Hello,
Iam currently confused over these 3 options, i live in Md but my son dont want to go to UMBC engg or UMD general studies. He wants to by Engineer but applied for Mechatronics Engg for Robotics reason. I did not know it was from polytechnic school until he got admitted. I’m torn now whether to pay out of state for that far or put him instate or send him to pennstate. We are almost at the time to take decision ans iam still confused
Purdue Polytechnic mechatronics is an engineering technology major, not an engineering major.
If he is able to handle a more rigorous (in terms of math, science, and engineering science/design) curriculum, engineering will generally give more career options than engineering technology.
http://www.abet.org/accreditation/new-to-accreditation/engineering-vs-engineering-technology/
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/majors/engineering-tech-or-engineering
Looks like UMBC has the least hurdles to get into an engineering major:
https://advising.coeit.umbc.edu/prospective-freshman-faq/
UMCP if entering as general studies, seems a little more difficult to switch to engineering:
https://eng.umd.edu/undergraduate-transfer-admission
Penn State engineering frosh must meet higher GPA requirements to get into many engineering majors:
https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2018
He has finished all Math APs and good at it too. Iam worried about future opportunities