Where should I apply? (engineering)

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hi everyone -

I’m currently a junior and I’m trying to create a solid list of places to apply to. I’m looking to major in engineering, but I’d preferably like to go to (describing my fictional dream school here, haha) a comprehensive university with strong programs in multiple disciplines as opposed to somewhere completely technical. I have been taking piano for 10 years and am interested in minoring or taking lessons in music purely for my own interest. If not making it a part of my degree, I’d ideally like to go somewhere with an active arts community so I can stay somehow stay involved in that area. Additionally, if for some reason I do not like engineering, I don’t want to be in a position where the program I’d switch to is significantly less renowned than the engineering school (that is, I don’t want to go somewhere where engineering is the only thing that’s offered i.e. Olin/that is considered to be of good quality). I’m very interested in chemical engineering, specifically with a concentration in biochemical, and computer science interests me as well.

Additionally, because of my father’s employment history, I have access to two scholarship programs: Tuition Exchange and GI Yellow Ribbon. In terms of cost, these may expand my options.

I live in Virginia and ideally would like to stay close-ish to home, so I’m mainly looking at schools in the mid-atlantic and southeast, but I’m open to any suggestions you all have! Some brief stats for myself: 32 ACT (only taken once, retaking in April), 4.0 U/W GPA, will have 17 AP credits by the time I graduate, attend an academic year governor’s school, and will have 3-4 significant leadership roles during senior year.

My current list is:
UVA (top choice)
Virginia Tech
JMU
Duke(?) (but they don’t have a ChemE program, as far as I’m aware)

If my criteria is completely ridiculous, please tell me - I would appreciate any guidance you all have.

Thanks :slight_smile:

2

bump - would like to start expanding list soon!

3

There’s quite a difference between computer science and chemical engineering. If you decide on Chemical Engineering are you likely to get a masters degree? If you’re unsure don’t preclude colleges like Duke, John Hopkins, Penn etc. – all reach schools. For safeties and match colleges stick with your instate publics.

4

You should ask your father which TE schools will work for you.

5

In general, for tech disciplines, you are best off going to school in a region of the country that has a “tech cluster” that aligns with your area of interest. San Francisco and Boston top the list for Biotech, but there are other smaller clusters.

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/top-15-cities-biotech-venture-funding/2014-03-06
http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligence/top-10-u-s-biopharma-clusters/77900061

Your criteria is not completely ridiculus, but it is not typical and is going to be very hard to find.

If you are willing to venture north to the Boston area, then Tufts could make for a good fit.

It’s engineering school is small (about 800 students - 2x the size of Olin) but it is embedded in a small liberal arts university (5000 undergrads) with a large arts community (2000 students/year are enrolled in music classes/programs and the number of visual/performing arts majors is about equal to the number of engineering majors). It is also located in a city (Somerville) that has the second highest density of young people and artists in the country. The other popular majors are the life sciences, international relations and economics.

Like Olin (and Harvey Mudd) Tufts teaches engineering with more of a liberal arts philosophy than the more traditional engineering programs. (the provost of Olin was formerly the dean of engineering at Tufts). Due to its bigger size though, it offers a wider range of ABET accredited engineering degrees. It also has a strong Computer Science program and more research activity (including one of the few Phd programs in Engineering Education).

Tufts offers lots of interdisciplinary programs - including a number of programs that span both the School of Engineering and the School of Liberal Arts.

Here are some links related to your interests:

Tufts was one of the first universities to offer a Chemical Engineering degree and one of the first to integrate biology into the curriculum…

http://engineering.tufts.edu/chbe/

there are also majors in both Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Science with leading edge interdisciplinary research in brain science/tissue engineering and brain science/computer science

http://engineering.tufts.edu/bme/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/health/scientists-create-3d-model-that-mimics-brain-function.html?smid=pl-share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_ivZxGjEmE&list=UUPXt4ihRwQL9kUm4psLk9zA&feature=share

On the liberal arts side, there are degrees in both Biochemistry and Biotechnology…

http://ase.tufts.edu/biology/undergraduate/degreeBioTech.htm

as well as an interdisciplinary degree in Cognitive and Brain Science that ties Computer Science to the study of the brain and can include how music impacts the brain …

http://ase.tufts.edu/psychology/undergraduate/concCognitive.htm

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/07/music-language-brain

http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-must-take-classes-within-the-Cognitive-and-brain-science-major-at-Tufts

Tufts is proported to have the best performance hall in New England…

http://www.tufts.edu/home/feature/?p=granoff&p2=2

with lots of pianos inside (including what Steinway claims is the best piano in New England)…

http://tuftsjournal.tufts.edu/archive/2007/february/corner/index.shtml

and there are also pianos outside…

http://patch.com/massachusetts/somerville/davis-squares-street-piano-brings-music-to-neighborhood

and if that is not enough, you can also take courses at the New England Conservatory in Boston…

http://as.tufts.edu/music/program/nec.htm

and there is even a minor in Music Engineering (sponsored by Steinway) available to both engineering and liberal arts majors…

http://www.tuftl.tufts.edu/musicengineering/

and the Computer Science Department focuses on interdisciplinary applications - including science, engineering and even music (it offers a course on developing music applications - sponsored by Steinway)

Computer science majors and minors are offered through both the School of Engineering and the School of Liberal Arts (with different requirements)

http://www.cs.tufts.edu/About-CS/cool-facts-about-cs-at-tufts.html

6

I second Tufts are an apparently ideal fit for you.
UT Austin is tops in CleanTech, which is a growing field - see if TE or YR would cover you because it’d be too expensive otherwise.
UAlabama(Tuscaloosa) Honors,would be a perfect safety for you - with a 32 ACT you are guaranteed Honors College, Honors Dorm and other perks, Full tuition scholarship, $2,500 stipend (which you keep for any engineering specialty or CS), possibility to apply to research-based programs and/or a STEM-MBA program, etc.

7

Tufts seems an interesting choice, though they’re not on TE, and they only give $5k for YR. It’d be much more expensive than my in-state options, unless they’re extremely generous with financial aid. But the opportunities you mentioned are very appealing and might just be what I’m looking for. Thank you @Mastadon‌ for your suggestion and thoughtful comments; I will definitely look into it more and may consider Tufts as a reach.

@MYOS1634‌ I’m slightly hesitant about Alabama because I’m really looking for a strong intellectual environment; going off of what I’ve heard about Bama thus far, that isn’t really what the school is known for (especially when compared to UVA, Tufts, Duke, etc). I’m guessing the Honors College provides a bit of that atmosphere, so I should look into it more - after all, full tuition is hard to beat. UT Austin is farther away than I’m comfortable going. Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate it!

8

Cornell, maybe? I think that they give a lot of money to people in those programs. Not sure about Chemical Engineering, though, but they are very strong in comp sci.

9

@purplepiano I third Tufts! Tufts “meets” full need, but their estimated package for me was the worst (although not by much) out of all of the schools I applied to (excluding safeties, which should give merit aid).

10

@MrDoctor‌ yeah, the Tufts $ situation is slightly concerning - from what I can tell, Tufts’ ESchool, although decent, doesn’t have a great reputation. It’s tough to justify spending that much extra for undergrad at a school that isn’t top ranked for my main interest, even if my secondary interests would be fulfilled.

11

@purplepiano‌
As a student who’s currently at BAMA, let me tell you this. At BAMA, it really depends on what classes you take since the first semester. Technically, you won’t be hang out with people around your dorm(at least in my experience) but people in your classes. So, if you manage to get into a bit higher classes, say calc 3, you will get that studious environment

UA is a huge school with 34k undergrad, but still manages to be in top 5% public school. Our research facilities and faculty members are very amazing, and there are plenty of opportunities to be in researches or programs that will help you get in research. For example, I am just a freshmen but I will be engaged in electrochemical research starting from next semester. Oh also for engineering, you get 1250$/semester as an extra scholarship.

13

UT Austin came to mind when I saw your list. Very strong in engineering and just about every major. It’s a great town if you love music .

14

What do you mean 17 AP credits? Do you mean 17 AP courses?
For your interest, you may check out UIUC for their Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering program. Assuming you will gain a couple points in ACT in the retake, you will be within the admission range. If you want to minor in music, you may consider UMich too. But again, you will need a little bit higher ACT score which you should be able to achieve.

15

Which schools qualify for Tuition Exchange?

At many engineering schools you will find others interested in music too. Usually it’s tough to add a minor, but you can still enjoy music through classes and campus music EC.

16

I actually know a couple students who double majored in engineering and music at UMich.

17

U Pennsylvania
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Columbia U
U Maryland-Baltimore County
U South Carolina
Vanderbilt U.