<p>Been admitted to both with fantastic aid. I am an international student, so it is kinda hard for me to make up my mind as I have no preconceived notions about an ideal college life or whatever. </p>
<p>I have always been in a small school setting. My classes never had more than 50 kids, and my graduating class size was around 150. So, I have no idea how a class size of 350(at S) and a class size of over 1000 at V are.</p>
<p>Don't like the idea of frats, but I've never been in one so, don't know really.</p>
<p>As you must know by now, Vanderbilt University has a school of engineering with specializations in major subfields (biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering.) Swarthmore College has a general engineering program only, with no subfield specializations (although electives are offered in several of them). In this respect, Vanderbilt offers a more robust, conventional engineering program. Swarthmore offers breadth (engineering in the context of a liberal arts education).</p>
<p>The atmosphere of the two schools is fairly different. Swarthmore students have a reputation for being very studious and intellectual. Vanderbilt seems to be more of a “work hard, play hard” place. </p>
<p>Although it is smaller, Swarthmore has the advantage of letting you take classes at 3 other excellent Philadelphia-area schools (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and UPenn). </p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of frats, either. My vote would go to Swarthmore. However, if you plan to return to your country and work for an engineering firm, maybe a specialized degree from a more conventional engineering school would be more marketable.</p>
<p>The deadline is approaching soon, and I am still undecided. Any more advice/opinions/rebukes?</p>
<p>@tk21769 I am currently planning to go to grad school in the US for a Masters in engineering after college, and am not sure if I will return to my home country right after undergrad. So, I’m not sure if I should make a decision based on that. Btw, I don’t have much idea about costs of grad school, and financial aid or grants there. Because my family is basically dirt poor, I’m sure I won’t be able to bear the full cost. Can anyone give me some basic info on how it works for international students?</p>
<p>Most full-time engineering graduate students have some type of financial assistance - or they wouldn’t have been admitted in the first place. There is no difference between domestic and international students. Well, there is a minor exception that minimal English language scores are required, but you should meet that easily after 4 years of undergraduate study here.</p>
<p>So right now, the focus should not be on saving money but on attending the school where you think you might compile the strongest academic record.</p>
<p>I’m a little apprehensive about the engineering department at Swarthmore. I’ve searched a lot, and I’ve found that it is actually not as bad as I thought. And I can take some classes at Penn, if I really need to. But I had to note that there wasn’t much equipment and research facilities, at least not the level of a big uni like Vandy. Correct me if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>I’m also a little worried about the fact that most of Swat grads in engineering or Physics get PhDs. Do most of them drift to academia? I have no interest at all in that. (at least not now)</p>
<p>And the rigor. Swat sounds to be wayyy too intense, and the grade deflation sucks. I’ve had some experience of grade deflation in my HS, and it was terrible. I don’t want to be handed As just like that, but to end up with Bs with your best work is depressing.</p>
<p>Vandy is nice. But it seems a little too big, and frat scene dominates a lot of the social life. And for some reason I like the Swarthmore campus more than the Vandy campus, even thought the Vandy dorms are amazing.</p>
<p>Oh I also want to minor or double major in Physics or Econ.</p>
<p>And I have no clue how these two compare on prestige. My parents had never heard of either, and I’m an international. So, I don’t know much about this.</p>
<p>So, which one would help me compile the best academic record?</p>
Either one. You might enjoy being in the Philadelphia area with Swarthmore instead of Nashville with Vandy. Swarthmore is intense, but given your two options, and the fact that you want a small campus, I would suggest Swarthmore. If you don’t like cold weather, then consider Vandy.</p>
<p>What about the apparent academic rigor and grade deflation at Swarthmore? Wouldn’t that make getting into a good grad school harder?</p>
<p>Btw, I’m thinking of Phyics/Math and Engineering double major. Lots of common courses, so I dunno if it’s gonna be too difficult at either place.</p>
<p>I grew up not far from Swarthmore and have lived in the Nashville area for 6 1/2 years now. Nashville is amazing and is much nicer than Philadelphia. I would go with Vanderbilt. It is better for engineering. You don’t have to be in a frat to have a great social life and Nashville is a lot more fun than the area around Swarthmore (a school I also like a lot, by the way).</p>
<p>Swarthmore is an excellent liberal arts college but the engineering program at Vanderbilt is superior. You can’t really compare them at all. My son loved everything he had heard and read about Swarthmore, but the limited engineering program and facilities forced him to drop it from his list.</p>
<p>It sounds like you want a very focused, research oriented eng’g program with the ability to specialize and, if that is so, Vandy wins hands down.</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools, but with different focus and strengths. Given that you want to study engineering rather than liberal arts, I think Vandy offers more.</p>
<p>The fact that I can take more courses at Swarthmore, due to their lower number of requirements in engineering, appeals a lot to me I guess. Then again, I’d probably choose more Physics, Chem, Math and Econ courses if I had complete freedom. Swarthmore’s reputation in the physical sciences is what’s keeping me interested. That and their student body.</p>
<p>Vandy is great, and I’m sure I’d find my type of people there. It’s just that Swarthmore is probably, by reputation and by the looks of the accepted kids in the FB page, mostly full of people I’d fit in with.</p>
<p>Also, is there a difference is overall reputation? And the engineering reputation?</p>
<p>I have a son who graduates from Vandy soon, and we also have a great attachment to Swarthmore. I sympathize with your issue on having trouble choosing a class of 1600 people vs a class of 400 people. Vanderbilt and Swarthmore are very unique places and not that much like each other. Vandy cannot deliver what Swarthmore will give you and vice versa. </p>
<p>But as an international with good financial aid, rejoice. You are blessed whatever you do. </p>
<p>I think you have plenty of time to arrange to Skype with a student in engineering at both schools. Although I feel mentoring is more wonderful and personal at Swarthmore where its reputation “proceeds it” for graduate schools, even if the college is unknown to the average person…Vanderbilt’s engineering school has its own subculture that I am not familiar with and that might act as a shelter for you socially and academically. </p>
<p>Personally, I think As are hard to get at either school, so suck it up and be cheerful. Grade deflation is not so important in engineering. Law students are afraid to take tough classes because they gun for high GPAs but engineers take chances and risks and survive.</p>
<p>Both schools think you can do it! You are so lucky. Believe in yourself. Your big problem is that one school is a leading mid sized research institution and one is a liberal arts powerhouse.<br>
And making As in engineering is not as important as making As in high school. Engineering is more of a tough it out pathway and hold on and keep going path. Georgia Tech made my father cry and he had already been a fighter pilot. But he didn’t quit. He got a masters in civil engineering. He had his moments of “not getting the material” and this is typical in engineering. Perseverance.</p>
<p>Please be proactive. Ask on each college’s CC board or FB pages or better yet…directly to the Admissions officer of your international region if they would be so generous as to arrange skype with a student who is an engineer and perhaps even an international.</p>
<p>Go for the Skype. Watch youtube videos and soak up what you can about the campuses which are both wonderful but very different from each other. I know you will learn a lot more from a Skype. Don’t be so anxious. You will be happy in August.</p>
<p>The lower degree requirements for Swarthmore engineering is because they don’t produce engineers that have in-depth knowledge of a specific engineering field. Have you read about their program?
[Swarthmore</a> College - Department of Engineering » Why Swarthmore Engineering?](<a href=“http://engin.swarthmore.edu/whyswat.php]Swarthmore”>http://engin.swarthmore.edu/whyswat.php)</p>
<p>Don’t go there unless you KNOW you are going to go to graduate school. You will have a much harder time trying to get an engineering job with a generic engineering degree, so grad school is required not optional.</p>
<p>I would go to Vanderbilt. It’s not that LARGE of a university and has a more diverse and superior engineering program. Memphis is also a great town.</p>
<p>So, I’ve talked to a lot of admits, trying to get a vibe of each of the campuses, and a number of current students. Swarthmore students seem a lot more…interesting…than Vanderbilt students. Vandy kids are great, but very…uh…college-y (a lot of talk about frats, parties, drinks…which is not something I’m against, but just not clicking with me I guess).
Not much different from other big research institutions (judging from facebook pages, so I know that a lot of kids are not there or just not posting).</p>
<p>I’m still researching on curricula at both schools, but even now I can tell that Vandy’s engineering program would be more useful if I don’t go to or can’t afford grad school. Which is something my parents are stressing, because my dad retires in 8 years. Also, Vandy has nicer weather.</p>
<p>I’m sure there would be a niche for my kind of people at Vandy. It’s just that I don’t see it now, and it’s weird deciding a college without visiting. So, I’m not super excited.</p>
<p>You got into two very good liberal arts schools. Neither are very strong in engineering though. Did you apply to any science or tech schools? Duke, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Stanford are probably in your level. Are either of the schools accredited? Neither were on my list.</p>