<p>I’ve choosing between UVa, Smith College, and UConn Honors.</p>
<p>I’ve been accepted into all of their engineering programs thinking I’d like to go into Chemical Engineering, however I’m not sure if Chemical Engineering is the type of engineering I really want to major it. </p>
<p>I’ve lived near UConn my entire life and have taken multiple classes there, in fact, i’d technically be a second semester sophmore with the credits I have for my freshman first semester. </p>
<p>Smith is a small, private, all women’s college. But I’ve heard great things about the new engineering school. </p>
<p>UVa is a large, well-known university that I’ve also heard great things about. </p>
<p>How are each of these school’s engineering programs relative to each other? And what are some suggestions for a woman engineering choosing between the three?</p>
<p>If money isn’t a concern, I would go with UVA… :)</p>
<p>I am in the same boat dude. I got into UConn HP and got instate tuition from the RSP program and a bit more off scholarships, but I also got into UVA with no fin aid. Im looking to go BME / pre-med. </p>
<p>I would choose UVA in a heartbeat over Uconn if money wasnt an issue. But as I examine the importance on grad school, Uconn’s comparatively cheap tuition is looking better and better and I would come out of undergrad with no debt.</p>
<p>In essence: UVA if you have the money, Uconn if money is too tight</p>
<p>Aurararara -</p>
<p>The classroom atmosphere at a women’s college is just plain different from that at a co-ed institution. You really should try to pay a visit to Smith so that you can see whether or not you like the vibe. </p>
<p>As for UConn vs. UVA, unless UVA has thrown enough money at you to make the cost low, I would say UConn so that you can use all of your credits and finish up quicker and at a lower cost.</p>
<p>Visit. You’ll know at once if Smith or UVA is for you; they’re very different schools. My own experience with UVA is outdated (I did my doctoral studies there), but even now, I think it has much more of a social, party-school rep than Smith has; my daughter is at Smith, and reports that the atmosphere is still as free-spirited and intellectually curious as when I was there undergrad. She was also attracted by the engineering program, although she’s a physics major. Both beautiful campuses, of course.</p>
<p>The engineering program at Smith is meant to be as liberal-arts-ish as is commensurate with the engineering degree; what I think that translates into is that it’s not a BE-and-you’re-working engineering degree. I think the assumption is that you’ll keep going and get your ME, with the advantage of having had a liberal arts experience rather than a more technically oriented one. An enormous advantage of a smaller school over a university, of course, is that you’ll probably work more closely with your professors; a disadvantage is that there might not be as many classes to choose among. You should really contact the engineering school at each place, and arrange to meet with a professor or two before you really decide–at least, speak to a professor by phone, and, if possible, with some students.</p>
<p>Of the three, UVa, UConn, and Smith, are any of the engineering programs better recognized? Would I be at a disadvantage in applying to graduate school with an engineering science degree with a concentration in chemical e,ngineering from Smith versus one from UConn or UVa?</p>
<p>UConn is nowhere near UVA or Smith in terms of academic reputation.</p>
<p>Aurararara,</p>
<p>You should ask the question about grad school admissions for Chem Engineers in the Grad School Forum. The people there will have ideas for you. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, grad school admissions is heavily dependent on your overall GPA, the GPA in coursework related to the proposed field of study, your letters of recommendation, and any work/internship/research/publications related to the field of study. If your professor at non-name-U has an old PhD advisor or pal from grad school on the faculty at the university where you want to study that may be enough to make the deal.</p>
<p>Engineering is (overall) less variable from institution to institution provided the program is accredited by ABET. That part of your program is less likely to make a difference when it comes time to look for grad schools.</p>