<p>Definitely apply to Rose-Hulman since its application fee is zero and you will hear about your admission decision very shortly.</p>
<p>You’re getting lots of good suggestions. Rose-Hulman, Harvey Mudd, and Franklin Olin are all top of the heap for small engineering schools. From what you’ve shared, just about every other school mentioned is also viable (of those, Case and Missouri U of S&T came to mind quickly for me).</p>
<p>Others to consider which haven’t been mentioned are Cornell (might be bigger than he wants), Northwestern (too close to Chicago?), Rochester, Colorado School of Mines, South Dakota School of Mines, Dayton, Alabama-Huntsville, Rowan, RPI, and WPI. Positive things to be said for all of them and worth at least some investigation.</p>
<p>MSOE and Cal Poly SLO don’t have ChemE. Add on New Mexico Tech, IIT (Illinois Tech), Union College (NY), Swarthmore, and Vanderbilt. Maybe Lehigh.</p>
<p>Bucknell has excellent chem e and is certainly rural. Although Rice is in Houston, it does not look or feel like an urban university. Its BioE and nano programs are second to none.</p>
<p>would add rose hulman, harvey mudd, NYU -poly, bucknell, stanford.</p>
<p>If he’s interested in chemical engineering check out Rowan U in Glassboro NJ, about 20 minutes outside of Phila. The program is ranked #2 in the country (in schools where primary focus is undergrad education), in a rural area and has approx. 9k undergrads. They have a good theatre arts program but no marching band. Good luck!</p>
<p>[Chemical</a> Engineering @ Rowan University](<a href=“Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering | College of Engineering | Rowan University”>Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering | College of Engineering | Rowan University)</p>
<p>after looking at the US News rankings, I’m surprised that nobody’s ever mentioned Rowan</p>
<p>I disagree with pierre with regards to Clarkson. It is not Harvey Mudd or Olin but he is underrating it. If the size and overall environment appeal to your son, you could keep it on your list at least as a safety. BTW, I am well-acquainted with the school and its graduates. I have no hidden agenda, but it sounds like it might fit your needs.</p>
<p>By the way, Case, NYU-Poly, IIT, Rochester, RPI, WPI and even Union, while they are ALL good schools, simply can’t be called rural or suburban.</p>
<p>OP here - I wanted to thank everyone for their input.</p>
<p>He has created an initial list. I wanted to let you know what, so far, is on it:</p>
<p>Reach:
Cornell - at this moment is first choice; although by no stretch of the imagination “smallish”
Olin - he really liked it, but really wants Chem E, so he probably won’t apply
Cal Tech - the only non east coast school - but I doubt we can visit unless he is accepted</p>
<p>Matches:
Lafayette - visiting next week
Lehigh U - visiting next week
Rose-Hulman </p>
<p>Academic safeties:
Clarkson
Rowan </p>
<p>Financial safeties:
SUNY U Buffalo - we visited with an older sibling - it is pretty suburban
SUNY Stony Brook (pretty close to home, probably his last choice)</p>
<p>I hope you get a chance t ovisit Rose Hulman it is really a great school and worth the visit.</p>
<p>Rice is great for engineering, and small (3000+ undergrads) - in the middle of big city, but campus is very large and green and secluded.</p>
<p>^A lot, if not most, of the schools named thus far don’t even have material science. Many also don’t have chemical engineering department.</p>
<p>Northwestern got a top-20 chemE dept and a top-5 material science program. Also, it has a unique first-year curriculum that emphasizes on design and early exposure to engineering through integration, which is the approach Olin takes.</p>
<p>one school that is in a small town, great for engineering, and has a good marching band is Texas A&M (however, its not a small campus, even though its in a small town)</p>