Undergrad Engineering Question

[Anonymous]

First, I recognize engineering is hard anywhere. Lots of math and coursework generally that is difficult for most students.

That being said, can any of you discuss colleges your engineering student attended that were not the top schools or not the stress factories that others might have been?

Example:

Top schools might be MIT, Caltech or something like that (please no school comparisons). Then there are the Michigans, GA Tech, and maybe after Purdue, VA Tech, etc.

I am looking for schools below these that are not as much of a wringer. Again I know engineering will be hard anywhere. Hard work is one thing, but white knuckle environments are another matter.

Hope this description helps. My student has As and Bs in all his STEM classes and several APs, I just would like to see if we can focus on colleges where he might be the 50th percentile or higher if that makes sense. Thank you.

P.S. Bonus points if you may have even worked with your student to help them "back off" from the top schools to others and can relate that experience.

[Anonymous]

And I am reviewing the ABET list too so you know I am not just throwing out the messages!

[Anonymous]

Under the radar: Gonzaga. Small class sizes. Supportive. Decent price (after merit, low 40s). ABET. Mid size private, urban/small city, D1 basketball.

[Anonymous]

SMU, Tulane but they are spendy. I like Pitt a lot for value if you get merit but I would say its engineering program is still challenging.

[Anonymous]

Different Engineering majors have different levels of difficulty at the same university. Not all engineering majors are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different Engineering majors have different levels of difficulty at the same university. Not all engineering majors are the same.

This ^ even within a school of engineering some majors will have more rigorous math and subject matters. But I do understand what you mean that some schools are notorious pressure cookers. We looked at smaller schools - many without PHD granting programs. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-overall

[Anonymous]

York College
ODU
RIT
U Rochester
Fordham
U Cincy
Hofstra
U Denver
Cal Poly SLO
Marquette

[Anonymous]

This is a great question/thread. My kid is currently at TJ and after 4 years here, I am sure we dont want to put our kid through another high stress environment in STEM/Engineering.

So we will be actively discouraging applying to schools like Cornell, UC's (UCLA, Berkley etc), GA Tech

Would also be interested in learning about schools that have good academics/outcomes/industry connections but not a pressure cooker environment.

If I had to guess - Texas A&M (but its in Texas), U MN, U Iowa, VT, UVA, UMD ( except CS and EECS), Oregon State, NC State

[Anonymous]

UMBC has a really solid reputation in the region and is reasonably priced even for out of staters. We toured UMBC and felt like they offered tons of academic support. Smaller state flagships (Wyoming or NM) as well as non-flagships (same class as UMBC) with engineering are less expensive and likely less competitive to get into and stay at. You can also look into some LACs that offer engineering and relatively easy merit, such as Loyola MD.

[Anonymous]

Just look for 2nd/3rd tier schools. If your kid is serious about becoming an engineer, go to big schools w/ lots of research opportunities (preferably R1 schools). i don't necessarily agree with "white knuckle" schools. if you attend a school with high performing kids, it's just that much more work to keep up so you want to attend schools with similar peer groups.

[Anonymous]

RIT. It's much more focused on setting up an individual for career success, rather than their class rank. I would look for schools with a strong Co-op program, because it shows the diversity and depth of opportunities post-academic career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just look for 2nd/3rd tier schools. If your kid is serious about becoming an engineer, go to big schools w/ lots of research opportunities (preferably R1 schools). i don't necessarily agree with "white knuckle" schools. if you attend a school with high performing kids, it's just that much more work to keep up so you want to attend schools with similar peer groups.

I'm not sure these are any less "white knuckle" - if UMD CP is any indication - the engineering programs are intense, the coursework is tough and at a fast pace. YOu will get an excellent degree, but you have to be a student that can fully engage in that type of environment. They are perhaps not as crazy as Cornell etc but I dont think I would put them in the "slower paced or less stressful". RIT was a school that came to the top our our search.

[Anonymous]

It depends what you want in a college, but I do think that based on OPs message some smaller schools might be worth looking at.

Schools like SMU, U San Diego, RIT, even Miami with aid or Miami OH.

I do understand the white knuckle part. If you walk into GA Tech, or Cornell, or Michigan, the pressure is greater on top of the difficulty of the work. Not sure it’s worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends what you want in a college, but I do think that based on OPs message some smaller schools might be worth looking at.

Schools like SMU, U San Diego, RIT, even Miami with aid or Miami OH.

I do understand the white knuckle part. If you walk into GA Tech, or Cornell, or Michigan, the pressure is greater on top of the difficulty of the work. Not sure it’s worth it.

I think it's important to realize that's not because engineering principles apply differently at those schools. It's because of students they have - it allows professors go more in-depth, make problems more difficult, and expect more from the students.

[Anonymous]

Agree PP, that is for OP to decide along with their student. But if they just want an engineering degree without the high school stakes, other schools can help and they will get a job.