D18 is choosing between Colorado of Mines, Oregon State and Gonzaga for Mechanical Engineering. Cost will be similar at each for her. Pros snd cons of each, TIA
Well - if cost are the same, Mines is the clear winner. But that’s rank, reputation, etc. That alone won’t get her a fun four years.
It will be the most limiting - in regards to being a part of a total university - i.e. you’re not going to find theatre majors and poli sci majors and business majors. It will be very focused.
The male to female ratio will be more skewed - because it’s so STEM focused.
Oregon State will obviously be the big college out of those.
Has she been to all 3. Does she have a sense of where she felt most comfortable? That is the most important thing.
She’ll be a female with an engineering degree…she’s golden. Fit is ALWAYS most important other than money.
If you’re going to be miserable for four years, what’s the point.
Mines is a very “cute” campus btw - haven’t been to the other two.
Oh, and if she’s a skiier - that’s a no brainer too. And it has public transport to Denver and the airport…
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Thank you all good information. She will be visiting all 3 campuses very soon. At Mines she will be able to be part of the Vanguard Scholars and have a mentorship that will help her form connections.
It has been suggested that she should consider which program will best prepare her to be work-ready.
Practical skills vs theoretical.
How important is this and are there any holes in the above-mentioned programs?
From what we can determine it seems that OSU and Mines have more practical skill opportunities. We’ve been trying to compare programs based on required coursework and online video tours.
I’m not an engineer. My son is. He goes to Alabama. His final choices were Purdue (where I assumed he would go), Alabama - which lucky for me is cheapest - he loved the dorm which he ended up hating living there…and then Mines…we visited and went skiing. I liked Mines…too small for him.
I don’t know the answers to all what you are saying but I will tell you he’s interning (after 2nd year) with a major auto manufacturer this summer. They hired 3 interns. An Alabama, a Ga Tech, and a U of Houston.
I’m sure different schools push different things. But they are all ABET…so to me you’ll learn similar concepts.
I think you find the place that’s most comfortable…and then hope later she made the right decision.
My son had a miserable first year. Now we have COVID and yet he has the best second year …i.e. got a girlfriend.
I think their happiness is most important. The other stuff - there may be something to it - but in the end, a female with an engineering degree…she could go to I never heard of it State and she’s going to get a great job.
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It’s easy to say Colorado School of the Mines on this one. Gonzaga would be number 1 in men’s basketball though 
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CSM is known for science and engineering.
Look at the minors and also what else does each school offer like clubs or activities. If there is nothing pressing on the other two hope she enjoys her time at CSM.
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CSM does have other majors than engineering and science, but those are the most popular. There are many clubs for all kinds of interests including the outdoors, theater, music, intramural sports. There are fraternities and sororities (gorgeous houses looking down on the campus and toward the mountains out the back door) that organize a lot of activities. Golden has a mountain feel to the town that they somewhat work for and somewhat is genuine. Last weekend when we were having a major snowstorm, The Weather Channel was broadcasting from Golden (good news/bad news - Jim Cantori is on your lawn!). Golden is close to Denver and accessible by light rail.
Gonzaga and OSU aren’t exactly urban hot spots. You can get to cities from all 3, but cultural opportunities (Broadway shows, museums, rock concerts) and major sports access is probably best from Golden.
IMO, OSU is a big university that offers everything, but might be better in some things and not known for others (my BIL has a masters in geology from OSU as it was the best in geology when he went). Gonzaga is a Jesuit university that happens to offer engineering. CSM is an engineering school that happens to have other courses but most go for the engineering.
Don’t know where you live but I bet CSM is the easiest to get to.
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Mines is highly regarded in the Rocky Mountains, but its reputation is less we’ll known elsewhere. It will be a ticket to get a good job in Colorado, and the location is hard to beat. But if she wants to be in the Northwest after college, OSU probably provides a better network. Another big factor is simply whether she wants a small school like Mines or a big place like OSU. You visits will be very revealing.
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