Anonymous wrote:Our college counselor says these programs are basically fake, as no kids actually do the dual degree. They are to say there is a pathway but the reality is that no kids do the program (and so there's a very high likelihood yours wouldn't either).

There are currently 7 of these students at DC’s LAC.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a student that has experience with these programs ? Considering it for our DC current junior. Pros/ cons? TIA!

There are liberal arts colleges that have engineering programs: Swarthmore, Smith, Union (NY), Bucknell, Lafayette, Clarkson, Harvey Mudd… probably a better option

One negative is that that 5th year will cost you another $100K.

Anonymous wrote:They're a stupid idea. If your kid wants to be an engineer, they should go to a school for engineering. Don't go to a school that doesn't offer your intended major. These programs have all the downsides of transferring school including having to find a new friend group, losing out on connections for internships and building relationships with faculty, missing opportunities for engineering design teams and undergrad research, and paying for an extra year.

The only time they make any sense at all is if a kid is already attending the liberal arts school and then they decide they want to be an engineer. But that's a situation where the kid chose the wrong school from the get go and is using the program to change direction.

Yep.. Here's a novel concept... If your kid wants to be an Engineer and get the best engineering education to prepare them to be the best engineer, have them try to gain acceptance to the best engineering schools. I know crazy right?

Our college counselor says these programs are basically fake, as no kids actually do the dual degree. They are to say there is a pathway but the reality is that no kids do the program (and so there's a very high likelihood yours wouldn't either).

Anonymous wrote:As a tangential comment, I've heard good things about Dartmouth's 2-1-1-1 program:

Partner School Dual-Degree Program | Dartmouth Engineering https://share.google/0QI9um6kchFvuAXsj

Nah...Dartmouth Engineering is ranked like #59 in the country for a reason .

Anonymous wrote:Look and see how many kids end up graduating with the degree. Many kids do not want to transfer and just change majors

This. Very few people who start down that path graduate with an engineering degree.

If a student wants engineering, then attend an actual engineering program.

Also, look at the engineering graduation rate and prefer schools with a high percentage. In the very best engineering programs, 90+% of students who start in engineering will graduate with an engineering degree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there programs where you do your first 2 years at your liberal arts college, then 3rd year at engineering college, back to liberal arts college for senior year and then 5th year at engineering college? This way you still get senior year with your class? And 3rd year, many other classmates are doing junior year abroad anyway?

Do these exist? That would be o much more appealing for DC. Really doesn’t like the idea of essentially missing out on senior year at the undergrad school.

Haven't you read this topic? It's only a few posts long?

They're a stupid idea. If your kid wants to be an engineer, they should go to a school for engineering. Don't go to a school that doesn't offer your intended major. These programs have all the downsides of transferring school including having to find a new friend group, losing out on connections for internships and building relationships with faculty, missing opportunities for engineering design teams and undergrad research, and paying for an extra year.

The only time they make any sense at all is if a kid is already attending the liberal arts school and then they decide they want to be an engineer. But that's a situation where the kid chose the wrong school from the get go and is using the program to change direction.

Anonymous wrote:Are there programs where you do your first 2 years at your liberal arts college, then 3rd year at engineering college, back to liberal arts college for senior year and then 5th year at engineering college? This way you still get senior year with your class? And 3rd year, many other classmates are doing junior year abroad anyway?

Do these exist? That would be o much more appealing for DC. Really doesn’t like the idea of essentially missing out on senior year at the undergrad school.

Are there programs where you do your first 2 years at your liberal arts college, then 3rd year at engineering college, back to liberal arts college for senior year and then 5th year at engineering college? This way you still get senior year with your class? And 3rd year, many other classmates are doing junior year abroad anyway?

Look and see how many kids end up graduating with the degree. Many kids do not want to transfer and just change majors

Washu 3+2 is guaranteed if you meet the requirements. Not sure if other programs have a guaranteed admission to the engineering degree

https://engineering.washu.edu/academics/dual-degree-program/FAQs.html

As a tangential comment, I've heard good things about Dartmouth's 2-1-1-1 program:

Partner School Dual-Degree Program | Dartmouth Engineering https://share.google/0QI9um6kchFvuAXsj

Does anyone have a student that has experience with these programs ? Considering it for our DC current junior. Pros/ cons? TIA!