I have the opportunity to get a math degree from Rhodes college and engineering degree from Washington university in St. Louis, and the opportunity to get a math degree from. birmingham southern and an engineering degree from Vanderbilt university. Which one is more impressive as a outsider and as an employer
Aren’t you a rising junior?
Are these 3/2 programs? Students rarely actually follow through on those. Overall they are pretty comparable. Engineering isn’t a major that is hugely dependent on the school you attend as long as it is accredited.
You mean you possibly have the opportunity, after you apply and perhaps get accepted in 2020? If you want helpful answers, try being accurate with the information you are giving us.
I would be wary of 3:2 programs. It may be better to just go to a school that offers both subjects and simply double major or even major/minor rather than getting two degrees. It is to my understanding that it doesn’t necessarily add that much to the qualifications and you have to tack on an extra year. Plus you have to be accepted into the school and then the program, which means there is no guarantee you will get into the program in the first place.
I’ve heard a lot of people advise others to be wary of the 3/2 program. I think it depends on the 3/2 program itself - I think I’d generally agree that for most students, a regular engineering program is probably better, but some 3/2 programs may have better completion rates than others. I went to a college that had a 3/2 program that was pretty successfully in transitioning most students to the engineering part, but I think that was because 1) they have 13 different partner schools that you can finish the last two years at, including two Ivy Leagues that gave good financial aid packages for transfers and 2) the most popular choice, Georgia Tech, was right down the street - so students who wanted to stay near the friends they made didn’t have to go far to stay in engineering.
Either way, I’d definitely ask about the 3/2 completion rate (aka, how many students who start the program actually do transfer to the engineering college? Keep in mind that students change their majors all the time, and even in regular engineering programs many students may change their majors out).
That said, neither program is necessarily “more impressive” than the other. I will say that if you do a 3/2 program, you should choose a college that you’d want to do a full four years at just in case you decide to stay. Also note that Rhodes says that students spend “three to four years” at Rhodes before transferring. At BSC, you can also go to Wash U or Vanderbilt (or UAB or Auburn, which may be especially cost-effective if you are an Alabama resident).
OP: Both are impressive options. Choose the one that is more affordable to you.
I agree with @Publisher…the most impressive one is the one you get into, can afford, thrive in, and graduate from.
Set yourself up for success.
It depends on what you want to do. Math won’t really provide any specific training, so it won’t be of much use to employers. An engineering degree from Vanderbilt would be good…but so would an engineering degree from Washington Univ St. Louis. Unfortunately, both cost more than they’re worth. If you do an engineering program, be sure it’s ABET accredited. It looks like you’re from Alabama. Univ of AL, and Auburn are both ABET accredited and cost-effective. Also, if you can get into Vanderbilt, you would likely get a scholarship to these schools.
If you are certain you want to be an engineer, start out in engineering school directly and avoid the 3-2 program.