<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I was wondering if you guys could give me some opinions on the following schools for undergraduate engineering!</p>
<p>Please ONLY take into consideration the UNDERGRADUATE engineering programs. I need these opinion HOLISTIC of the UNDERGRAD ENGINEERING QUALITY OF EDUCATION!! In layman's terms how well do these institutions prepare undergrads to either go into Grad School or R&D?</p>
<p>Here's the list:</p>
<p>University of Maryland, College Park
University of Virginia
Virginia Tech
Johns Hopkins
Penn State
University of Maryland, Baltimore County [UMBC]
Towson
Salisbury
Marymount University</p>
<p>Thanks much guys!!</p>
<p>I would say the three best on your list are Virginia Tech, Johns Hopkins, and Penn State (not necessarily in that order). The order would depend on the engineering major you are considering.</p>
<p>The few people I've met from Penn State in Materials Engineering said their education was pretty industry oriented, while mine at CMU was very theoretical in approach. I imagine you'll find a similar trend for most large state schools versus small technical universities.</p>
<p>Towson doesn't have an undergraduate engineering program, except computer science. There's been fights over the years to move the engineering program at Morgan State to Towson, but each time its failed. There is an option for Towson students for an engineering dual degree at Penn State or UMCP, but you might as well just go to Penn State or UMCP.</p>
<p>UMCP is near Washington D.C. and I know plenty of people there with interesting research internships with defense contractors. I know someone who helped put together the engineering curriculum there and they said it was a pretty good school.</p>
<p>UMBC's engineering program is much smaller than college park's, but it is still a decent school that produces good engineers. They don't have an undergraduate electrical(computer instead) or civil engineering major. They try to push their students into research, but UMCP has more resources for engineers in my opinion.</p>
<p>Last time, I checked salisbury didn't have an engineering major.</p>
<p>thanks for the info guys! Hey misralz, do you know anything about the other schools: Hopkins, etc. You seem to be very knowledgeable at this, lol...</p>
<p>thanks to all, none-the-less!!</p>
<p>I only really know the Maryland schools because I'm from Maryland. I don't know why I didn't include Hopkins. One of my relatives is a Hopkins engineering alumni and is still active in the engineering program there. He still talks regularly to many of his old professors there. From what I hear, it is pretty easy to meet with professors and get involved in research. There are a lot of research centers and institutes in the area that you can take advantage of.</p>
<p>Of course, Hopkins is best known for it biomedical engineering program(ranked #1 in the nation), but it's other engineering programs are strong as well.</p>
<p>Being hopkins, I'd rate it an A+ for grad school or research. You can go anywhere you want in the country if you do research as an undergrad and ok in classes at Hopkins. Same cannot be said for UMBC, Towson, and UMCP to an extent.</p>
<p>If you want a rating, heres how I'd rate them:</p>
<p>University of Maryland, College Park: B+
University of Virginia: A
Virginia Tech: A
Johns Hopkins: A+
Penn State:B+
University of Maryland, Baltimore County [UMBC]:B
Towson: F
Salisbury: F
Marymount University: F</p>
<p>Also, UMCP and UMBC would get an A+ if you get into gemstone there (a rigorous undergraduate research project) or are a meyerhoff scholar at UMBC.</p>
<p>USNEWS 2008 Engineering Ranking Compilation </p>
<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)</p>
<ol>
<li>Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.9</li>
<li>Virginia Tech * 3.9</li>
<li>Pennsylvania State U.University Park * 3.8</li>
<li>Univ. of MarylandCollege Park * 3.6</li>
<li>University of Virginia * 3.4</li>
</ol>