I also have some industrial engineering-specific advice for students considering IOE as their major, or have declared IOE:
- IOE is regarded as an easier major than the other engineering majors. This is mainly due to the curriculum being easier and the grading is more lenient. This being said, I still encourage you to study hard as an IOE major. In my opinion, recruiters are aware that IOE is an easier major than other engineering majors. This means that you need to have a solid GPA when competing for internship or full-time positions. I would consider 3.5+ as a safe GPA and is totally doable as an IOE major. Take advantage of the lenient grading and get good grades.
- Make friends early on in your sophomore and junior-level IOE classes, as well as identify hard-working individuals. Many of the junior and senior-level IOE courses involve group projects and it is highly important to your grades and psychological well-being that you pick good peers to work with (most IOE classes let you pick your teammates). I made the mistake of not making IOE friends early on and found myself with nobody reliable to work with in some of my classes.
- Take IOE 310 (Intro to Optimization) with Professor Amy Cohn. She is one of the best professors in the IOE department. I believe that she teaches in the fall semester. There is another professor that teaches in the winter semester, but Cohn is much better.
- Take IOE 461 (Quality Engineering Principles) with Professor Pat Hammett. This is one of the most practical courses offered by the department. Hammett teaches highly useful information, and the course offers you a path to professional certification in the Six Sigma problem-solving methodology if you choose to pursue it.