Son wants to major in MechE. Accepted Purdue FYE & UIUC Material Science Engineering (2nd choice). Deciding between the two. Not sure the possibility of ICT at UIUC to MechE. UIUC website states if accepted for 2nd choice major, you are waitlisted for 1st choice (MechE). Assuming that’s a long shot.
Any feedback appreciated. Thank you.
I can’t speak to your question about transferring to mech E at UIUC but I’m happy to answer any Purdue specific questions you may have. My D is a senior chem E.
To be guaranteed first choice major at Purdue after FYE (which all engineers start in), a student needs a 3.2 engineering index (basically GPA of STEM classes). According the Office of Future Engineers: “For students transitioning to their major in Fall 2022, 96.7% of FYE students received their first choice major.” Frequently Asked Questions - Office of Future Engineers - Purdue University
Thank you for your feedback. We are leaning toward Purdue because of the 96.7% of students get their 1st choice major.
Our older son attends UIUC, which would be convenient, and UIUC has an excellent Engineering school, but we want to make sure he goes where he has the best opportunity to study MechE.
At UIUC, mechanical engineering is one of the high demand majors, according to Changing Majors | Undergraduate Academic Advising | UIUC .
For pre-engineering students, getting into mechanical engineering requires a 3.75 college GPA just to enter competitive admission (same as for computer science and biomedical engineering) – see “Major Capacities” in Pre-Engineering | Division of General Studies . For students already in a declared engineering major, it is not clear if the requirements are different from pre-engineering.
However, this percentage varies depending on how popular each major is relative to capacity. Perhaps some majors have enough capacity to admit down to 2.0 GPA, but others are filled up with 3.2+ GPA automatic admits, leaving out those with a 3.19 GPA.
Still the 3.2 GPA automatic admission does not look as difficult as changing into mechanical engineering at UIUC appears to be.
Thank you. That is what we are thinking. 3.2+ easier to obtain, than a potential 3.75. We will reach out to UIUC admissions to see what they say. Excited for him to get the UIUC acceptance today, but it brings up more questions.
Seeing that Purdue & UIUC are so closely ranked, he needs to decide which is the better choice for a hopefully guaranteed major.
UIUC’s engineering division would likely be a better place to ask about changing to mechanical engineering there, since it manages the admission process of changing to an engineering major (or is closer to it if the department does it).
Note that if it is 3.75 GPA + competitive admission, it is even more risky than 3.75 GPA automatic admission.
I will reach out to the engineering division. 3.75+ GPA for ICT can be difficult for a freshman, on top of the transition to college. Trying to be realistic about the possibility of an ICT.
I looked at the required courses for a transfer between engineering majors at UIUC. My son will start college with credits for Calc 1, 2 & 3 plus Physics Mechanics. Not sure the difficulty of Chem, but maybe the 3.75 is attainable.
Still, probably a lot of competition.
When aiming for a 3.75, any grade other than A or A+ is below that threshold (A- = 3.67).
https://registrar.illinois.edu/courses-grades/explanation-of-grades/
Where is the 3.75 number coming from? I do not see a required GPA under Changing Majors | Undergraduate Academic Advising | UIUC under “Grainger Engineering - All Majors.” There is a link to a form that requires a login, presumably for students only, so I can’t tell what needs to be submitted for a complete major change application.
I would suggest that your son should contact an advisor or someone in engineering admissions, and ask about the process, questions like these:
The upper level math and physics courses will then count towards the GPA. IMO a 3.75, especially for a freshman, is a very high bar to achieve. Would your son be happy studying MSE?
He wants to study MechE. He is unsure about MSE. He put that as a second major choice for UIUC. He said he wants to explore what that major entails.
Prior to today’s UIUC decision, his choice was Purdue. He did get into 4 other schools direct admit to MechE. He wants to attend Purdue or UiUC.
@tamagotchi - Thank you for the great list of questions. He will reach out to the UIUC engineering school to inquire.
Purdue also offers materials science and engineering.
However, if some of those four other schools gave him direct admission to mechanical engineering, are not difficult to change into materials science and engineering, and are affordable, it seems like those should be considered if he really prefers to do mechanical engineering.
If he is willing to do materials science and engineering, then choosing UIUC would be ok. Purdue could also be safe if materials science and engineering is a less competitive or non-competitive major (ask the engineering division which majors are more or less competitive for students who do not meet the 3.2 GPA automatic admission threshold).
I don’t think I’d want my son at a school that makes it difficult to change majors (learning about options and best fit is actually what an FYE program is for). Couple that with Purdue being cheaper and higher ranked, it seems like the best option to me.
Have you visited both ? They are close geographically but in my opinion not similar.
No matter where you are located, it’s be worth a visit.
My kid had a strong preference for one. Wouldn’t even consider applying to the other.
So I think there’s more to it.
Materials is very different than MechE. If you entered schools in that major, I’m not sure I’d count in being able to switch.
Go visit…it’ll be money well spent. You’ll know quickly which fits !!
Thank you for your feedback. We have been to both schools. My older son is at one, I am an alumni of the other. They are the same distance from our home. MSE and MechE are 2 two totally different majors. In talking it through, we do realize that a transfer in major is not a realistic option. Looking forward to going to Purdue for Me in a few weeks!
And it’s the much nicer campus 
good choice. Ha !!
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