What is the real story about U. Del. Chemical Engineering?

<p>With the high tensions and anticipation of the last week finally coming to a conclusion I now have a very difficult decision of where to attend college. I currently have the following engineering programs to choose from...</p>

<p>U. Del Honors, Notre Dame, UVA, Bucknell, and University of Michigan </p>

<p>At the moment, University of Michigan is not a financial option. However, I must choose between the other schools. I am under the impression that UVA and Notre Dame are in a different category regarding selectivity, but that their engineering programs are not their strongest programs. </p>

<p>With that said, does the strength of the U. Del. Chemical Engineering program outweigh the prestige of UVA and Notre Dame? What makes U. Del. Chem Eng so highly ranked? One of my concerns is that if I suddenly decide against Chemical Engineering I will have less options at University of Delaware.</p>

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<p>In a word, DuPont. To quote Wikipedia, UD has “renowned…programs drawing from the historically strong presence of the nation’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the state of Delaware, such as DuPont and W. L. Gore and Associates.” These industries have given large sums to endow excellent departments such as ChemE, since “companies run by the du Pont family employ some five to ten percent of Delaware’s population.” It’s in the companies’ best interests to help turn out highly skilled students whom they can then employ.</p>

<p>Here’s a recent example: [University</a> announces $5 million commitment from DuPont for laboratory](<a href=“http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2013/aug/dupont-ise-lab-082112.html]University”>University announces $5 million commitment from DuPont for laboratory)</p>

<p>As for your other options, where are you from, and where do you plan to live (if you have any idea) after college? If it’s the midwest, then Notre Dame is an obvious choice, since alumni connections will be stronger there.</p>

<p>Yes, DuPont. Delaware has a highly regarded chemE program. The other engineering departments at Delaware are good but not famously good.</p>

<p>You can’t go wrong with ChemE at Delaware. Do you think there is a good change you will switch your major?</p>

<p>I live in New Jersey, but traveling is not an issue for me. I am about 75% sure on chemical engineering, but the other 25% is interested in doing a double major in finance and economics. Then there is the option of trying to minor in business. It’s a tough choice; I understand the power of reputation within industry but does that overcome the brand name of UVA and ND? </p>

<p>Sent from my HTC One X using CC</p>

<p>I’m in UD honors and I would say close to 1/3 of my floor are Chem E. Many of them turned down schools like Cal Tech, Notre Dame, UPenn, Penn State Schreyer’s, and the like… I’m not saying they necessarily made the right choice, just that you won’t be alone turning down top schools for Delaware. Also it’s not unusual for Chem E’s to come out of school making $70,000, and they do very well with grad school admissions as well. However, from what I have seen Chem E, and certain other engineering majors, have a huge amount of work and their classes are significantly harder relative to other students at UD. Ultimately though, you would be turning down great schools and if you decide to do finance/economics then I would definitely recommend either ND or UVA over UD since the Lerner School of Business is considerably weaker, particularly in those areas.</p>

<p>Before you accept UD Chem E…do some research. Research how many start Chem E and how many finish there. UD is notorious for cutting Chemical Engineering majors who aren’t performing in the top 1/2 of the starting freshman year. Each year they cut more. If you aren’t sure of your major…and Delaware doesn’t have what you want…I would go elsewhere. It is very competitive and cut throat there. It is impossible to find someone at the school to give you actual numbers.</p>

<p>proudmom, do you have specific experience with this or just a general feeling? ChemE is a very competitive major anywhere and quite a few students decide that they’re not up for the continuous rigor of the curriculum.</p>

<p>In my first ChemE class, the professor gave us the standard “Look you your right and to your left. One of those people won’t be in your class by the end of the year.” It wasn’t anywhere near 50%, but the class was noticeably smaller by the next semester. That’s the nature of Chemical Engineering and the reason why graduates command a high starting salary.</p>

<p>I haven’t seen anything on the UD website that states you can be removed from your major for not being in the top half of your class after freshman year. I wouldn’t be surprised if an adviser asked a struggling student to seriously reflect on their desire to remain in the program but there doesn’t seem to be any official policy on ‘cutting’ students from any program.</p>

<p>As for the reported ‘cut throat’ environment, my daughter considers it to be more collaborative and spends her time studying with groups of students.</p>

<p>EDIT: I went back and found your post saying you heard on CC that this cutting happens at UD. I’d be interested if anyone has any factual information on this topic.</p>

<p>My D is moving into a house off campus this fall, as is another group of her friends. Both are taking houses from groups who are graduating with Chem E degrees. Each of the 8 graduates has a job in his field at a salary that is allowing them to be very generous to the kids coming after in terms of leaving stuff and donating things. It’s nice to see such a large group coming out of college employed.</p>

<p>Don’t all science and engineering programs use the weeder method? My D is in a chem major (not engineering) and it weeds, too.</p>

<p>Entire engineering class when my child started was 1300+/- full time, approx 400 graduates 4 years later in 2012.</p>

<p>I don’ t know how many started ChemE in 2008 but their were 59 BsChemE grads and 11 Honors BsChemE grads 2012</p>

<p>Dupont and Gore do not hire many UD grads, Gore hires more, but considering its relationship to Udel, it should be much stronger.</p>

<p>Costs being similar… ND is an all around amazing, fun, supportive and academically serious environment. I would give it great consideration. </p>

<p>Now if UD is free, that’s another story altogether!</p>

<p>For the class of 2016 577 students were admitted to the College of Engineering (per UD’s website). I don’t believe UD has ever had a freshman Engineering class of 1300 (perhaps this was the total number of Engineering students in all 4 years combined in 2008). If one were to assume a similar size number of 400 students (similar to the approximate number of grads in 2012)) graduating in the class of 2016 the engineering graduation rate would be about a little more than 2/3rds (69%). This obviously is an extrapulation but appears to be consistant with what is seen in other top level colleges for Engineering majors.</p>

<p>Son was accepted to UD Chem E program last year. Did lots of research. Contacted many people there…no one could give me an answer. The stats show they CUT students from the program…the didn’t just drop out. This worried us. Didn’t like the feel of the program. He picked a different school and is happy. I didn’t like how no one would give us a straight answer …whereas, other schools were much more open with their statistics and information. Good luck.</p>

<p>My student is currently a sophmore ChemE major. Fall of his freshman year there were 144 ChemE’s ( the largest ever according to one of his professors), and as of this semester they are down to 100. According to my S, the professors for his Cheg classes elude to the fact that if enough students don’t fail the class, or decide to drop out themselves, then they will curve the class so that approximately 1/3 of them will not be back next fall. (These classes are graded on a major curve regardless). They also expect another cut the following semester. My s says that this is common knowledge among the students. </p>

<p>UD danced around this subject when we inquired as well, but my son was willing to take the risk because he liked the school so much. As one other poster stated, this is very common among engineering programs, it’ just that other schools seem to be more open about it.</p>

<p>All that being said, s loves UD and although the atmosphere is competitive, he’s found himself a really supportive group of people who lift each other up through the difficult times.</p>

<p>Wherever you go, realize that the jobs in general, only go to grads with GPAs over 3.7. So don’t dick around having fun. Do you know what you call a ChemE with a 3.0? Unemployed.</p>

<p>Also, try to get experience actually handling equipment in the field.</p>

<p>P.S. After a test, if you think you were graded too harshly, go to professor and argue your point with good nature. You may not get grade changed, but they will get to know you much better than guy who never speaks up.</p>