Transferring from Brandeis for chemical engineering?

Hi,

I’m just finished my first year at Brandeis. I took class in honor general chemistry, introductory physics, biology, and calculus. They’re pretty much in A- to A range and I got a GPA of around 3.8 so far. I plan on taking python and sociology over the summer. For next semester, I will take organic chem, thermodynamics, linear algebra, and biology. I participated in several clubs and practice in archery team.

Initially, I planed to go with the pre-med track and hopefully go into the medical school. However, I’m not a person who is good at communication. After doing several volunteers for blood drive, I just don’t think I have the capability to communicate well with patients. I got kind of disappointed and figure I’m more fit to chemical engineering major since I like chemistry and physics. I like my school experience so far. It’s just that Brandeis does not offer engineering degree.

I know about the 3+2 program with Columbia but they don’t really have a good chemical engineering program after doing some research so I’m thinking about transfer to schools like Purdue, UIUC, and Georgia Tech for chemical engineering. However, I heard that it’s really hard transfer from non engineering to engineering major in other school!

Do I have a good chance for schools like Georgia Tech and UIUC? Will I have more chance to apply for spring semester? Should I rather just wait and go for the 3+2 program? Are there any suggestions?

Please Help!

If you are decisive in your preference for becoming a chemical engineer, consider schools with a structure that would likely allow you to major in this field upon general acceptance. Rose–Hulman might offer you an excellent opportunity, for example.

The 3–2 program with Columbia should not be under-regarded.

With respect to your tentative list, consider UW–Madison, UM–TC, UDelaware and UMichigan as potential alternatives to Purdue.

Purdue doesn’t accept a lot of transfer students into any engineering discipline but it varies year to year. My D’s year (class of '22) they had 20 open slots in the program. Most years they are at capacity. IMO, you may have better luck transferring this upcoming year with all the uncertainty around C-19.

RPI would be another school to put on your list that could be more of a match.

If you know you want engineering, I think transferring is a good plan. I’m not a big fan of 3-2 programs.

Does cost matter?

Your in state publics are likely to cost less than most out of state publics.

Since you are satisfied with the general characteristics of Brandeis, consider those UAA schools that do offer direct engineering programs. The University of Rochester could suit you, for example.

I will guess that you’re OSS for the colleges you mentioned in your post. Is COA/ affordability not a controlling factor? Tell us about regional preferences, too. By the way, the Ivy League isn’t known for enrolling significant numbers of transfer students. I will recommend schools where transfers have a better shot at getting admitted to. In the south, solid chemical engineering departments include U of Tennessee-Knoxville, U of South Carolina-Columbia, U of Virginia. In the northeast there’s Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, SUNY Buffalo, U of Rochester, and U of Delaware. In the midwest I would consider U of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Chicago Institute of Technology, Cleveland State university, Ohio University, U of Cincinnati, Kansas University. Iowa State University.

I know recent alumni from Tennessee, RPI and Rochester who loved their undergraduate experiences. The Rochester alum was a transfer.

By the way, 3/2 programs are a notorious dead end. If you finish of course they are fine, but many, if not most students, change their minds about the program before actually transferring to the STEM university.