Hi, I’m an incoming senior and I am strongly interested in studying environmental science/engineering. I would like to do research/work on alternative energy systems and/or urban agriculture in the future. I have strong ECs in STEM and a lot of activities related to my specific interests. I’m open to expanding my interests to study Economics, or even things like Environmental policy. I’d just really like to know what kind of things are out there. I’d love to get an MBA in the future so I’m looking for a school that would give me a good foundation.
I have looked at the lists out there of top colleges, but I was wondering if anyone could give me their personal opinions on some good schools in this field? I’m a bit new to the college searching, so I would like to discover some hidden great colleges out there. I’m sorry if this is the wrong field to post this in (I’m still not sure what the policy is here)
Thank you all!
Rutgers has a good program. What state are you in?
I’m in California!
Middlebury College- check out the Environmental Studies program (especially environmental major with econ focus) as well as their Biomass facility. Lots of opportunity at an LAC such as Middlebury for pursuing your specific interests (and I am sure at many other schools with great environmental programs but Midd’s happens to be well known). Its innovative Biomass facility has been a huge success, and here is the plan underway to achieve full carbon neutrality in the near future: http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/archive/646969/node/494519
What are your stats? Ethnic background? Family finances?
@BatesParents2019 4.0 UWGPA, 35 ACT, 5s on Calc BC, Bio, Chem, Enviro Sci, World, and Lang
Bio- 760, Chem- 780, Math 2- 800, Asian Female, Middle Class, ECs: state/national science fairs, internships at Sustainability related businesses, research at nearby UC, etc. Let me know if you want more information! I have more ECs, but think the few I mentioned are more important/related to my specific interests.
Do you mind coming East?
@BatesParents2019 I’ve lived in the same town in California my entire life. So my goal is actually to get out of California if possible. I’d love to broaden my perspectives and going somewhere on the East Coast would be amazing. I’ve lived in kind of a dull town, so I would love to live in a bigger city with lots of things to do (But not the most important factor for my college list)
Will you have a chance to visit the Northeast?
You might also post this under engineering majors. The engineering crowd is very helpful on topics of this nature.
You are from a Western University Exhange (WUE) state, so check out Colorado State University and Wyoming (which has the only ABET accredited Energy Systems Engineering program in the country with a focus on solar and wind). Both also have the ag, the environmental/natural resources, and the economics focus you mention.
With your stats, look at Colorado School of Mines, CU Boulder - they do not offer WUE but you may get merit aid. Also the universities in Utah and Arizona.
@goldensrock Thank you for your suggestions! I didn’t know that about Wyoming. I will post this/research under the engineering tab.
@BatesParents2019 On Saturday, I am actually going to go visit the Northeast. I have a list of colleges that I’m visiting (Most of them have majors related to what I want to study), but I will be going to NY, Boston, NC, and DC during my trip. Do you have any suggestions?
Middlebury seems like THE obvious choice for you.
I agree on Middlebury and would add Colby. The problem is you won’t be anywhere near them.
If you are interested in environmental engineering/alternative energy engineering you need to attend a school with an ABET accredited engineering program. Neither Middlebury nor Colby have engineering programs. To combine the interests you have listed, you are really looking at public universities which have a school of agriculture, a school of natural resources, a school of business and a school of engineering. It actually is possible to combine your interests into a major/minor or multidisciplinary major if the University has all the listed schools. Plus if you obtain an engineering degree from a ABET accredited program you will be in excellent shape for jobs. I do know you can combine all of these interests at Wyoming, Colorado State and CU Boulder. My guess is you can also do it at Utah and Arizona public universities.
Boulder is 30 minutes from Denver, csu fort collins is 45 minutes from Denver and Wyoming in Laramie is 90 minutes from Denver.
If you go to www.abet.org you can find a searchable list of accredited engineering programs.
ASU has a great School of Sustainabiilty. The Barrett Honors College is one of the best and good OOS merit.
I second the ASU suggestion.
CU Boulder
UC Berkeley- If you stayed in California
UCSC- Ditto
UT Austin
U of Michigan
Carnegie Mellon- GREAT focus on sustainability in the Enviro and Civil engineering
Cornell
Colorado school of Mines
USC- (if you wanted to stay in California)
Virginia Tech
Lehigh
Cal Poly SLO- Again California thing. California does have a lot of good schools for that
Colorado State looks like it has already put your diverse interests together in its interdisciplinary School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Wyoming does a similar program via a major or minor in sustainability via its school of environment and natural resources.
Sewanee has a great environmental studies program and a breathtaking 13000 acres campus as your “laboratory.” It has a 3-2 engineering program with Columbia and Vanderbilt. Ordinarily, I’m not a fan of 3-2 programs though it may work for you since you seem willing to consider a non-engineering major. One can major in Environment and Sustainability or Environmental Arts and Humanities (more policy based). They also offer a Watershed Science Certificate program. And you would likely receive merit aid with your stats.
If you ultimately want to get an MBA, you might want to consider a school with good environmental studies and econ programs. Personally, I’m not sure I would get a degree in environmental engineering if my ultimate goal was to get an MBA, but I can see a few instances where this would be to your advantage.