<p>Looking for opinions. Major: Mechanical Engineering. Fortunately, cost is not an issue. Both programs look great. Concerned about life on campus, weekends, social opportunities. Any advice/opinions appreciated!</p>
<p>UDel 100%. Rowan has a growing reputation in engineering but the college experience is known to be vastly better at UDel. If money is not an issue then this is a slam dunk decision - Go Blue Hens!
Also, if you want to change out of engineering, every other dept at UDel is stronger than Rowan.</p>
<p>Rowan ranks 8th in MechE. UDel is nice but a huge party school if thats a concern. Visit both and decide what fits you best.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies! </p>
<p>Here’s a little more info: This student is really torn between both schools. He has visited both programs multiple times and has met with professors and students from both. He really “felt the love” of a caring, interesting faculty at Rowan. Didn’t get those warm and fuzzy feelings from UDel, but knows the program is strong there as well. In addition to academics, he is interested in intramural sports but is not really interested in the party scene. And his parents don’t really want him to come home on the weekends…or better said, don’t want HIM to want to come home on the weekends.</p>
<p>We also got that warm and caring feeling from Rowan students, faculty, and administration. The only thing further I can recommend is to have the student arrange for an overnight visit with a student host. I know UDel does this but not sure about Rowan. However I’m sure they can arrange it for you. My son is also not a partier and was immediately turned off after such a visit at another schoool. Same thing happened to a coworker’s son after visiting UDel.</p>
<p>The student has to visit. He has to decide if a large campus is what he wants or a smaller one. I’m sure there is other stuff to do at Del besides party. If he lives too close to Rowan he may come home. That’s what mine has started to do, but he was a Jan transfer and didn’t make too many close friends yet, and we live too close…</p>
<p>Rowan doesn’t let freshman have cars, so he won’t be able to come home unless someone is willing to get/bring him…</p>
<p>Del will cost about $12k more (assuming no fin aid/schol and a NJ resident). That’s 48k over 4 years, nothing to sneeze at. That $ can buy 2 cars, or grad school, or pad the retirement, or pay for the next child if there is one.</p>
<p>Visit, because FIT is crucial. My son transferred to Rowan from a tiny school. I know someone who transferred to Rowan because Rutgers NB was too big. Have to find out what is “just right.” My son would have loved a larger school like Del, but he wouldn’t have gotten in and I wouldn’t pay the extra without a compelling reason. We also had to consider sports.</p>
<p>He chose UDel. Thank you, everyone!</p>