3+2 Engineering Programs

[Anonymous]

I was intrigued by Clarkson. Looks like a good place. I'm sorry, but Potsdam is not for my son. It isn't that far from Montreal, or skiing, but Potsdam is freezing and far. NY wins the prize for colleges that would be great, if only located elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Do these programs have any sort of capstone project? At my engineering school all of the seniors had to participate in a year long interdisciplinary capstone project. The mix of engineering disciplines depended on the needs of the project. Each project had a budget and a client.

For instance, my husband's team had to design a new automated plasma welder for a certain type of welding joint, which hadn't been previously automated. There were 2 EEs who did the circuitry, 2 CompEs who wrote the automation, a CivE who analyzed the strength of the resulting welds, and 2 MechEs who built the robot. They had a 25k budget and 9 months. They sold the design and working prototype to the client for 50k, with the profit to the school. These projects had to be completed to graduate. It was a defining part of the becoming an engineer.

[Anonymous]

who cares if 3/2 columbia is backdoor? you still get full access to columbia OCI/OCR for quant finance and the tons of consulting/finance/startup recruiting that likes pulling from elite schools.

it's a great program - i wish i ahd known about it when i was applying to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do these programs have any sort of capstone project? .....

Google is your friend!

found this in less than 3 seconds -- http://engineering.columbia.edu/senior-design-expo-showcases-engineering-design-and-innovation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at the Columbia 3/2 program a couple weeks ago with my DC, who is ADHD, but graduating from TJ, probably in the 25-50% with a senior engineering lab. He's strong in humanities, and I like the idea of him going to a small LAC like Davidson for 3 years, doing the core classes and getting a degree in anything her wants, then finishing at Columbia. I'l afraid he will get lost at a large school his first couple of years. Plus, if he could get a merit scholarship to an LAC that does the 3/2 program, we could pay for 2 years at Columbia-- but would be hard pressed to pay for 4, even if he could get in.

PP who have BTDT-- good move or bad idea? It seems win-win given his circumstances. But I don't know if it works IRL. Advice?

Couple of questions:

- How can one get a degree in 3 years from a SLAC? I thought the final degree comes from columbia in the 3+2 program with all the LAC credits transferred over.

- Is there a list of colleges that feed into the columbia 3+2 program or is it open to all schools?

- Does any other elite university have such a program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at the Columbia 3/2 program a couple weeks ago with my DC, who is ADHD, but graduating from TJ, probably in the 25-50% with a senior engineering lab. He's strong in humanities, and I like the idea of him going to a small LAC like Davidson for 3 years, doing the core classes and getting a degree in anything her wants, then finishing at Columbia. I'l afraid he will get lost at a large school his first couple of years. Plus, if he could get a merit scholarship to an LAC that does the 3/2 program, we could pay for 2 years at Columbia-- but would be hard pressed to pay for 4, even if he could get in.

PP who have BTDT-- good move or bad idea? It seems win-win given his circumstances. But I don't know if it works IRL. Advice?

Couple of questions:

- How can one get a degree in 3 years from a SLAC? I thought the final degree comes from columbia in the 3+2 program with all the LAC credits transferred over.

- Is there a list of colleges that feed into the columbia 3+2 program or is it open to all schools?

- Does any other elite university have such a program?

caltech has a program but it isn't semi-guarunteed like columbia. as long as you hit your gpa requirement, columbia will take you.

caltech does not have a straight forward intake like that.

https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/32-program

caltech program is with a limited number of slacs.

list of colleges in columbia program:

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/combined_plan_affiliates_2016-17.pdf

it is a LOT easier to get into the columbia program - way wider list of feeder schools and semi-guarunteed as long as you meet pre-defined metrics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do these programs have any sort of capstone project? At my engineering school all of the seniors had to participate in a year long interdisciplinary capstone project. The mix of engineering disciplines depended on the needs of the project. Each project had a budget and a client.

For instance, my husband's team had to design a new automated plasma welder for a certain type of welding joint, which hadn't been previously automated. There were 2 EEs who did the circuitry, 2 CompEs who wrote the automation, a CivE who analyzed the strength of the resulting welds, and 2 MechEs who built the robot. They had a 25k budget and 9 months. They sold the design and working prototype to the client for 50k, with the profit to the school. These projects had to be completed to graduate. It was a defining part of the becoming an engineer.

i would be interested in seeing what percentage of 3-2 columbia kids go into consulting or finance. i wouldn't be surprised if that's a larger motiviation for 3-2 grads whereas your typical land grant flagship engineering school grad isn't gunning to be a quant on ws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Couple of questions:

(1) How can one get a degree in 3 years from a SLAC? I thought the final degree comes from columbia in the 3+2 program with all the LAC credits transferred over.

(2) Is there a list of colleges that feed into the columbia 3+2 program or is it open to all schools?

(3) Does any other elite university have such a program?

(1) the credits transfer both ways so a 3/2 student will get a BA from the SLAC and a BS from Columbia.

(2) https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/combined_plan_affiliates_2016-17.pdf

(3) When I was looking into this many many years ago, I recall Cornell had a 3-2 program (So does Clarkson. I wouldn't put Clarkson in the "elite" category -- but that could be do to my ignorance as others on here have differed with me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do these programs have any sort of capstone project? .....

Google is your friend!

found this in less than 3 seconds -- http://engineering.columbia.edu/senior-design-expo-showcases-engineering-design-and-innovation

This doesn't say whether a capstone project is required for 3/2 students, or even whether it fits in the abbreviated schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do these programs have any sort of capstone project? .....

Google is your friend!

found this in less than 3 seconds -- http://engineering.columbia.edu/senior-design-expo-showcases-engineering-design-and-innovation

This doesn't say whether a capstone project is required for 3/2 students, or even whether it fits in the abbreviated schedules.

Why would you assume that a senior design class is not open to all seniors? Haven't PPs explained that a 3/2 student is not treated any differently than a straight student (with the exception of financial aid and being ghettoized with respect to housing).

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the explanation. I see how this is a great solution for most kids. This would not work for us, but our situation may be a bit different because of specific concerns with our kid.

DS looked into this when he first started looking at colleges, as he prefered the size over W&M vs UVA and VT, but knowing that he was interested in EE. Th 3.5 GPA is definitely a risk, especially for my DS. We are already a little anxious over having to keep a 3.2 to get first choice of major at the other schools. Also DS is concerned that he will get too attached to undergrad friends and not want to leave. Also he doesns't make friends, easily; so having to "start-over" after 3 years is a concern for us as well.

i like the PP who likened this to a grad program, as that is what it seems like, but w/o the Masters degree. The other VA schools do offer a 5-year BS-MS program altho the advanced degree is not necesary for my DS career aspirations. We are looking into a 5-year program because we are concerned with my son's maturity level going into the workplace, as he will be 20 after 4 years of undergrad. And again, are concerned about him "starting over", although it would be great practice for being a grown-up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: i would be interested in seeing what percentage of 3-2 columbia kids go into consulting or finance. i wouldn't be surprised if that's a larger motiviation for 3-2 grads whereas your typical land grant flagship engineering school grad isn't gunning to be a quant on ws.

No stats for you, just some anecdotes. I recall WS had a big presence during OCR and also recall Mgmt consulting firms - Bain specifically. One of my friends went the WS route and then ended up at HBS.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who asked, Georgetown had a 3+2 with Columbia. Many SLACs are tied with Case Western engineering, and as another mentioned, Cal Tech has agreements with several
SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who asked, Georgetown had a 3+2 with Columbia. Many SLACs are tied with Case Western engineering, and as another mentioned, Cal Tech has agreements with several
SLACs.

Wash U in St Louis is another one -- they call it Dual Degree, but 3/2 is one of the arrangements.
https://engineering.wustl.edu/prospective-students/dual-degree/Pages/default.aspx

Affiliated LACs: https://engineering.wustl.edu/prospective-students/dual-degree/Pages/affiliated-schools.aspx

I did 3/2 from a LAC, with the engineering portion at Penn State. In my case, it's because I decided during my freshman year that I wanted to do engineering instead of physics. I really liked the liberal arts classes and had a good financial arrangement at my college, so 3/2 made more sense than transferring. 15 years later, no regrets. In particular, competent writing skills have served me very very well and those came from the liberal arts portion of college.

[Anonymous]

One more. Emory has a 3-2 program with Georgia Tech that seems to be really well supported. DS is trying to decide between that and Bucknell engineering this week, which is one of the few SLACs with engineering.