Insight into STEM admissions

[Anonymous]

I’ve read here that Engineering and computer science programs are very competitive right now in general. What about other STEM subjects?

- biology
- biomedical science
- physics
- chemistry
- math
- others?

What about types of engineering? Are any easier admits than others, in general?

-civil
-mechanical
- chemical
- aerospace etc

[Anonymous]

Math has gotten competitive, since people use it as a backup to CS. Most other majors are not gonna be competitive. All engineering will be competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Chemistry and chemical engineering are the most doable right now.

[Anonymous]

Most state colleges don't declare a major on entry. Other schools don't allow you to switch to CS later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most state colleges don't declare a major on entry. Other schools don't allow you to switch to CS later.

Maryland declares major on entry and getting into any of the stem majors at entry is not trivial, many are placed in letters and sciences. If you don't get into CS direct they basically tell you to find a back up because it's unlikely you'd be able to transfer

[Anonymous]

Civil and chemical engineering are relative easier admissions. AE (sub of ME) and BioE are more popular. CompE and EE are the most competitive. All sciences are similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Math has gotten competitive, since people use it as a backup to CS. Most other majors are not gonna be competitive. All engineering will be competitive.

Unsure about saying competitive as most programs don’t have it as a protected major. However there has been an uptick in the number of majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Civil and chemical engineering are relative easier admissions. AE (sub of ME) and BioE are more popular. CompE and EE are the most competitive. All sciences are similar.

Please spell out those acronyms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Civil and chemical engineering are relative easier admissions. AE (sub of ME) and BioE are more popular. CompE and EE are the most competitive. All sciences are similar.

Please spell out those acronyms.

NP but they are not that hard! CompE - Computer Engineering and EE = Electrical Engineering

I have two kids in Engineering in College - would agree on Chemical being not as competitive. Tough one right now is biomedical. The irony is that Chemical Engineering has really changed - it's not just Dupont which is what I thought of. It focuses on atoms/molecules or the whole "nano" world which is the new buzz word. My Chemical Engineering kid wants to do something that borders with biomedical focusing medical research - things like tissue regrowth. There are a lot of similarities between Chemical and Biomedical so if your child can't get into Biomed encourage them to look at Chemical.

Mechanical can be competitive- depends on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Civil and chemical engineering are relative easier admissions. AE (sub of ME) and BioE are more popular. CompE and EE are the most competitive. All sciences are similar.

Please spell out those acronyms.

NP but they are not that hard! CompE - Computer Engineering and EE = Electrical Engineering

I have two kids in Engineering in College - would agree on Chemical being not as competitive. Tough one right now is biomedical. The irony is that Chemical Engineering has really changed - it's not just Dupont which is what I thought of. It focuses on atoms/molecules or the whole "nano" world which is the new buzz word. My Chemical Engineering kid wants to do something that borders with biomedical focusing medical research - things like tissue regrowth. There are a lot of similarities between Chemical and Biomedical so if your child can't get into Biomed encourage them to look at Chemical.

Mechanical can be competitive- depends on the school.

ChemEng makes you more employable than BME with just a BS. But it is a more challenging major overall. And yes, it's not just a major for "oil"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Civil and chemical engineering are relative easier admissions. AE (sub of ME) and BioE are more popular. CompE and EE are the most competitive. All sciences are similar.

Please spell out those acronyms.

NP but they are not that hard! CompE - Computer Engineering and EE = Electrical Engineering

I have two kids in Engineering in College - would agree on Chemical being not as competitive. Tough one right now is biomedical. The irony is that Chemical Engineering has really changed - it's not just Dupont which is what I thought of. It focuses on atoms/molecules or the whole "nano" world which is the new buzz word. My Chemical Engineering kid wants to do something that borders with biomedical focusing medical research - things like tissue regrowth. There are a lot of similarities between Chemical and Biomedical so if your child can't get into Biomed encourage them to look at Chemical.

Mechanical can be competitive- depends on the school.

Former ChemE here. Agree with PP. ChemE is usually less competitive on entry and has a really broad range of applications and collaborations. Just realize that the Chem part of ChemE isn't an afterthought. Not sure what the competition looks like in Material Science/Materials Engineering but it's another good field for those with a strong chemistry background and also ties in with ChemE and Biomed nicely. A friend from college started in material science but ended up doing his Ph.D in a biomed lab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math has gotten competitive, since people use it as a backup to CS. Most other majors are not gonna be competitive. All engineering will be competitive.

Unsure about saying competitive as most programs don’t have it as a protected major. However there has been an uptick in the number of majors.

The competition is usually some of the highest in the applicant pool.

[Anonymous]

It’s actually STEAM and not stem; which is important because arts and art degrees are increasingly sought after now.

[Anonymous]

Son got in Georgetown school of health - human science- REA. Top gpa, excellent sat (but not top-a little above their median) great EC but nothing national - the usual excellent well rounded resume (sports, volunteering, job, clubs, some leadership)
Have yet to hear from others but I’ll let you know.