<p>Its getting close to decision time for my S. His stats are 1950/2400 SATS and top 5% in his class. Because of his aptitude in math, hes thinking about engineering. Hes been accepted with good merit scholarships from Rutgers, UNH, URI, and WPI and well hear from Roger Williams this week. Even though we dont have the total aid packages from everyone, we can see the writing on the wall. Because were IS for URI, their $4000/yr merit scholarship may be too good to pass up. WPI was the first to send their total offer which was $24,000/year (including loans). This sounds great but its only half of their yearly costs (ouch). Id love to hear from current URI engineering students as I have lots of questions from a nervous dad. Did anyone go into engineering without a true passion for your decision like my S? What, if anything, at URI has convinced you that this was a good choice for you? Given the tough job market, do you see local opportunities in the field after graduation? Thats it for now but I might have more </p>
<p>I am sorry to see you received no response to your questions. We are also just starting to look at URI for my daighter, we are not in state but “regional”. I have tried to get some info here at CC regarding the international engineering program at URI, so far, no response.</p>
<p>My daughter applied to URI specifically because of the International Engineering program. The program is a 5 year program. You receive a BS in any engineering after 4 years. In the 5th year, you complete the requirements for a language major, and receive another bachelor’s in a language. In the 5th, year, you do an internship in a country where your language is the primary language. We went to the Open House in October (after she already sent in the application). She attempted to speak with one of the students at the International Engineering table, but the student (who was there representing the program) was so condesceding about my daughter’s chosen major (Mechanical Engineering and Spanish), that is turned my daughter off completely. Too bad, since the program sounds great on paper, and they did give her a decent merit scholarship.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman in electrical engineering and honors.</p>
<p>As far as jobs, the job placement rate I think is around 80% for engineering, near 100% for IEP. Most of the buildings in engineering are pretty up to date also</p>
<p>They work us hard, and employers know it</p>
<p>I was instate and got a full ride tuition ride, so economically it was a great choice. </p>
<p>I commute, but the engineering dorms could use some work. My friends tell me stories of cockroaches staring at you while you’re on the toilet for example…</p>
<p>Any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask!</p>
<p>Sorry for your daughter’s experience gsmomma, it is probably an aberration. Sometimes students can go overboard trying to promote their own major. I am sure mechanical is an excellent major at URI. My understanding is that typically students go abroad between the junior and senior years. For one semester they take classes at a sister university and the second semester they are placed in a paid internship related to their major.</p>
<p>icebat, engineering has info sessions Mondays at 10:30. There is also good information in the engineering website. I am no expert but if you like post some question.</p>
<p>We are interested in general information such as: do the students generally like the program? how do they find the semesters in the other country? is the job placement as good as they indicate on the web site? what are accepted students stats like? how is the financial aid?</p>
<p>I have not found any student who has done the IEP and did not like it. Having said that, some students start taking language classes but after two years they decide they do not want to continue on this path and just complete the regular 4 year program. What the students like the most is the second semester abroad when they are placed in a company there. Just taking classes abroad can be done with any “study abroad” program. But this 5 year program is the only one that has students working in a company abroad for a semester. And of course they get the second degree in the language. My understanding is that this work in a company abroad allows them to bring 6 language credits back into URI.
So you are a student in the IEP program. During your second semester of your junior year you check the course offerings at the University abroad and decide what courses to take and find equivalent courses at URI. You fill a form and you have it approved and then when you get back these courses substitute the equivalent URI courses. The second semester you work in a company that URI places you and when you come back to URI you transfer 6 language credits for that internship. By the way, during the semester you take classes abroad, you pay regional tuition at URI and no tuition abroad.
Placement is very good. Also keep in mind that due to the nature of the program typically you find the better students following this program. Frequently the companies where you work abroad have branches in the US and that is very helpful for job placement after graduation.</p>
<p>Thank you so much</p>