Hi, I was recently accepted to WashU and Columbia to study Computer Science through their combined plan (3-2) program. Unfortunately I haven’t really been able to visit/talk to many students who have done a similar program. Can anyone comment on their experiences/thoughts on these schools with respect to this program? Just trying to get some more information! Thanks
The benefit of a 3-2 program is for students who value a liberal arts education as much as they value training in engineering. Basically the student receives a double major, but due to the different course requirements to accomplish this in such different fields, it takes a 5th year and the accompanying additional cost to get it all done.
A 3-2 gives the student the opportunity to receive the liberal arts component of his/her double major at a small(er) liberal arts college before moving to a larger university for their engineering major. Of course the same thing could be accomplished by doing the entire double major at a university like Wash U or Columbia or on the other hand, at one of the smaller liberal arts college like Lafayette, Bucknell, Manhattan, Union, Smith, etc, which actually offer engineering majors.
Here’s a link to a more detailed explanation of the benefits of a 3-2 program:
www.thecollegesolution.com/considering-a-3-2-dual-engineering-program/
Are you a high school senior considering a 3+2 program, or a third year college student at a LAC who has been admitted as a 3+2 transfer student to WUStL and Columbia?
I would decide based on what regions/industries I would want to work in.
I’m a 3rd year college student at an LAC and have been admitted to both
Are both programs affordable and do you know FA for both years 4 and 5? I have heard that Columbia can be less than generous with FA for these programs.
I don’t know any students who have done these programs…typically just one or two students from a given LAC do these annually.
Have you looked at the outcomes of both programs? Would you be the same major?
Where do you want to live after graduation?
Columbia and WashU are different in some important ways…urban vs suburban, defined campus vs less defined, and student vibe. What do you prefer with regard to non-academic factors?
WashU students tend to rave about their undergrad experience and the campus looks like a country club. I would not say that of Columbia (which is definitely a research U where research tends to be more paramount to undergrad instruction to many faculty).
However, Columbia offers the opportunities of NYC and the Street and is much better known/respected internationally (true to an extent in the US as well).
Swash U offers the opportunity to extend the program a 3rd year to get a master’s. That seems like a real plus to me.
^ counterpoint: in CS, having a master’s doesn’t really get you much more than a bachelor’s.
^ And costs you a year of lost salary. The 3/2 route has already cost one year, making a 4 year program into 5.
Many LACs offer CS majors, but some have limited CS offerings. Presumably, your LAC is one where CS offerings are limited, or does not offer a CS major?
Compared the following between staying one year at your current school, versus transferring for two years to WUStL, versus transferring for two years to Columbia:
- CS major requirements and offerings, and how they align with your interests in CS.
- Any additional general education requirements at WUStL or Columbia if you transfer versus any that you have not completed at your current LAC.
- Cost of remaining school (one year at current LAC or two years at WUStL or Columbia) until graduation.