Does anyone have data tracking matriculation of STEM undergrads?
Do large numbers of freshmen and sophomores switch majors after being discouraged by the culture of large classes, harsh curves, etc. Incoming students are coming in with uneven levels of preparation of course. But what is the culture and how stressed are the students?
Asking specifically about CS, engineering, etc.
How does UF compare to others in this respect?
UF engineering (and CS) is rigorous, but it’s not insane.
UF publishes the “Percentage Distribution of Undergraduate Grades” by College (like Engineering).
https://ir.aa.ufl.edu/uffacts/degrees-grades/
Looks harder to get an A in the College of Business, than in the COE.
A lot of students do decide to switch majors, UF makes it very easy and strongly presents it as an option to Freshman. It’s hard for a 17 year old to decide on a career path/major. A few engineering courses, and you know if it’s for you or not. Then, when you’re a junior, you really start taking your courses in your major, so some students then decide it’s not for them at that point.
The ASEE publishing a engineering program profiles on it’s website. You can use these profiles to compare programs (in certain areas).
http://profiles.asee.org/profiles/8045/screen/20?school_name=University+of+Florida
Enrollment by class gives you a sense of the number of students by class (Freshman, sophomores, etc.). Keep in mind that a lot of UF engineering students start off as Sophomores due to AP/AICE/IP/DE credits. UF doesn’t have much of a drop between sophomores and juniors (also consider that UF is taking on CC transfer students as juniors), in fact the number increases.
Thank You @Gator88NE,
Those ASEE links are interesting.