Engineering path at a liberal arts college?

[Anonymous]

DS is a junior, not sure what he wants to do yet. Possible interests have been business and IR, but now he's realizing he may want to explore engineering. He likes and is good in math and sciences, likes building things too. We have been targeting liberal arts colleges for him, both because the smaller size would suit him well, and also to allow some time for exploration before declaring a major. Most of these schools have some type of path for engineering, such as a 3-2 program, or a pre-engineering advisor, and some say that students major in a field like physics then apply to a master's program in engineering.

Does anyone have experience with engineering or pre-engineering at a liberal arts college?

And yes, I'm aware that there are more traditional engineering programs, but DS is just starting to explore this. He's not going to be in a position to lock in and apply to an engineering program in less than a year. We just want it as a viable option in college.

[Anonymous]

Many mid-size universities offer ABET-accredited engineering.

[Anonymous]

Tufts

[Anonymous]

The problem with sending kids to LACs for engineering is many of them to decide that they don't want to be engineers. To do 3/2 engineering, they have to transfer as a senior and many just don't want to do it. They have friends and relationships and will switch to a non-engineering major instead of transferring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a junior, not sure what he wants to do yet. Possible interests have been business and IR, but now he's realizing he may want to explore engineering. He likes and is good in math and sciences, likes building things too. We have been targeting liberal arts colleges for him, both because the smaller size would suit him well, and also to allow some time for exploration before declaring a major. Most of these schools have some type of path for engineering, such as a 3-2 program, or a pre-engineering advisor, and some say that students major in a field like physics then apply to a master's program in engineering.

Does anyone have experience with engineering or pre-engineering at a liberal arts college?

And yes, I'm aware that there are more traditional engineering programs, but DS is just starting to explore this. He's not going to be in a position to lock in and apply to an engineering program in less than a year. We just want it as a viable option in college.

They are viable but they do involve compromises that I think hold a lot of kids back when it comes to actually doing them.

Completing the prereqs for engineering school requires a more structured environment while LACs are exploration centric.
Does a kid want to leave their friends and graduate somewhere else after 3 years?
Dos a kid want to go an extra year?
Do parents want to shoulder the cost of a 5th year?

I like them but one needs to be sure. I think that a safer path for many are LACs like Lafayette, Union, Bucknell which have engineering. They aren't in the very top tier but they are quite selective and great schools overall. Another option is small R1s like Rochester and Tufts. Rochester is very flexible and very strong for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Colleague went to a LAC and majored in Physics. Few technical (non-finance) jobs with a BS Physics degree. He ended up finding an E School which offered a “conversion Master’s degree” in ECE, which took another 2 calendar years of school.

If DC wants engineering and a smaller school, look at Rose-Hullman.

[Anonymous]

has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

Most students take calc senior year and would not have finished calc even after submitting apps. I think OP's kid is a junior.

[Anonymous]

Our kid attended an LAC that doesn’t offer engineering but still manages to send a fair number into the field by virtue of their other strong STEM programs. It will take more time, especially if you want a PE license, but only 10-20% of engineers need that. It can be helpful to have a strong foundation in a natural science if going into engineering, particularly if interested in researching something very new at the forefront of a field. Fwiw, many consider CS an engineering subject, and almost every LAC offers CS, but I imagine OP is thinking of a different subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

Most students take calc senior year and would not have finished calc even after submitting apps. I think OP's kid is a junior.

not in my kid's case. VT told him they wanted to see Cal BC done with an A before they would consider him for VT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

Most students take calc senior year and would not have finished calc even after submitting apps. I think OP's kid is a junior.

not in my kid's case. VT told him they wanted to see Cal BC done with an A before they would consider him for VT

That's not normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

Most students take calc senior year and would not have finished calc even after submitting apps. I think OP's kid is a junior.

not in my kid's case. VT told him they wanted to see Cal BC done with an A before they would consider him for VT

That’s not standard. As a general requirement, you only *need* through Algebra 2 to apply (although that minimum will not make a strong candidate).

Regardless, VT is not a LAC.

[Anonymous]

Bucknell, Lafayette and Union have specific engineering majors and Swarthmore has a general engineering major. All these programs are ABET certified. Washington and Lee has an engineering program that is not ABET certified. It would be easy to change majors if engineering isn't his thing and you don't declare majors until sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:has your kid finished calc. with an A? that's the first step

Most students take calc senior year and would not have finished calc even after submitting apps. I think OP's kid is a junior.

Yes, he's a junior currently in Calc BC with an A so far. 5 on AP pre-calc exam last year.

[Anonymous]

Here’s a few options, many already mentioned here:

https://blog.collegevine.com/top-liberal-arts-colleges-with-engineering-programs