<p>ASEE data base access </p>
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<p>Brochures, school website and tour guides will give you the shiny side. There is nothing like data to paint a picture, so long as one considers all factors.</p>
<p>The American Society of Engineering Education has a fabulous database - but its hard to find on the internet.</p>
<p>Here's how: </p>
<p>=Go to either <a href="http://www.profile.asee.org%5B/url%5D">www.profile.asee.org</a>, or ASEE.org - ASEE - Publications - College Profiles - Search the Profiles</p>
<p>=enter or select the college you are interested in.</p>
<p>choose "class participation", or "program by class" from the left side of the screen, to see data by major, year, and demographic. This will tell you about retention from Freshman to Sophomore and shifting from major to major (ex WPI starts with 100 robotics majors, decends to 3 in senior year and graduates one. What does that tell you?)</p>
<p>Also check "degrees awarded" the next tab down. </p>
<p>The ASEE data is great for checking retention, male female ratios, the flow between majors, the proportion of students taking 5 years, and impact of 3/2 programs. </p>
<p>Example: Rose Hulman Mech Eng; Freshman 152, Soph:86, Junior 117, Senior 150. Half left Mech, and 25% took 5 years.</p>
<p>But as with all data - don't take it too seriously, just more seriously then shiny brochures.</p>