3+2 Engineering Programs

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had a student actually complete one? They sound amazing on paper, but it seems like very few actually finish. TIA!

[Anonymous]

If you mean taking 5 years to get two undergraduate degrees, few students do it because it makes so little sense. Why spend the extra year in college when you can go to grad school or work? Its straight forward for a math or science major at a SLAC to get into a graduate engineering program. The second degree doesn't enhance job prospects for an engineer. Columbia Engineering (SEAS) offers guaranteed admission with something like 100 other colleges, but only a small number actually ever enroll -- mostly students who REALLY want to be an Ivy grad at any cost. It's the backdoor to the backdoor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you mean taking 5 years to get two undergraduate degrees, few students do it because it makes so little sense. Why spend the extra year in college when you can go to grad school or work? Its straight forward for a math or science major at a SLAC to get into a graduate engineering program. The second degree doesn't enhance job prospects for an engineer. Columbia Engineering (SEAS) offers guaranteed admission with something like 100 other colleges, but only a small number actually ever enroll -- mostly students who REALLY want to be an Ivy grad at any cost. It's the backdoor to the backdoor.

From our perspective, we weren't looking for a back door. But an opportunity to attend a SLAC and all that entails (smaller school, more individual attention). Just unsure that there is adequate incentive to complete the degree when the student becomes comfortable at the SLAC. Engineering degrees generally are very rigid and do not allow lots of out of major classes.

[Anonymous]

I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: ... Columbia Engineering (SEAS) offers guaranteed admission ....

I'm the PP who did the 3/2 at SEAS. It was not guaranteed admission. I recall needing at least 3.5 in a degree like Physics or Chemistry.

If you can't get in the front door, try the back. Having an EE degree from Columbia is much better than an EE from podunk state U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Wow, congrats to you! Did you find that "catching up" at Columbia was difficult?

[Anonymous]

I know two people who did it and finished at VT. One did 3 years at Sweet Briar bc she was an equestrian and the other did 3 years at Wheaton bc he was religious. Both seemed to handle it fine.

[Anonymous]

Check out Wesleyan. They have some sort of engineering program where you get a BS and a masters in 5 years, but pay for 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Wow, congrats to you! Did you find that "catching up" at Columbia was difficult?

Thank you. I had to study my ass off, but I graduated Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. I wouldn't say I was behind my classmates and needed to catch up. Remember, I studied three years as a Physics major which meant several semesters of calculus and a semester of partial differential equations. Math is math, so if you master calculus and PDE at State U you are all set anywhere you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Did they make you take CC or Lit Hum, or did you get those credits to transfer from the other school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Wow, congrats to you! Did you find that "catching up" at Columbia was difficult?

Thank you. I had to study my ass off, but I graduated Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. I wouldn't say I was behind my classmates and needed to catch up. Remember, I studied three years as a Physics major which meant several semesters of calculus and a semester of partial differential equations. Math is math, so if you master calculus and PDE at State U you are all set anywhere you go.

Nice. Well done! I think it's great that you had the best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

DS planning something similar. 3/4 undergrad years at a smaller school (probably 4 as he wants to study abroad and also graduate with his class) and then 3 years at Fordham Law (guaranteed admission with a 3.5 and good LSATs)

I asked why more don't do it and the chair said kids need to know coming in so they can plan classes accordingly to get everything in. Also the expectations are high so there can be no screwing around. Many college kids aren't that focused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Did they make you take CC or Lit Hum, or did you get those credits to transfer from the other school?

My humanities credits transferred. But I did have to take a few non-engineering classes. I remember an anthro class and an econ class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it and it was a great decision.

I spent 3 years at a state school and then 2 at a private engineering school (Columbia U. SEAS). I have a degree from Columbia and only paid 2 years of Columbia tuition!

I would not have been accepted to Columbia out of high school because I didn't become a good student until college. At the state school, I studies physics and got mostly A's in all my science and math classes.

Wow, congrats to you! Did you find that "catching up" at Columbia was difficult?

Thank you. I had to study my ass off, but I graduated Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. I wouldn't say I was behind my classmates and needed to catch up. Remember, I studied three years as a Physics major which meant several semesters of calculus and a semester of partial differential equations. Math is math, so if you master calculus and PDE at State U you are all set anywhere you go.

Nice. Well done! I think it's great that you had the best of both worlds.

Thanks. And I got a chance to live on the Upper West Side for 2 years in a Columbia owned apartment building converted to dorms with a great view of Riverside Park. My suite-mates were mostly grad students from all different parts of the University -- History PhD candidate (he was a bit strange), a poet in the school of Journalism, SIPA, Harriman Institute, architecture. Great experience.

[Anonymous]

My DS considered 3-2 programs, but was advised by several engineers that he would miss out on critical research and engineering competition opportunities (e.g., solar car). He's now a junior engineering major and we can appreciate the wisdom of that advice. His participation in two major research projects has been a highlight of his educational experience. As a result, he's a very strong candidate for top grad school programs.