I’m concerned that my child who just got into W@L which I know is a very prestigious university, great numbers when you graduate, and highly ranked but I’m afraid it’s engineering program is not and he/she might be better off going to another engineering program. My child has been accepted to engineering programs at the following: UMD Clark School of engineering and honors college, Case Western University, Clarkson University, Northeastern University, and Binghamton University. Also accepted to U. Richmond to do 3/2 program as a alternative plan. Wait listed at Tulane university and Washington University St. Louis. Part of the concern is the narrow range of degrees at W&L engineering. Only three. Also it does not appear to be ABET ranked so we wonder if that is a problem as well. This is the current dedicated path my child has chosen, but like every college tour I attended you here often how much students change their minds and switch degrees. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Overall as a school, W&L is the best one of the schools your kid got into. However, you are correct in that its Engineering department is subpar. Most W&L students who seriously want to do engineering get a degree in Physics and then go to a good grad school for engineering. This is the path your kid would have to take if he went there, which isn’t a bad one at all - undergrad engineering degrees are on the way out nationwide. Keep that in mind though.
No ABET accredidation: Flee!
W&L is a good school. I know someone who took a physics degree from W&L then got a masters degree in engineering from an Ivy. But I don’t know anyone who has an engineering degree from W&L. Every other school you listed would be better for undergrad engineering.
Thanks for the replies. Yes, no ABET. I asked why. The response I was given is its by choice. ABET accreditation puts major restrictions and limitations on how they can teach their program which I actually can understand since my job has accreditation that sometimes inhibit rather than enhance. After talking to W&L it appears the engineering graduates do not have a problem getting high paying engineer positions after graduation or problems getting into grad school. Is it better to be one of 15 students per grade with class size of 8 to 10 or one of 300 to a 1000 with class sizes averaging 25 to 30? They do appear to have first rate equipment and lots of money to spend on students. Biggest plus item is their alumni network. Very few have better. Look up economist and brookings institute ratings. Then there is the 50% change their major at least once. It appears my kid will be exposed and be able to take far more other subjects here than elsewhere since it is a Lib ARTS school with science and tech as well. Plus my kid was offered the most money here so it is the cheapest of he three. Northeastern is the most expensive by 15K over the next one. Sighhhh, ultimately it will be my kids choice but it is so dam hard to choose. LOL!
For better or worse my kid decided to attend W&L. They offered the best overall aid. Still debt, but not the crushing debt Northeastern would have caused. After 3 visits and an alumni get together the school, staff, and students, “ABET or NO ABET” connected with my kid. If engineering ends up being the path then grad school will follow immediately after graduation and ABET issues will subside greatly. But law school, “patent attorney” or med school is a possibility. I hope my kid will be more successful than I ever was which has always been one of my goals. So, GO GENERALS!
Your kid is in for a fantastic experience. Congratulations. You should be very proud.
Yes, we got that impression and I am. Thanks.