Anonymous
06/23/2025 18:08
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Notre Dame and Miami could also be good options, though Notre Dame is highly selective. Beyond Lehigh, many smaller engineering schools tend to have very academic cultures and can feel socially isolated. OP's best bet might be finding a public university that offers the right balance. I'd also suggest adding Delaware to the list.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 15:53
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:This is misleading at best. The OP has not listed any of those criteria. You are mind reading.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
The OP has provided two schools that their kid has some interest in. The OP has expressed some concern about untraditional engineering and is seeking a less intense environment.
So what are schools that offer traditional engineering options and meanwhile are lower intensity? Bonus, I guess, if you can find a private of similar size to Wake or BC?
Lehigh seems to me like a fit with BC and Wake. Similar size and ranking, especially compared to Wake. And Lehigh offers a more traditional engineering program.
My understanding is that Lehigh’s school culture is more social/sporty than some of the more engineering-focused schools. True?
Anonymous
06/23/2025 14:25
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:This is misleading at best. The OP has not listed any of those criteria. You are mind reading.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
The OP has provided two schools that their kid has some interest in. The OP has expressed some concern about untraditional engineering and is seeking a less intense environment.
So what are schools that offer traditional engineering options and meanwhile are lower intensity? Bonus, I guess, if you can find a private of similar size to Wake or BC?
Yes, I worked with the information OP provided. I think it would be a very large challenge to find a student applying to Wake, BC, and Elizabethtown. ODU is a great school for the right student, but unlikely to be attractive to a student with stats that are competitive for BC and Wake and a vague interest in engineering.
Tennessee is more in the ballpark, but a much different vibe from Wake a BC socially.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:36
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
This is good advice (and I would add Case Western.)
Lehigh maybe , although location sucks, but Case Western is the opposite of BC/Wake in terms of social/sports scene, as are most of the other schools being mentioned.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:34
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If he wants Boston, I would think BU is a far better choice than BC for engineering. Why BC for engineering?
Northeastern is even better.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/top-feeders-engineering
Northeastern is huge.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:31
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
This is misleading at best. The OP has not listed any of those criteria. You are mind reading.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
The OP has provided two schools that their kid has some interest in. The OP has expressed some concern about untraditional engineering and is seeking a less intense environment.
So what are schools that offer traditional engineering options and meanwhile are lower intensity? Bonus, I guess, if you can find a private of similar size to Wake or BC?
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:16
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
Yes, Lehigh jumped right out at me, and I like the next poster's suggestions of Pitt and Syracuse.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:11
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:If he wants Boston, I would think BU is a far better choice than BC for engineering. Why BC for engineering?
OP here -- He doesn't want to be right in a city and likes the idea of a Catholic college.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 12:09
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Also, what a 4.8 UW? Are there schools with a 5.0 scale? (Ours doesn’t give out A+, even to those with a 100 average. Just not a thing where we are.)
Sorry, typo. 4.8 W, 3.98 UW
Anonymous
06/23/2025 10:47
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
+1
The schools that OP is considering are mid-sized, nationally recognizable private universities, that are selective but not T20-hard to get into, with some kind of engineering.
Lehigh fits that criteria. Maybe University of Rochester (if you can handle the cold) is an idea.
This is good advice (and I would add Case Western.)
Anonymous
06/23/2025 09:32
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Tufts checks a lot of boxes - a mid-size (6k) private with strong academics in Boston with engineering. Sports are not huge on campus but plenty of top-tier sports in town.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 09:10
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:If he wants Boston, I would think BU is a far better choice than BC for engineering. Why BC for engineering?
Northeastern is even better.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/top-feeders-engineering
Anonymous
06/23/2025 07:29
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:It's a general engineering degree, which is what JMU offers. Students can elect to get different concentrations. Just know that a BSEE is going to be more impressive than a BSE, concentration in EE. Same for ME, Biomed, Civil. There's no Aero at all. Chem & Materials are lumped together.
As a hiring manager, I do not hire someone with a general engineering degree from any school. Those degrees lack depth. I will hire students with specific engineering degrees from a wide range of engineering programs - if their degree covers the specific knowledge and skills I need.
Anonymous
06/23/2025 07:28
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
If he wants Boston, I would think BU is a far better choice than BC for engineering. Why BC for engineering?
Anonymous
06/23/2025 07:25
Subject: Wake Forest, Boston College for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:It seems that the OP is mainly interested in less intense engineering programs. I got this from, idk, actually reading what the OP has said. Silly, I know.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:BC’s offering is Human Centered Engineering, which is offered by Arts and Sciences. It’s certainly not a general engineering program. And it’s not human factors. Wake offers a general engineering degree (similar to JMU). Probably most similar to Mechanical.
I’d suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe Tennessee? ODU? For really small schools, check out Elizabethtown in PA.
These recommendations are a tad random and aren't remotely similar to OP's current schools of interest. Silly.
The suggestions I provided are a large public flagship, a medium public, and a small private. These all would provide a less intense program and might be right for a “relaxed teen who also wants to have fun, play sports, watch sports, etc. in college”.
Which is another way of addressing the OPs concern. “Less intense engineering” is not oxymoronic and not all programs are like MIT and these are examples.
Maybe you should read more carefully and think a little bit before replying, nitwit.
VT is a large public by any measure, and it has a great engineering program (best in VA). It also has intentional weed-out classes for engineering students (# of juniors in engineering is much smaller than # of freshman in engineering) and is anything but “less intense”.