My child is trying to finalize his college list. We both like Wash U in St Louis a lot. We like the campus, the city and the vibe on campus. However, when I dig into the details on their Engineering program it seems a step down from Case Western, Carnegie Mellon and WPI. Is this correct?
Very few engineering programs are comparable to Carnegie Mellon. On our D22 list she has Wash U binned alongside Case. WPI not on her list.
Based on what? Have you visited, talked with professors and students, and toured the facilities?
Every school is different. Every school has strengths and weaknesses. Every program mentioned is ABET accredited. Your student, IF they work hard, get good grades and gets involved in some practical application project like a club, will have good job opportunities from any of those programs.
The exception is CS at CMU. By institutional reputation alone, job prospects will be better.
Also, the program at WPI is COMPLETELY different than the rest, one I like a lot. My son almost chose it over Cal Poly.
We’ve been to all those schools except CMU (son had no interest). Visiting will tell you a lot. In the end his gut will make the right choice.
A member of my son’s thesis committee taught at CMU. He’d beg to differ.
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I know several who would support my assessment. I have my opinion, you have yours. I have toured and researched CMU, Wash U, and Case along side my S in 2015 and now my D in 2021. I feel comfortable with my reply to OP.
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I have toured WPI, Case (could not go in buildings), Wash U (could not go in buildings). I have looked at their websites, read the bios of the professors and looked at the research labs. I am not an engineer but it seems Wash U is a step down for Mechanical Engineering. I really don’t want that to be the case since we loved the school!
We were concentrating on BME and CS so may not apply to ME.
You did a great job researching. Not sure what your metrics are but at all of these schools you will end up with job. WashU will be your most challenge to get accepted. I went 5 years ago with my son to an open house while touring and we were not impressed compared to the other schools we were considering. Overall it’s a great school. I would go further and look at clubs, opportunities, compare classes (yes, I am well aware of abet but go further), can you minor? Can you graduate in 4 years? Can you get a 5 year bs /ms if you wish? Are getting into clubs or opportunities more cut throat? What are the facilities like in comparison? Socially where will he flourish? Etc etc. Forget the name of the college. He will get a job at all of them.
CMU will be the most challenging to get accepted. OP, since everyone likes the college a lot, apply there, it should definitely be on your list, and you can start doing more detailed comparisons depending on where you get accepted.
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I grew up in MO and am very familiar with Wash U. It has not traditionally been known as an engineering powerhouse. It never made our son’s radar. It may indeed be a “step down” from the rest.
That said, so what? Engineering is very egalitarian. There is no monopoly on which schools land students the best jobs. Strong students will have good, but different opportunities, no matter where they go. Do what @Knowsstuff stuff suggests and see if the school you both really like can be “good enough.” Too many students pick programs that are a poor fit or put them into deep debt because it’s a “better” school. Good luck.
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I stand corrected and agree. I was thinking Case for some reason… But WashU isn’t a picnic to get into either.
As an engineer, I agree with @eyemgh.
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Don’t worry too much about choosing between them until after you are admitted. For most applicants, they are all reaches.
Apply to all of them - and more broadly, be sure to include real matches and safeties. See where she gets in, then decide.
good luck
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S22 is also looking at WashU for engineering and we have done some research. However, we are not engineers and I bet there’s an inside perspective to be had.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with WashU. I’ve heard a number of reps say that WashU’s level of support for students is one of their strengths. There is a freshman engineering class held in their maker space. This may be typical, but I like an intro class rather than digging right into the major (like at CMU). There is a new rocketry club that was very successful this year. Other clubs include design teams you’ll see at other schools.
I do think that BME is quite popular. They have a popular pre-med program and some classes overlap with BME. Most of the research is BME focused. There is some research in mechanical. One prof studies helicopter rotors I think. Probably a vestige of the school’s connection with Boeing. But definitely not as much research in MechE compared to the other schools you mentioned.
I think the main difference is that by reputation, Case, WPI, and CMU are almost synonymous with engineering, while WashU has strengths in other majors. WashU is also stem focused, but doesn’t seem to be as tech-y. Just my impression.
Is your child trying to ED somewhere?
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She is strongly considering Wash U to increase her chances. I am concerned the engineering is not as strong but very impressed with the school otherwise.
As two of us engineers have said, don’t worry about it. If she likes the school, she should go there.
One of the few engineers I worked with who was actually fired went to MIT. His communication skills were just lacking. His reputation was to be able to spot problems but not be able to solve them. His education hadn’t helped him much.
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I have a S21 who chose WashU. The level of support given to both students and parents was unlike any other school to which he was accepted including others of similar &/“higher” ranking. They have communicated clearly every step of the way and have amazing resources. We just moved him in last week -dorms are incredibly nice and truly a welcoming experience. Very easy to switch majors/colleges and to double major or minor. Nicest campus of any we had visited. He is undecided on major - so cannot comment on engineering specifically. Love WashU so far! He has a sibling attending an Ivy and so far WashU beats that school for communication and support. Much easier as a Freshman to get into classes they wanted. People are MUCH nicer. Our first impressions have been nothing but positive.
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One of my patients was a project manager at JPL and a professor at Caltech. He told me straight up that “it doesn’t matter where your son goes to school.” He went on to say what mattered was curiosity and drive and that some of his most pedestrian engineers were from Caltech.
Look into where the NASA site directors went to undergrad, all state schools, most of them random, with one single exception, RPI. No MIT, CMU, Caltech, etc.
Don’t overthink this.
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I think all of the MIT, CMU, and Caltech grads are at SpaceX 
Although MIT is #3, behind USC and Georgia Tech, CMU and Caltech don’t crack the top 15. 
In order, according to LinkedIn, for engineers at SpaceX: GT, USC, MIT, UCLA, Embry-Riddle, Purdue, University of Washington, Stanford, Michigan, Cornell, Cal Poly, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Cal-Berkeley.
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Now, if we can just find a home for those poor CMU and CatTech grads 
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