Can anyone compare engineering experiences at some of the better ranked Big Ten engineering schools?

There is attrition everywhere, regardless of approach. Some students simply are not cut out for the rigor. The question is, are students who are qualified to continue in a major being denied that major due to competitive forces, not due to their personal ability to succeed. One would have to imagine if the bar is set at a GPA of 3.5, that could possibly be the case.