<p>My son's interested in pursuing either a major in a physical science (Chem or Physics), math, or engineering. He is looking at both engineering schools and liberal arts colleges strong in math and science. He's not sure whether he wants an engineering major because he has a lot of other interests. </p>
<p>Here's the list he has come up with so far:</p>
<p>Carleton College
Harvey Mudd College
Univ. of Rochester
Williams College
MIT
Tufts University
Olin College of Engineering
UNC Chapel Hill (he was invited to apply for a Moorehead sch.)
Grinnell College
RPI (maybe)</p>
<p>I'm worried that the list may be to competetive and ambitious. He has done well in his public high school but I know that admissions these days is a fickle business. In his words, he really wants to be at a place with students who are "brighter than I am". </p>
<p>Are there any gems that we're missing that are strong in math, science, or engineering? Thanks in advance for any thoughts!</p>
<p>I'm currently attending a liberal art school and I'm majoring in chemistry, physics, and minor in mathematics. It's a great place since I meet many different people that follow different career paths and classes are quite small (9-14 people), which makes learning and personal connections with professors doable. The graduate requirements can be a pain in the neck, but it's possible to finish them during freshman and early sophmore year and have enough of college time to do research, focus on science classes, and explore different courses as well.</p>
<p>Northwestern has a top-10 chemistry program and an engineering school with all departments ranked in the top-20 (material sci and management sci are top-10). It's also strong in many others, especially economics. Special programs "integrated science program (ISP)" and "mathematical method for social sciences (MMSS)" are well-regarded by other grad schools and recruiters.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your thoughts. My son actually visited Cal Tech and his impressions were that it wasn't for him - regardless of his ability to get in! Any other suggestions for Liberal Arts Colleges that are strong in the areas of math and science?</p>
<p>Out of the very top ten universities in engineering research quality, your best bets if you want a place that focuses on undergraduate science education and the liberal arts would definitely include Yale, Harvard, Cornell and Princeton:</p>
<p>Other liberal arts-focused colleges that are exceptionally strong in math and science include Rice, Swarthmore, Dartmouth, Williams, Wesleyan, Carleton, Grinnell, Wellesley, and Pomona. I also wouldn't give up on MIT, which, despite being a tech school, has decent liberal arts programs.</p>
<p>Regarding other schools that were mentioned, RPI, University of Rochester and Tufts are good, but don't live up to the quality of the above list (although they do have strengths in particular areas that IMO would be best saved for graduate school anyways). Lehigh does definitely have a solid undergraduate engineering program, but doesn't have the top liberal arts side of things by any stretch of the imagination. </p>
<p>Bottom line is, go to a great liberal arts school and get a very strong preparation in math and physics. Get great faculty recs and do some research. Then you can get into any graduate program you want and pick up an M.Eng. if you end up being sure about that as a field - the M.Eng. will make you 5-10 times more employable than you'll be with just a bachelor's.</p>
<p>If he's considering some of the Ivies mentioned, he might want to also look at Columbia. Its engineering college attracts students also are interested in liberal arts, since they do a portion of the humanities core curriculum required of non-engineering students.</p>
<p>You might want to consider any of the five US Service Academys. They aren't for everyone, but are great math and engineeering schools. S is at USMMA. Chose it over USNA. Loves it.</p>