3-2 Programs

NotAClue · November 17, 2010, 9:07pm

Sorry if this was covered somewhere but I didn’t find anything in my search.

Can anyone explain to me how a 3-2 program works? Specifically the one at Ithaca College. I understand that you go to LAC and get a BA, in this case in Physics, and then you go to another institution to get a BS in engineering. But I how does that work? Does the 2nd institution automatically accept you? Ithaca’s says after you complete the physics requirements you can go to Cornell, RPI, Clarkson, or SUNY Binghamton. So if you do what you need to do at Ithaca those other schools will just automatically admit you?

I really like the idea of this because while I really enjoy Physics I can’t justify majoring in it. This would provide both the experiences of a LAC and a more grounded scientific university.

LakeWashington · November 18, 2010, 10:34am

Yes, sometimes the search function on CC seems not to work very well.

Nevertheless, regarding 3/2 Programs. As others have posted, the success rate in these programs can be relatively low because students abandon them, choosing to stay at their liberal arts college. Alternatively, some students take much longer than 10 semesters to finish. The benefit is, if the liberal arts college has a formal agreement with the engineering school, and the applicant satisfies the stipulations [coursework] of the agreement, admission to the engineering school is automatic. Keep in mind, financial aid or scholarships that one earned at the liberal arts college will not automatically follow the applicant to the engineering school.

There is another alternative: A Master of Engineering degree, which can be completed in one year [two semesters]. The time and efforts required for a masters can be reduced when your BA/BS is in Physics or Mathematics.

monydad · November 18, 2010, 11:36am

on the other hand, often I find the search function works quite well.
Though it helps to know what you are searching for.

broken_symlink · November 18, 2010, 12:55pm

I am actually going to be applying to columbia this year for the 3/2 program.

As much as I love my school, I think its time to move on. A lot of my friends are going abroad next semester, so I think that will make the transition much easier. Also, my school is not exactly in the best location, and its really close to my house (about an hour away), heck, my grandparents even live down the street.

Anyway, what I have found out in my journey is that in the case of my school, you don’t actually graduate in three years. My school does not let you graduate without 32 “units” well, by the end of this year, my junior year, I will only have 27.5. What happens is that you basically “transfer” to Columbia and the classes you take during your first year count towards your degree at your liberal arts school.

The other thing I found out is that, admissions is guaranteed to Columbia provided three things.

First, you have to take all the required pre-engineering courses. Columbia has a list of these courses on their site, but the thing is, is that the list varies depending on the specific engineering major you’re interested in.

Second, your pre-engineering gpa, the gpa for all math and science courses on the list needs to be above 3.0. They don’t include courses like economics and english, which are on the list for all engineering majors.

Third, your overall gpa needs to be above 3.0.

Finally, I have no idea how strictly Columbia enforces this, but you are required to complete your engineering degree in no more than 4 semesters.

Now, I think in the case of Columbia this seems entirely reasonable. What I’ve found is that as a math major and physics minor at my lac, a majority of the requirements for my math degree at the lac overlapped with the requirements for my desired engineering major at Columbia. Also, because of the physics requirement for my engineering degree it let me pick up the physics minor by taking extra 3 physics classes, but one of those physics classes happened to be intro to electrical engineering, which according to the chair of the 3/2 program at my school will count towards my degree at Columbia and let me jump right into taking more advanced ee courses.

The thing about the 3/2 program is that it takes a lot of careful planning.

My only fear is that I won’t actually get into Columbia because my pre-engineering gpa will barely be above 3.0. I took a lot of those courses my freshmen year and was definitely not mature enough to handle the amount of work. But I’m hoping my upward trend will let the admissions committee reconsider. Sophomore year was really good, I even got on the dean’s list with first honors.

NotAClue · November 18, 2010, 3:11pm

That was alot of good information, thank you!

It does bother me how many colleges are so concerned that you finish your degree in a certain amount of semesters. I’m so afraid I’ll make a mistake choosing my classes and be screwed because I need an extra semester. I wonder if the LAC’s are strict about how long it takes to finish the first part.

I think this whole thing sounds like a good idea. As long as the low success rate of these programs is based on the participant’s lack of follow through and not the institution’s I’m not too worried. It does seem more logical and straightforward to just get the master’s in engineering but the 3-2 program has such an allure to me. I’ll have to think about whether it’s really the best choice or if it’s impractical.

You wouldn’t want to get your B.A. at the end of the 3 years anyway because that would lower financial aid for the last 2 years.

Enginox · November 18, 2010, 3:33pm

Because universities still follow traditions set in place centuries ago. Also, because universities are businesses and they are interested in releasing a good product in a reasonable amount of time. Don’t waste energy worrying about course selection; your advisers are there for a reason. Talk to them.

Pick the program that you think will prepare you best for the career path(s) you would like to follow. At the moment, you shouldn’t worry about a master’s; your main concern is learning as much as you can in a reasonable amount of time.

If that’s a concern, then starting in an 4 year engineering program is perhaps a better option. The end result is the same: you obtain engineering knowledge and a degree.

NotAClue · November 18, 2010, 5:24pm

Thanks for the great insights. I guess I’ll just have to really think about what is important to me. It doesn’t help that I’m so indecisive and prone to changing my mind! I guess I’ll try to apply to as many schools as possible and see how it works out with financial aid. I can find the best compromise of school vs money.

I wonder if the 3/2 program school(Ithaca College) ends up giving me the best financial aid if that would make it more of a possibility. We’ll see.

But thanks you guys for the responses… gave me lots to think about!

broken_symlink · November 18, 2010, 6:19pm

I’m confused by what you mean by that. Your financial aid doesn’t transfer and when you apply to the partner school you have to reapply for financial aid.

Of course I know absolutely nothing about financial aid, as I don’t get any. However, I’m definitely going to be applying for it when I apply to Columbia since my college fund is starting to run dry, and may not be able to last another 2 years.

As for LACs being strict about finishing the first part, what I know in the case of Columbia is that if you don’t finish the requirements to graduate from your LAC by your junior year, then you probably shouldn’t apply. The reason being that is one of the requirements of Columbia is to finish a program of liberal studies by the end of junior year.

If you apply your senior for the 4-2 program, Columbia does not guarantee admissions even if you meet all the requirements.

NotAClue · November 18, 2010, 6:44pm

Im not sure exactly but if you have a bachelors then you either qualify for much less financial aid or none at all. That’s why it wouldn’t be a good idea to get the B.A. before completing the engineering part.

3-2 Programs

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