My daughter is interested in pursuing a professional career in automobile design and she would like to study mechanical engineering with a minor in design-industrial design preferred.
Currently she has been admitted to both University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University-West Lafayette for their engineering schools for the Fall 2018. Both schools are tied # 6 in ranking for 2018 Best Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Programs (Doctorate) by US News & World Report.
Now I would like to hear recommendations, comments, suggestions, and feedbacks from both current and former students, parents, grandparents, alumni, school administrators, financial supporters, and admission officers, from all colleges and universities, including the two the schools mentioned, in our final decision process. A campus visit to these and other schools are forthcoming.
Assuming no in-state, out of state, money issues. If it was me, I’d go with Purdue. Reason being is that the state of IL is a financial basket case. And while the universities will deny it, it is affecting them. The most obvious place is on the grounds, but I am sure it’s in the classroom as well. We visited U of I and ISU over the summer and both suffered from the same “deferred maintenance” issues. It was noticeable compared to Wisconsin, IU, and several private schools.
And as an IU person, I can’t believe I just said this about Purdon’t.
Thank you for your great feedback! Yes, we will be out of state for both schools and their costs are similar with about $3000 more for UIUC. The financial crisis for the state of Illinois is definitely a factor to consider, given its negative impact on not only the physical appearance of the school, but also the morale of the teachers and administrators, assuming that they are all state employees of Illinois.
I would only spend the extra money for UIUC if the student strongly preferred it. Otherwise, I’d pick Purdue.
UIUC is probably stronger in non-STEM areas overall and in CS, but Purdue will be decent in those areas, and they are rock star in STEM – it’s what they do.
Two Big Ten schools, similarly sized student bodies, small-city surroundings, similar weather. Old gold and black vs. orange and blue. Aside from differences in academic strengths and priorities, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Thank you, Prezbucky, for your great feedback! Highly appreciated! Yes, UIUC ranked slightly higher (#52 vs#56) for national universities- overall ranking… otherwise both are very similar. Maybe the campus visit will make a difference…
Since I currently have a Purdue student my vote would be for Purdue (Boiler UP!). That being said something else to think about on the financial front is that Purdue hasn’t raised tuition since 2013.
It really has a great engineering program and a lot of oppurtunities offered for internship, co-op, etc.
If you have any questions about the campus please don’t hesitate to ask.
Thank you very much, Boilermon, for the great feedback and insight about Purdue! It is greatly appreciated!! I will definitely take up the offer and talk to you for more information about Purdue in the coming days.
Purdue and UIUC get creds for their tuition freeze and UIUC guaranteed tuition, which applies to OOS. Some states seem to view OOS as an unlimited source of funds-and others are smart and more balanced about it. Re UIUC, despite state financing, some universities are in better positions than others, and some colleges, namely engineering and biz at UIUC are self-sustaining-biz gets no state money, for example. There are always capital improvements going on at UIUC (including a new dorm that opened in 2016). Sounds like the campus visit will be a significant factor in your decision. Good luck!
Have you visited both? On paper they are very similar. However they have a differnt feel when you visit them. I don’t think that academically they will be similar so it comes down to feel and fit. They are a couple of hours apart so if you get an opportunity to visit them it may help you.
Find out how competitive the mechanical engineering major at Purdue is to get into. Purdue admits to First Year (pre-)Engineering and has students compete by GPA to enter their majors, although many majors are less competitive or non-competitive ( https://engineering.purdue.edu/ENE/Academics/FirstYear/T2M , although it does not say which majors are the more or less competitive ones – ask the Purdue engineering division directly).
From what I understand, UIUC fills its engineering majors with direct admission, so if she has direct admission to the mechanical engineering major, she would not worry about the weed-out system like at Purdue. However, changing to a different engineering (or other popular) major can be very difficult at UIUC, since many other majors may be filled to capacity through direct admission. If she is admitted to UIUC but not the major (i.e. general undeclared or general studies), getting into the major after enrolling can be very difficult and competitive. Ask the UIUC engineering division directly if you have questions on her status in the major.
Thank you very much, IL2023, for your valuable insight and information! It is greatly appreciated!! Seeing is believing ! We definitely have to go for the campus visit in the Spring. UIUC might be my personal choice, but this time it is not me going there for the undergraduate studies… We will have to wait and see, for now…
Thank you for the great feedback, Ivvcsf! I have not been to either colleges, but have some friends went to UIUC. Nationally UIUC has slightly higher ranking, but it may all have to come down to some basic criteria such as financial aid packages, tuition and fees, as well as the student diversity, the dorms, the rec centers, the dining halls and meal choices, the libraries, the labs, the campus safety, and the crime rates… Easy access to the major airport is also important, especially for the OOS and their families. We have to experience that first impression and visit the campuses not just as a visitor, but a resident for next four years or more years…
There are shuttle services between Purdue and airports (IND and ORD). There are shuttle services between UIUC and airports (MDW and ORD). There is also a small airport near UIUC in Champaign (CMI).
Thank you very much, ucbalumnus, for your detailed information and great insight about the UIUC engineering program!! My understanding is that she has been admitted into the Mechanical Engineering program and the engineering school for the First Year Engineering (FYE) at Purdue. So, if she really like the ME major with certainty, UIUC seems to be a logic choice.
Since I have not personally studied at either of the schools for the ME major, I am not sure what kind of support group does each school have for the women studying in the engineering programs and how effective they are, especially for the women students pursuing for the mechanical engineering degrees (B.S. and M.S.), and the eventual transitions to the automobile design career.
Thank you again, ucbalumnus, for the helpful information!! It looks like ORD is the major airport to reach both schools with better choices of inbound flights. We will definitely keep that in mind when we are booking the flights.
Be aware, however, that ORD (Chicago O’Hare) is further from UIUC than MDW (Chicago Midway) and further from Purdue than IND (Indianapolis). Check the time schedules of the shuttle services. Also, ORD has a reputation of worse delays than many other airports.
Thank you again for the information,ucbalumnus! Air travel nowadays always has problems of delays, especially during the holidays when most of the students are trying to get home during the breaks…
I’d suggest UIUC but I’m biased bc Im a current student there.
When I visited Purdue’s campus I didn’t really like it.
You should go visit the campuses and see which one you like more, and as other people have already said, consider majors and whether you have direct admission into MechE.
I know both schools and students studied there, UIUC more normal/relaxed, Purdue is really uptight (not just campus but general Eng attitude). UIUC students seem more into other things than just engineering and I found them to be fun/easy to work with and more well rounded. Purdue students are more typical no-fun engineering kids. - Sorry, this is based on one mans’ observation & opinion.
