Pretty soon I am going to have to decide what college I will enroll in to study engineering. University of South Carolina offered me in-state tuition as an out-of-state student as well as a smaller scholarship and admission to their honors programs. I was accepted to other colleges with better engineering programs such as UMD and NC state, but I prefer USC’s campus and think I would have the best college experience there. Also, attending USC would be significantly cheaper than these schools.
Can anyone give me information on USC’s engineering programs? I’m undecided as of now but interested in Biomed. Would choosing USC for engineering over UMD or NC State put me at a disadvantage when trying to find a job or pursuing a higher degree? Also, what kind of advantages would the Honors College give me in this regard? Thanks for the help.
Speaking with my employer cap on, I don’t really care what school the applicant went to. I look at what they have done and what experiences they have. My two best employees came from no-name schools who worked directly with profs on various projects. They had nice CVs when they were done, but the recommendations were glowing – I also met them previously at conferences and I liked them. I believe the Honors’ program would facilitate this interaction. My advice to young scientists and engineers is to find a professor who you like and work/volunteer/whatever to get as much experience with them as you can. That said, I cannot speak for USC’s engineering program as I know nothing about it. There is also something to be said for having the opportunities available in the fields you are interested. If the other schools have 10x the professors in your field of interest you have a much better shot of latching on to someone you like doing the research you like. Look at the faculty lists; google them and read their publication titles (the actual numbers don’t matter, but you want to make sure they are active) and whether their research sounds interesting. Most schools excel in some subfield which may or may not interest you. That said, I know other employers consider very much a school’s reputation.
Can only speak anecdotally. D had two HC friends in engineering. Both chem. One did internship and REU and is now in PhD program in geology. Another did a summer abroad, internship and had a job lined up before Christmas for this summer after graduation. Honors gives you opportunities to make good connections and they encourage research with professors. Magellan grants will pay you to do research (D had one in math) and I assume that makes it easier to get in with professor when you can bring some funding of your own. HC gives you an honors advisor for your major which gives you another level of help in figuring out classes. Smaller classes and professors (as opposed to TAs) for even entry level classes. Great fellowships and scholarships office to help with those kind of opportunities (NSF etc)
I’m sure if you call the HC they have someone who can give you more information about where students have gone and more hard numbers on how graduates do. They could also refer you to a contact in engineering. I think most programs have a professor that coordinates HC courses for their majors.
I can’t say that USC is stronger or as strong as UMD or NC State, but if you take advantage of all the opportunities offered, then as a individual, not a statistic, you can do amazing things at any school. Good luck.
I can’t speak for NC State or UMD but by just following the Honors program at USC you will have a leg up on a typical graduate. The Honors College requirement for a senior thesis will give you a valuable resume piece. As an engineering major, the thesis requirement will substantially be met by your senior project.
This is schedule for Discovery Day when students do poster and oral presentations on research. If you look at presentation database you can search on presentations by major or by honors or by those with Magellan grants, etc. You can look down list and see the types of research students are doing. This doesn’t necessarily include all research being done on campus, but these are things that students are involved in enough to present their work.