, I read the original post as the OP getting pre-admitted to the programs, and not as being admitted as a pre-major.
OP, if you’re pre-major and not pre-admit, please simply ignore my previous posts and listen to the other posters.
thx for the link!
I am admitted as pre-engineering for the UW and pre-major for the OSU, so I guess I still need to compete for the major in both schools. I want to know which school is easier for me to get in ME major. BTW, what I want is a simple school life that I could have a bunch of friends (not completely social dead) and some fun school activities.
I also hope the course will not be too stressful for me (I know learning ME won’t be easy anyway). Forget to mention, the internship that the school can provide is also an important factor for me.
No other schools where you have been admitted to the major, or where admission to the major is not difficult?
Also, how much does cost matter?
Also got admitted to the university of Maryland (direct admission to the major I think), but don’t really want to go. Cost does not matter that much. After calculating the aid, OSU’s tuition is slightly cheaper than UW
What’s wrong with Maryland? Too expensive?
Personally, I prefer live in urban areas. College park is like a suburban area. Tuition is a bit expensive.
Plus, I heard the crime rate is kinda higher than the other school
Remember, the purpose of going to college is academic study. If Maryland admitted you directly to your major, it is a safer bet than the other schools where you must meet a high GPA or compete to enter your major.