For a possible future engineer - Is it better to go to an overall higher ranked university or

[Anonymous]

Higher Ranked Engineering program? My DS has great grades and scores and is "pretty sure" he wants to go into engineering. There are some great engineering schools that have lackluster overall rankings. He may want to double major in business just in case. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Higher ranked engineering program

The employers in that field know which programs are best and they prefer those programs. They aren't as impressed by name-brand anything. If you select a school just for the name-brand, they think you're a snob.

[Anonymous]

Can you really double major in business and engineering? My DCs college has very highly regarded programs in both but they are in different schools with different admissions processes. They also have a pretty significant required curriculum so it's hard, if not impossible, to do both. Probably better to go to an engineering school and then get an MBA if that's the path he wants.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP to do BS in undergrad and then MBA. To answer your question, I would go with a name brand school with an average engineering program over a top no-name engineering school. Especially if he wants to go into the business end of things, which by the way, is a smart move. Engineering careers can come to a screeching end in your mid-30s or early 40s.

[Anonymous]

DH is an engineer and he actually was recruited over business majors for the same job (a non engineering job). They said they preferred the way engineers thought towards business and the way they looked at things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP to do BS in undergrad and then MBA. To answer your question, I would go with a name brand school with an average engineering program over a top no-name engineering school. Especially if he wants to go into the business end of things, which by the way, is a smart move. Engineering careers can come to a screeching end in your mid-30s or early 40s.

-- signed, not an engineer ^^^.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP to do BS in undergrad and then MBA. To answer your question, I would go with a name brand school with an average engineering program over a top no-name engineering school. Especially if he wants to go into the business end of things, which by the way, is a smart move. Engineering careers can come to a screeching end in your mid-30s or early 40s.

-- signed, not an engineer ^^^.

Wrong! You must not be an engineer.

[Anonymous]

It would be helpful for those posting to give some context for their response -- e.g., "I'm an engineer with X years of experience" or "I'm the parent of a student in an engineering program" or "I studied engineering as an undergrad and subsequently earned an MBA.

FWIW, I'm the parent of a HS student who's currently researching and visiting engineering programs, and will apply this year. What she's repeatedly heard (from practicing engineers, engineering profs and MBAs who studied engineering as undergrads) is to go with the best engineering program possible even if that requires that you trade off overall prestige.

[Anonymous]

He should consider his overall happiness. Engineering is tough, and his quality of life at the particular school will likely impact success and motivation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you really double major in business and engineering? My DCs college has very highly regarded programs in both but they are in different schools with different admissions processes. They also have a pretty significant required curriculum so it's hard, if not impossible, to do both. Probably better to go to an engineering school and then get an MBA if that's the path he wants.

+1 MBA after Masters in Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Assuming the engineering school is at least decent, I'd go for the higher rated school if your DC is on the fence. Engineering is tough and many drop out. Plus if your DC does takes another career path in the future the higher rated school will help.

- engineering undergrad w/MBA and now in a non-engineering career that required strong quantitative skills

[Anonymous]

So, here's a spin-off question: Let's say the higher-ranked school doesn't offer engineering, so the student earns an undergrad degree in a quantitative field (e.g., math, applied math or stats), what would be his/her prospects for gaining admission to a master's program in engineering?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming the engineering school is at least decent, I'd go for the higher rated school if your DC is on the fence. Engineering is tough and many drop out. Plus if your DC does takes another career path in the future the higher rated school will help.

- engineering undergrad w/MBA and now in a non-engineering career that required strong quantitative skills

What do you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming the engineering school is at least decent, I'd go for the higher rated school if your DC is on the fence. Engineering is tough and many drop out. Plus if your DC does takes another career path in the future the higher rated school will help.

- engineering undergrad w/MBA and now in a non-engineering career that required strong quantitative skills

+1. Some people end up with the degree but don't pursue a career in it. Know people with engineering degrees from highly rated schools who, despite doing well academically, hated it, went onto grad school in something completely different and never worked a day as an engineer or anything STEM related.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming the engineering school is at least decent, I'd go for the higher rated school if your DC is on the fence. Engineering is tough and many drop out. Plus if your DC does takes another career path in the future the higher rated school will help.

- engineering undergrad w/MBA and now in a non-engineering career that required strong quantitative skills

What do you do?

consulting in a specialized financial area - I like numbers.