I’m probably end up being either an aerospace or mechanical engineering major. I’m looking for something that is under 15" and is rather light weight. My family is an Apple family, so I’ve only used Macs my entire life. I’ve been looking at getting a MacBook Air or a Surface Pro 3, but I’m not entirely sure. I’m wondering of these are good options, and what their specs should be. Thank you!
The surface pro 3 is no doubt a useful device, but my guess is that your going to want a full keyboard and a faster processor for engineering.
I personally would recommend a 13" MacBook Pro with upgraded storage (256 or 512GB). Its much faster than the Air, and the screen is multitudes better. Its also not actually that much heavier.
I would second the notion for the MacBook pro. The Surface pro 3 is a great device but it is limited with the ultra low voltage CPU, and the intel intergrated GPU. Plus the 3 from what I have read throttles quite a lot under a heavy load. I would opt for the 4 model if you really want a Surface pro Laptop/Hybrid.
Some schools have a page with their minimum requirements. Many coordinate with computer manufacturers for discounts. I would suggest you look at requirements from different schools to get a better idea of your needs. S got a new 15" Macbook Pro and was able to use outside scholarship for onetime computer purchase.
Also the Microsoft store offers discounts depending on school as well