My son is graduating high school next month (3.4 GPA and 24 ACT) and his current career plan is mechanical engineering. He has been accepted into the mechanical engineering program by Grand Valley and Oakland University. The University of Detroit accepted him into a Pre-Engineering program for freshman year and if successful he will then be allowed to transfer into the traditional four-year program. We have visited all 3 campuses and my son would be comfortable attending any one of them. We are trying to make our selection based on where he would have the best chance of success. If anyone has input/experience with the engineering programs at any of these institutions we would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for your time.
This is hard. One of my old friends graduated from Oakland U. and later was top of her class at Detroit College of Law, now part of Michigan State. She became a partner at a good law firm and lives in Birmingham. She was not only very smart, but enjoyed her time there. Unfortunately, I know very little about the other two. But she impressed me enough to hold Oakland in high regard. Best of luck.
Grand Valley has very good programs and its honors program is nationally-ranked (it’s possible to apply - although his ACT is low, if his essays would matter more - and the benefits are good; they even have a questionnaire so students can see if they’re likely to enjoy the experience and would fit in well with their classmates). Deadline is May 1st and if your son is interested, it
https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/8FD27608-AF95-77B5-29623F385B8819C8/selfassessment_for_prospective_students2.pdf
https://www.gvsu.edu/honor/admissions-requirements-36.htm
Overall, GCSU is slightly better academically but your son would have more personalized attention at Detroit-Mercy. Unfortunately Detroit-Mercy makes little of its data available.
Objective data:
GVSU: 21, 000 students / OU: 17,000 / UDM: 3,300
Average GPA - GVSU: 3.5 / OU: 3.3 / UDM: ?
% small classes - GVSU: 25/ OU: 37/ UDM: 51
% large classes - GVSU: 17/ OU: 23 / UDM: 5 (and none above 50 students)
4-year graduation rate- GVSU: 32%/ OU: 15% / UDM: ???
% students in top 25% HS class- GVSU: 50/ OU: 47/ UDM: 54
% students who score 24+ on that ACT - GVSU: 54%/ OU: 43%/ UDM: 45%??
I don’t know the schools well, but I’d probably opt for one of the two options where he is already accepted into the engineering program.
Grand Valley is less of a commuter school than Oakland is (or at least that’s the impression I get since I live literally down the street from OU.) Oakland wins for best location, though; it’s right in one of the greatest suburban cities in the United States. I would personally pick Grand Valley knowing what I know about each school, but OU isn’t a bad option either. I would rule out Detroit Mercy since your son wasn’t admitted into the engineering department directly and because of its less than ideal location.