<p>My son is going to study mechanical engineering and really loves U of R but we want more info. on the department. Is the program more hands on or dydactic, frontal teaching? Are the students collaborative or competitive? Are the resources up to today's standards such as the machine shop, 3-D printers etc? We know the program is rather small with 30 graduates a year but should that matter in the end as you might get more professor involvement. My son wants a more well-rounded school to pursue music and other interests but we are comparing U of R to more traditional programs such as at Case, UMD and Northeastern. Any input is helpful.</p>
<p>I’m also interested in their engineering program, and echo what engneermom said.</p>
<p>Is it possible to double major in engineering and something else? And what good programs does U of R have that would go well with engineering - Business perhaps? Or would that require a credit overload?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance to anyone who replies to this thread</p>
<p>All the engineering curricula are “fully loaded” with required classes. In fact, UR doesn’t even require its engineering students to take a second “cluster” of GE coursework that is required of every other program and major at the school. There’s not enough room in their schedules.</p>
<p>A double major with one the majors being engineering will be difficult and will require overloads probably for 6 to 8 of the semesters you’ll be attending.</p>
<p>(Also there are severe restrictions on the number of “double dip” courses allowed. By double dip, I mean a course that can be counted towards fulfilling graduation requirements for 2 different majors.)</p>
<p>Here’s what a suggested course of studies for MechE looks like:</p>
<p>[Bachelor</a> of Science : Mechanical Engineering : University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.me.rochester.edu/major-minor/major.html#fouryear_program]Bachelor”>http://www.me.rochester.edu/major-minor/major.html#fouryear_program)</p>
<p>Here’s what required for business minor:</p>
<p>[Business</a> Minor : Multidisciplinary Studies Center : University of Rochester](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/college/msc/businessminor.html]Business”>Barry Florescue Undergraduate Business Program : University of Rochester)</p>
<p>If you are interested in entrepreneurship, UR’s College of Engineering does offer offer a 5th year option to selected engineering majors, called the Kauffman Entrepreneaurial Year (KEY).</p>
<p>Information about KEY here:</p>
<p>[Entrepreneurship</a> : Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences](<a href=“http://www.hajim.rochester.edu/entrepreneurship/index.html]Entrepreneurship”>Entrepreneurship : Academics : Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences : University of Rochester)</p>
<p>Even Brown, which boasts of having next to no requirements, requires that engineers start their program in the first semester. I wonder if this has always been the case or if the engineering curriculum has expanded to fill the available space.</p>
<p>No, engineering (even back in the late 40’s when my dad graduated from Purdue with an EE degree) always had more core requirements than any other major.</p>
<p>Do minors matter much in the “real world?”</p>
<p>No, they don’t. Outside of a few areas, majors don’t matter that much.</p>
<p>Hey everyone! Gonna bump this thread for both engneermom and myself. I’m also wondering about these things: “Is the program more hands on or dydactic, frontal teaching? Are the students collaborative or competitive? Are the resources up to today’s standards such as the machine shop, 3-D printers etc?” I’m debating between UR and NC State engineering (which looks really top-notch as of today. Have you seen their new Hunt Library?!). I really love Rochester though, so any comment would be appreciated to help me make my decision.</p>
<p>I suggest you contact engineering. Here’s the [main</a> page](<a href=“http://www.hajim.rochester.edu%5Dmain”>http://www.hajim.rochester.edu). If you go to each department, they have a bit of information and a contact link.</p>
<p>Thanks Lergnom!</p>
<p>I’m a 2010 mechanical engineering grad. Based on my experience, I would say the mechanical engineering department focuses more on the theory side of engineering compared to technical schools such as Case and CMU. That being said, there are several classes devoted to “hands-on” instruction, such as senior design and several research design courses. The mechanical engineering facilities during my time at UR left a lot to be desired. Thankfully, the school is constructing a new building that will house an engineering fabrication shop, including 3-D printers and other advanced technologies (see this article for more info: [Construction</a> to Begin on Ronald Rettner Hall for Media Arts and Innovation : Rochester News](<a href=“http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=4122]Construction”>Construction to Begin on Ronald Rettner Hall for Media Arts and Innovation : Rochester News)). The new building is set to open this fall and I’m sure professors across all the engineering departments will incorporate the new building’s technology offerings into their classes. In my opinion this type of building was something UR desperately needed in order to compete with other top engineering schools. I should also note that Dean Clark (the engineering school dean) took office during my Junior year and seems to be doing a fantastic job leading and improving the engineering school.</p>
<p>UR engineering students, and the student population as a whole, are very collaborative. There is some healthy competition, but everyone was always willing to help each other. I spent many late nights (and early mornings) in the library with my fellow classmates completing problem set after problem set. I think that the small class sizes at UR are very beneficial. After spending a semester abroad at a large public university in Australia where the engineering classes averaged 200+ students, I experienced first-hand how advantageous small classes are, especially for engineering students. There are some classes at UR with 200+ students (many intro level courses are relatively large), but all of my mechanical engineering professors would know my name by the end of the semester and made an effort to know everyone’s name. Some professors are better than others (you’ll find that anywhere you go), but generally speaking the professors seem to care about their students and are willing to work with you if you need some extra help. </p>
<p>There are also “intangibles” that I feel make the mechanical engineering department at UR something special. The small size of the department makes it feel like a close-knit community where everyone seems to know each other. Furthermore, many social events are held throughout the year where department faculty, staff, and students interact outside of the classroom. This creates a great dynamic between everyone in the department that doesn’t seem to exist at a lot of other schools (based on discussions I’ve had with non-UR engineering students). </p>
<p>If you’re looking for an experience where you are going to design and build the latest and greatest tech gadget, then I would recommend going to school somewhere else. But if you want an excellent engineering and non-engineering education, a close-knit community, easy access to research and professors who generally care about their students, then UR will likely be the right place for you and I welcome you to the family. As we say at UR, “Meliora!”</p>
<p>lilspike333:</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response. I wasn’t aware that Rochester was constructing a new building for innovation. That’s really good news! I really think that I’ll benefit more from a practical education and that building can provide a lot more resources to gain that type of education. I really do love Rochester and it was my top choice, but now I’m deliberating so much, especially with NC State’s facilities (and even more improving): <a href=“http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/sites/default/files/files/pdfs/WelcomeBrochure-12-14.pdf[/url]”>http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/sites/default/files/files/pdfs/WelcomeBrochure-12-14.pdf</a>. </p>
<p>lilspike333, just out of curiosity, what is your current job now? Does it relate to mechanical engineering? I find that a lot of engineering alumni from Rochester branch off into various other professions because of the UR curriculum’s liberal arts influence. Also, what type of activities are there to do off-campus but not too far away or expensive? I recently met a Rochester student online and she/he is transferring to University of Miami (another school I’m considering), because she/he said that she/he felt trapped and “too cold” on UR’s campus. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>After college I went straight to grad school to get an MS in sustainable engineering. I now work at a multi-disciplinary engineering firm as a sustainability consultant. Because of my background in mechanical engineering, a lot of my work focuses on building efficiency and energy. </p>
<p>If you don’t like the cold, then you probably won’t like Rochester all that much. I’m from the northeast, so I was used to it. The tunnel system definitely helps during those bitter cold days. The winters are relatively long in Rochester (and really anywhere in the northeast), but I think it made the students more grateful and appreciative of “nice” weather. The quads always seemed to be packed with people during springtime when the sun started coming out and the temperature started to rise. </p>
<p>The city of Rochester actually has a lot to offer for its size and is very inexpensive compared to other cities. Rochester doesn’t really have a bustling central business district that most people associate with cities, but there are a lot of neighborhoods and attractions worth visiting. While I was at UR I wish I had explored the city more and taken better advantage of what it has to offer. UR has a free shuttle bus to the Eastman School of Music that runs regularly and can get you to many of the city’s hot spots. That being said, having a car makes it a lot easier to get off-campus and explore the city (the public transit system in Rochester is rather limited). There are Zipcars on campus, which you can rent by the hour to get around. One of the nice things about the city is that most things are only a 15 minute drive away. The neighborhood the campus is located in doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but the university is starting to build a new college town next to the medical center and within walking distance of the river campus ([Rochester</a> College Town construction to begin, bringing shopping, entertainment in Fall 2014<em>|</em>The Hive](<a href=“http://sa.rochester.edu/sa/2013/03/20/college-town-coming-to-rochester-bringing-shopping-entertainment-and-much-more/]Rochester”>http://sa.rochester.edu/sa/2013/03/20/college-town-coming-to-rochester-bringing-shopping-entertainment-and-much-more/)). I’m sure this new development will provide students with more “off-campus” opportunities that are within walking distance.</p>
<p>Lilspike333, were you able to pay back your debt within a short period of time?</p>
<p>Lilspike333, which semester did you do your study abroad? Did you find it difficult to adjust to the different academic style for the time you were gone? It would seem in engineering versus other majors, it would be hard to not only learn the material but get in tune with a different teaching style.</p>
<p>ZMCIngus, I went straight to grad school after UR and I just graduated from grad school this past May. After 6 years of school I had a manageable amount of student loans, but I’ve only been paying back my loans since last November and now I live in NYC. Needless to say, I have not paid back all of my debt. </p>
<p>Lakemom, I studied abroad the fall of my junior year. I was actually able to take all of the same engineering courses my classmates were taking that semester, so I did not have to overload or spend a summer playing catch up. The teaching styles in the engineering classes abroad were surprisingly similar to my classes at UR. The lectures usually consisted of going over problems and new material followed by smaller workshop sessions lead by TAs. That being said, the engineering class sizes abroad were much larger than courses at UR. In fact, the smaller workshop sessions were about the same size as a typical ME class at UR, while the general lectures were always larger than 200 students. This difference in class size definitely took some getting used to. The professors at the school I studied abroad did not seem to care all that much about the students. Moreover, there seemed to be much less academic support available compared to what’s available at UR.</p>
<p>Although the academic experience while I was abroad did not match the caliber of UR, the experiences I had outside of the classroom more than made up for the academics. I cannot stress the importance of studying abroad enough. I got to see and do things I would have never even dreamed of. Not to mention the people I met and the lasting relationships I was able to make. Engineering students should never let anyone tell them that they can’t study abroad because they are an engineering major; it’s simply not true. Many of my engineering friends studied abroad and still graduated on time. It is often more difficult to find certain engineering courses abroad, but with enough research and planning it is possible.</p>