Hi everyone,
I got into Purdue University for its First Year Engineering program, and University of Washington for pre-engineering. So, I really struggle choosing between these two places. They both seem to be great schools for engineering. I still haven’t decided what specific engineering to study, but I know I want to do either chemical engineering or electrical engineering.
Finance is not a problem for my family, and the location seems to be irrelevant to me regardless of jobs and opportunities.
I am really a negative person to myself, so I slightly worry that I might not get into the engineering major I desire if I went to UWashington. Guys, please, help me out. Any advice would be helpful! Thank you!
This issue has been discuss several times here on CC. Some folks will tell you that they would rather have their kid in a direct admit program/department. You need to ask the UW about the percentage of Freshman applicants whom are admitted into the Engineering School on the first try.
@LakeWashington That is what I feel too. The UW Admission Letter tells me that there is a small percentage of students who got direct admission into the engineering major that they intended, but I am still pre-engineering. This, kinda, gives me a weird feeling. But in Purdue, everyone has to enter the FYE program. So… it’s just so hard to decide.
Okay so you will have a tough time at either of these Universities.
Purdue takes in a lot of under-qualified students so they usually weed them out during the first year, so you might be one of those.
At Washington, similar situation, they can’t meet the demand due to budget restrictions and hence a lot of people end up without the major of their choice.
So in the end, it depends on how hard you are willing to work because your life at either won’t be very good.
However, I’d say consider Purdue here because for engineering, it’s a world renowned powerhouse and has the best job fair in the united states and a 100% placement rate and excellent co-op programs.
And yes, do electrical engineering, a lot more opportunities in that as compared to chemical.
Good luck!
@derprage Thanks for the wise advice!
I understand either school will give me a tough time, but I am willing to work hard. I just don’t like the unpredictable future, and I always think about the bad side of things. Right now, I slightly tend toward Purdue.
Thanks again!
@TheLot44 Yeah go to Purdue. If you do well, at least you get your major for sure. At washington, they gonna annoy you with stupid personal statements and whatnot, and if they don’t like it, you don’t get in even if you have a good GPA 
I am giving up Washington for the exact same reason.