I am currently enrolled at Drexel University as a sophomore studying Biomedical Engineering. Overall, my experience at Drexel has not been as good as I anticipated it to be. My interdisciplinary studies in Biomed aren’t as interesting as expected, the quality of professors is below par, the campus feels somewhat confining, the quarter system is rapid and emphasizes forced, somewhat inadequate, learning, and I’m also realizing I’d prefer to be closer to my home town in MA.
Recently, I’ve made the decision to switch out of the Biomedical Engineering Dept. to the Computer Science/Engineering department to study Software Engineering while likely picking up Business minors in MIS and/or Innovation Technology Management, or pursuing a duly accredited degree. (I would like to work for small/large Tech or FinTech in the future). This Spring/Summer I will be completing my first co-op at a Philly-based Biomedical Device company. Therefore, any changes to my academic plan of study will commence in the Fall.
Drexel is an up and coming University with a great experiential learning co-op program tied to its strong academic programs in STEM and Business. If it weren’t for these facts, I would have already left Drexel. However, there exist schools like Umass Lowell that are closer to my home, have strong STEM degree programs, and tuition is 1/4 that of Drexel. Financial restrictions are not an issue in my family, however, with knowledge of the opportunity of having just as valuable of an academic experience elsewhere, while saving significant sums of money, I am wondering, does it make sense to stay at Drexel? Leaving would mean sacrificing my two successive co-op opportunities, but at a school that has summer vacation, I could pick up summer internships.
Anyway, computer science/software engineering at Drexel vs Umass Lowell, considering my circumstances, which one is better? Any advice is helpful.