<p>^ Xiggi must have been talking only about LACs, no?
Of course engineering programs at MIT, CalTech, Stanford etc. are not “mere afterthoughts” (a reasonable way to characterize 3/2 programs at many LACs).</p>
<p>USNWR peer assessment scores for top engineering programs : </p>
<p>MIT (4.9)
Stanford, Berkeley (4.7)
CalTech (4.6)
Harvey Mudd, GIT, UI (4.5)
… (cluster of other schools) …
Princeton (4.1?)</p>
<p>So even among non-LACs, HMC seems to be quite close to the top. Close enough that, with its unusual features (as a consortium LAC), it’s a worthy contender for best choice (as is Princeton, along with quite a few others).</p>
<p>I do think that if you want a “Liberal Arts College” with engineering, and you have the qualifications, you really ought to be looking at the Ivies too. Rule them out if you’re sure you want a very small school, or if you think TAs are evil, but not if you are just looking for small classes and engineering within a broad arts and science curriculum.</p>