<p>I'm currently a freshman at University of Kentucky and majoring in engineering. I want to transfer but am not sure where I should go. My parents want me to go to Baylor University but I'm not sure how good there engineering program really is. How do they compare to a school like UK and how do they compare to a school like Cornell? I appreciate the guidance!</p>
<p>Or what about Vanderbilt?</p>
<p>If you take a look at the US News rankings for engineering, the results are:</p>
<h1>10 - Cornell</h1>
<h1>37 - Vanderbilt</h1>
<h1>86 - University of Kentucky</h1>
<p>And US News does not have a ranking for Baylor published, as it does not offer a PhD in engineering. But your question is also dependent on what your GPA and test scores are. Obviously Cornell is a great school, but it’s pointless to ask the question if your GPA and test scores aren’t on par. The same goes for Vanderbilt. Both schools are highly competitive for admission.</p>
<p>And remember, that if you plan to be a working engineer, what matters is whether or not the program you are in is successful at preparing students for the licensing examinations. As long as the program is accredited by ABET <a href=“http://www.abet.org/accrediteac.asp[/url]”>http://www.abet.org/accrediteac.asp</a> and the department has a good track record with the exams, it doesn’t matter much which university you graduate from. Yes your university’s placement office might make a difference for your first job, but after that it will be up to you.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 at kentucky and also in high school. My ACT was 34 composite. I’m also taking the physics, math 2, and lit SAT subject tests in December. What effect does a schools ranking have on getting into a really good graduate school?</p>
<p>Why are you taking SAT subject tests if you’re already in college? As for getting into a grad school, your undergraduate has some influence but it’s not one of the main factors. For the most part, your actual performance is what’s going to matter. The influence that your undergrad is going to have is let’s say you have a GPA of 3.8 at Cornell as compared to a 3.8 at Baylor. The GPA coming out of Cornell is going to look better and that’s about all the influence it’s going to have.</p>
<p>I’m taking them because I was homeschooled in high school (it was an accredited program) and I was told it would help me prove my intelligence and improve my chances of transferring into a top school.</p>
<p>Baylors engineering program is ranked 11th among schools whose highest possible degree is a masters. What does that mean as far as the quality of their program? I know that discludes schools like Cornell and Vanderbilt but how would their undergrad program compare to schools who do have a PhD program.</p>
<p>There is a big difference between schools such as Cornell and Vandy that focus on research and therefore are super grad schools and schools like Baylor/Mudd/Rose-Hulman that foucs on teaching undergrads. The main difference is that for the later schools the quality of undergrad education is all they have to rely on where as the former schools have great reputaions for the researchers they produce (generally as well as having strong undergrad programs but imho not as strong). The more undergrad focused schools generally do not allow TA’s and grad students to teach whereas the big name schools will. Either way you go really you cant go wrong as long as you are a driven student they will all help you achieve your long term goals.</p>
<p>Got ya, that makes sense. So if I were to go to Baylor and do well, I would be able to get into a good graduate school from there. Right?</p>
<p>Absolutely. Grad school admissions is dependent on (not necessarily in this order) grades, letters of recommendation, GRE score, your statement of purpose (grad school admissions essay) work/internship experience, and subject related research/publications. People get into top grad schools every year from no-name universities.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks!</p>