college for engineering major

[mjh8955]

Looking for a college with mechanical engineering program that is generous with academic scholarships. We get a 50% tuition break for any Illinois state college but we are trying to see what else might be available outside the state. Son has 4.4047 GPA out of a 5.0 at a small private high school. Classes are tough, they do not actually rank beyond the first two because the top students' GPA's are all clustered together but he is 15th out of 34.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

My DH went to Purdue for Engineering. The school is known for their engineering. It is in West Lafayette, IN and has a very nice campus.

 

[hmdavid]

My husband has an engineering degree from Iowa State. They have many engineering programs that are very good. I am not sure about the scholarship thing as we have been out of college for 10 years and a lot has changed! It would be worth checking in to, especially if you are in Illinois, he would be relatively close to home!

Good luck to him!!!

 

[cheebiecat]

I teach at University of Alabama/Huntsville, which has an outstanding engineering program, with a national reputation for excellence. Many of our students co-op with the Army or with one of the many companies in Research Park, and our graduates are typically successful in landing very good jobs.

Here is the link:

www.uah.edu

 

[punkin]

The Cooper Union is free. Can't get cheaper than that...and it is one of the best engineering schools in the country.

 

[Momma2dakidz]

My nephew is going for mechanical egineerig also, and he goes to the university of akron. This summer he got an internship working at the firestone plant. He loves his "job" and is making quite a nice bit of change.

 

[Green Tea]

Olin College of Engineering in Boston area. Free, New. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_W._Olin_College_of_Engineering

Also, small privates are more likely to award merit scholarships than large public institutions and you are likely to have more access to faculty for research as an undergrad as awell.

 

[Green Tea]

http://www.olin.edu/

 

[lastminutemom]

The Cooper Union is free. Can't get cheaper than that...and it is one of the best engineering schools in the country.

And nearly impossible to get into. And you have to live in NYC which is $$$$ and they have no cafeteria so you have to eat in NYC which can be much $$$ or cook for yourself.

I might consider in-state with the tuition discount plus any merit/need scholarships he can get. I would save whatever I might have spent to help him go to graduate school.

 

[eamgio]

Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Offered my son the most money out of all of the schools where he applied. It was in the top running , but he ended up at University of Illinois and is very happy with his decision.

 

[SoundDude]

how did he test on the PSAT/NMSQT? this is the PSAT they take during their junior year and is how they become national merit semifinalists. for some reason they don't broadcast how important this test can be. i found out because i happened to be a "pretty good test taker" and the number of schools that give full rides to NM Finalists is quite remarkable. U Toledo (my choice), U Akron, Bowling Green, Wayne State were all offering it. many out of state as well, but I was mostly paying attention to Ohio schools.

Momma's, don't let your babies grow up without studying hard for the PSAT! This so-called "practice" test could change your life!

 

[punkin]

And nearly impossible to get into. And you have to live in NYC which is $$$$ and they have no cafeteria so you have to eat in NYC which can be much $$$ or cook for yourself.

You are right, it is very hard to get into. I guess in my daughter's situation (we are looking into it as well as a few other engineering schools), housing would not be an issue (and neither would food).

 

[malibuconlee]

My husband has an engineering degree from Iowa State. They have many engineering programs that are very good. I am not sure about the scholarship thing as we have been out of college for 10 years and a lot has changed! It would be worth checking in to, especially if you are in Illinois, he would be relatively close to home!

Good luck to him!!!

It used to be, but has since changed, that it was comparable if not cheaper for Illinois students to pay out of state rates at Iowa State than it was for many of the in-state Illinois colleges. (DH is an Iowa State Construction Engineering grad). I remember when we lived in Texas a few years ago we were at an alumni softball tournament and met another IA State alumni who was from Illinois. She said it was true at the time she went, but she had a sister who was a student there now and it had changed and was more expensive than in-state rates.

There were a lot of guys in DH's dorm from the Chicago area when he was an RA back in the mid 90's.

 

[ngneer98]

As an engineer and an alumna, I recommend SIU-Carbondale! I majored in Mechanical Engineering and graduated from there in 1998.

I've learned in my career as an engineer that it matters WAY more how WELL you did in school than it does WHICH school you went to. In fact, my first job after graduation based my starting salary on my GPA and class rank. Bigger class makes the ranking a lot harder to get. The engineering class I graduated with was maybe 200 people? And of those, maybe 40-50 were MEs. I was one of only 3 women, but I digress...

SIU's engineering department is small enough to get the help you need, and large enough to provide the education you need. I was accepted to U of I in Urbana-Champaign, but didn't go because I didn't like the feel of it there when I visited.....plus, SIU threw way more grants my way!

Plus, the year I graduated, our class at SIU out-performed the U of I class on the EIT exam (I think it's called FE now? Fundamentals of engineering....first step to getting your Professional Engineering licensing....8 hour exam from hades ). SIU's graduation rate is much higher too vs. UofI. They just have a much better reputation for their program. I'm holding my own with alumni from UofI, UMRolla, Purdue, Michigan, you name it. Your degree is 95% what you put into it....I'm a BIG believer in that!

Whichever you pick, best of luck. Engineering isn't an easy major, but it can be quite worth it later!

Diana (go Salukis!), proudly working as an engineer in Phantom Works at Boeing!

 

[KelNottAt]

Go to collegeconfidential.com and ask your question. In fact, ask any college question you want there. You'll get an answer.

The engineering discussion board is found here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/

BEWARE: Many of the posters there are almost OCD about Ivy League and perfect SAT scores. They're consumed by "what are my chances to get into _________" "I'll never amount to anything, I'm only ranked 2 out of 500."

But, once you realize "real" people also post there, the shock will subside and you'll find the value in the site.

 

[dkdaisy]

I'll throw my school into the ring - for engineering, I'd suggest Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI (yes, thats in the Upper Peninsula). They have an excellent reputation, many types of engineering, and with your son's GPA (and hopefully test scores), he'll most likely be able to get a scholarship. I graduated HS with a 4.07 (on a 4.0 scale) and recieved a Board of Control Scholarship at Tech for the equivalent of about 75% of my tuition. Tech does charge more for out-of-state students, but also offers some scholarships which turn out-of-state tuition into in-state tuition. Tech has great opportunities for practical experience while in college (which a lot of places don't) and is in a small safe community.

The best thing your son can do is look around and see what types of schools fit him best (does he want a small town or a big city, smaller student body or bigger, what type of living and employment opportunities does he want, how far away from home does he want to go). There are a lot of great schools out there and he needs to find one that fits his personality as well as your budget.

 

[punkin]

Go to collegeconfidential.com and ask your question. In fact, ask any college question you want there. You'll get an answer.

The engineering discussion board is found here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/

BEWARE: Many of the posters there are almost OCD about Ivy League and perfect SAT scores. They're consumed by "what are my chances to get into _________" "I'll never amount to anything, I'm only ranked 2 out of 500."

But, once you realize "real" people also post there, the shock will subside and you'll find the value in the site.

I have been on that board and so far I have seen very few "real" people. There are kids there who want to retake SATs on which they scored over 2200.

My DD is my more relaxed thank goodness. Of course her grades are far more relaxed too.

 

[punkin]

I'll throw my school into the ring - for engineering, I'd suggest Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI (yes, thats in the Upper Peninsula). They have an excellent reputation, many types of engineering, and with your son's GPA (and hopefully test scores), he'll most likely be able to get a scholarship.

Hey my FIL used to teach there. My DH keeps threatening to take me to Houghton for vacation (he loved it there as a child) but I have been able to avoid it for 18 years now.

 

[crisi]

I have a friend whose son is going to McGill in Montreal. Its supposed to be both a very good engineering school and affordable.

 

[daughtersrus]

I have several friends with children at U of I majoring in engineering. Since you're in IL, that may be an option. I believe that the program is pretty difficult to get into.

My nephew is a junior at Northern Illinois also as an engineer major.

There's also the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

Is the discount part of a tuition waiver program or is it a scholarship? If it's a waiver, be sure to check out the requirements upon graduation. My DD is a special ed major with a tuition wavier. If the requirements are not met, it will convert to a student loan. ( I think that she has to teach 3 out of 5 years in IL in the field of special ed).