Yes, that is a good point. That is why I toured most of my options. If I ended up choosing between Rice and UT I would also definitely visit. It’s very important to me that I know where I’m going. Texas in general is far away, otherwise Rice would probably be pretty high on my list. I definitely would prefer a small/medium environment, but I am not too picky. A strong study abroad program also matters to me.
Congrats on your achievements. Many good schools already mentioned…just wanted to say you must make the EA deadlines at GTech, Purdue, Northeastern, VTech, NC state. Also, VTech and NC state seem larger than you want at 30K and 25K undergrads respectively. Did you submit your Clemson app EA?
I agree with others that you are unlikely to get any merit at Duke, where I do think you have a not insignificant chance of an ED admission. Have you submitted that app?
Good luck.
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Study abroad shouldn’t matter much - because
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for engineering it’s tough - but I think it’s WPI has an integrated one.
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even if your school has less, you can always work with an affiliate school - I personally would not choose a school for study abroad. It can happen from anywhere.
There are lots of mid size schools not as far as Texas…or as big. Here are some medium and small. . A UAH is drivable from WV and would practically be free - and there’s plenty of others that are “closer” from a Delaware to Illinois Tech to Rose Hulman (small) to Maine (where you’d score as an NMF) to Tufts to Michigan Tech to Stony Brook or Binghamton to RIT to Syracuse to Tulsa (full ride NMSF) to Lehigh to Pitt, etc.
The fact that Texas seems to be too far - great, because lots of other schools will get you a similar outcome - and they are “less” far!!! And as a bonus, many less expensive although that’s besides the point. I was commenting on your too far.
You seek pedigree - I get it - but in engineering, it’s not as impactful as you think short of a few schools - where is MIT, for example?
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Thanks for the suggestions! I’m definitely looking into Rose Hulman, and Tulsa is of course on the list. I’ve heard a lot about Tufts, do you know how strong their engineering is? As for schools being too far, that is more my parents than me.
Yes, VTech and NC State are not my favorites, but they are good schools close-ish to home, so I applied. I have submitted all those applications early, including Duke. What do you think chances are for merit at the other schools?
Have you visited both?
I can see NC State not being someone’s favorite - the campus is a walk or short bus ride from the main campus.
Va Tech - and it’s personal opinion - is stunning. And has the highest rated food in the country. Food is very underrated - one thing many kids struggle with. It’s also fantastic academically.
Of course, again, they’re very big.
Tufts has a great reputation.
But honestly, most engineering schools, if ABET, have great reps.
My son turned down Purdue for Alabama and guess what - he works with Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, NC State, Auburn, Case Western and other grads. He’s in a Leadership Rotational with 150 kids that are engineering, supply chain and health and safety. Oh, and in addition to those fine schools - they also have Western Michigan, Akron, Utah and other unnamed schools in the program. So the - this is the top ranked school, etc. in most cases for engineering doesn’t matter. In his case he’s Mechanical Engineering - and what does matter is they are ABET accredited.
Engineering is hard. If anyone gets through it at any school, they have my vote for being well accomplished academically.
My point being - look at schools for what they are in reality - not for where they show up on a ranking.
If they’re the right size, location, weather, academic methodology, whatever it is - that’s far more important than US News says its 6 or 66.
Good luck.
Both NCSU and VT have secondary admission to engineering majors (they start engineering students in a first year undeclared engineering status). However, VT undeclared engineering students can declare any engineering major with a 3.0 college GPA, but NCSU provides no assured admission threshold (all declaration of engineering major is competitive admission).
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Yes, I was not a fan of NC State’s campus layout. I wasn’t aware that Virginia Tech’s food was that good-I’m a foodie. If I’m being honest, Virginia Tech was a little close to home for my comfort. How does your son like Alabama? I know it is a very big state school, but it also gives a full ride for NMF right?
Thank you for the info! I did not know Virginia Tech did that. It’s definitely something I’m looking for because I’m quite indecisive…
Does that mean at NC State you could be forced into a major you don’t want to study?
My son is a freshman at Tufts, studying engineering. In his college search, he was looking for a mid-size school, with a collaborative (rather than competitive) culture. He also didn’t like the idea of competitive/secondary admissions to his desired major. We were told at Freshman drop-off this Fall that the School of Engineering actually graduates more students than enroll in Engineering in their 1st year (more kids transfer into the School of Engineering from Arts & Sciences than out). My son says that all of the kids he has met are smart, creative and friendly, and he has lots of group projects in his STEM classes. It is relatively small - about 300 of the first year students are in engineering, while about 1,450 first year students are in A&S), but my son has been very impressed with the quality of the professors, classes, maker spaces, and other engineering facilities.
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That could be a risk if your desired major is more popular than its capacity.
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Va Tech and UMASS are welll known for food. There are many rankings - you can google best food on niche (it won’t display here) but here’s a 3rd party that lists from them.
I think food is important (you should go to the dining hall at each school you visit) because you do need to eat. Both my kids experienced low blood sugar because they wouldn’t eat (that’s poor time management) or they said the food was bad.
My son was fine at Bama. I’m not sure he’d have loved any school but he loved the weather, nature nearby and that he always had his own room - in the dorm and in his apartment where he also had his own bathroom.
And there was no shortage of job opportunities for when he graduated.
Food to me, may not be a sole reason to pick a school but I do think it should be a consideration. There are many, for example, that say Georgetown is terrible and parents who say their kids spend thousands eating out.
Niche gives every school a food grade…but maybe as you’re on campus, you ask students about the food. When we are at Embry Riddle, we asked a student where we should eat. And they asked - do you have a car - i.e. the food is not good.
This stuff is important to know…
As for the pre reqs or non direct admission - I wouldn’t worry about needing a 3.0. If you’re not keeping a 3.0 in engineering, you’re changing your major anyway.
There are some like Texas A&M that are very rigid.
Good luck.
The 25 Colleges With the Best Food (newsweek.com)
Food is definitely important! Thanks for the rankings, I will be sure to check my schools against them. I also enjoy cooking, do you know if most schools have group kitchens in dorms?
Check the residential life or dorm pages. Each will be different.
Just like some freshman get apartment / suite style while others have traditional rooms and communal bathroom.
At Bama, as an example, in Honors (Ridgecrest), you have your own room and share a bathroom with one other. They had a kitchen on each floor or maybe two. At my daughters school, she was in a double. And shared a bathroom with four. Others have a bathroom for the entire floor.
These things may or may not matter - to each their own. And many at schools move off campus after one year anyway.
Check your schools for their arrangements.
But as a first year engineering, you will likely not be cooking. You won’t have time.
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That’s what my parents said lol!
Good to know that they offer that information. I’m pretty flexible on living arrangements.
Did your daughter study engineering?
No. She’s in the social sciences
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Any opinions about Ivys for engineering? I have never heard of any of their programs except for Cornell. However, my teacher recommended I look at their programs, so I’m curious now.
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Look into Penn Engineering! My D23 is there. The Dean gave a talk at family weekend highlighting all the positives, not limited to collaboration with the on campus medschool, research with faculty available to all undergraduates which they highlighted applied to all areas of Engineering not just BioE; a 98% 1st to 2nd year retention rate within Engineering. There are a little over 400 kids per year, they focus on collaboration, they have the highest starting salaries among the 4 undergrad schools (116k for 2022) for the 75% who go into industry(25% do grad school), on and on. It is hard to get in RD but you definitely would get serious consideration based on what you have shared here.
You should look into the best schools for you, not the ‘highest’ overall names which don’t necessarily tie to engineering.
I think every Ivy except Dartmouth can work. All are ABET accredited. But every Ivy is different (geographically and environmentally thinking) and I’m not sure in engineering that they necessarily give you a career advantage although they have some very good schools.
I’m not a fan of ranking because I’ve seen first hand that kids end up in similar places. I am a fan of ABET where it adds value and it appears it does so in EE. I do think Cornell and Columbia seem to get the move love in the Ivies but I’m sure all are great - except Dartmouth which requires extra time…so may be a 5th year.
Here’s some lists - but again, even if they’re not on it, I’m not sure it matters. I’m a big fan of “value” - and Purdue would represent an excellent combo of “prestige” which you seem to seek and value. I just think in engineering spending more doesn’t necessarily get you more - others may disagree of course.
Good luck.
2024 Best Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools (collegefactual.com)
2024 Best Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Programs | US News Rankings
The Best Schools for Electrical Engineering | AdmissionSight
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You have a good chance at GaTech. Please make sure that your application will scream URM!!! Otherwise, it will be very competitive.
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