Help me decide which colleges to apply to for engineering

[Timbo]

So I've aged quite a bit and the day of college being forever and half away has gone and now the application process is beginning for me. I'm planning on going into engineering. I took AP calc as a sophmore and am going into my third semester of calculus at the community college this fall. I've done integral calc, differenetial equations, and am now going into multivariable. I took Physics C AP and got a 5 and now am going to take electro-magnetism.. the only person at my school. I've got a 4.5 gpa and am top 10% of class. So that's where I'm at right now. I want to go into mechanical or physical engineering and get a masters in nuclear. I think that in 20 years nuclear power is going to be very strongly in demand.

So can you guys give me some ideas on good engineering schools to apply too? I currently want to go to UC Berkeley and plan on applying to a lot of the UC schools. I don't really know of many other good engineering schools because I haven't spent enough time looking through them.

So gods of Talkbass, guide me to some good schools to apply too.. oh and if the city has a good music scene that would definitely be a plus.

I think I'm going to try to get a minor in music also.

[jrthebassguy]

I think a lot of that depends on what kind of engineering you want to get into.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Timbo

. I want to go into mechanical or physical engineering and get a masters in nuclear. I think that in 20 years nuclear power is going to be very strongly in demand.

I guess you missed that. It's all good though.

[jrthebassguy]

Oops! My bad. If you're up for going across the states, then the University of Texas would be something to consider - NASA and the contractors involved in the space flight program (Boeing, Lockheed, etc.) hire a lot of engineers from there. When I worked at the JSC campus, there were a ton of UT alumni bumper stickers and such.


Austin is a fantastic city for music too.

[Chipsonfire]

I'm going to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) and we have a really good Mechanical Engineering Department. It's also really cheap, being about half or less than most other Engineering colleges. Next semester I'm paying $2500 for tuition. If you want a challenge, this is your place.

Though not well known among students, companies and grad schools LOVE us. The curriculum is difficult, but you learn a lot and it's well worth it. Word of warning: a lot of people come here top of their class and get a serious reality check. We are often compared with MIT and Caltech for intensity.

Like I said before, it's a really inexpensive school for the education you get, and with your high school credentials you could get fairly close to full ride scholarship, as long as you can keep your grades. I really think you should check us out. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I've been here a few years and can point you in the right directions as far as who to talk to about what.

Final note: I'm just a student here and not some kind of promoter You just seem like someone who would really enjoy what this school has to offer.

[Timbo]

nice! Thanks! I'll definitely check that out!

[Thor]

Here in New England there are a few:

Northeastern (5 year programs include of year of work study internships.)

All of the Ivy's.
MIT

Worcester Poly Tech -WPI
Rensellaer Poly Tech - RPI
Clarkson
Cooper Union ( iirc if you can get in the tuition is free).

Boston University
Tufts University

I have a cousin that took Eng at Penn State. Good program
Drexel
Carnegie Mellon
Lehigh - excellent school.
Bucknell

U Conn


Just the few I know around here with good quality programs.

One caveat. Nuclear energy may be back in fashion in 10 years,
but most nuke construction going on right now is abroad.

A new reactor hasn't been started in the US for at least 25 years.
The last plant to come on line was TVA's Watts Barr 1
plant with the 2 phase cancelled for years, but now back online
for 2013 completion.

Another field that might have possibilities is defense contractor's
serving the US Navy. This puts your job prospects at the whim of
General Dynamics and such.

I have some friends in civil engineering that have done quite
a bit better than their peers in ME. Take a second look at
that. Your biggest fear is being bitten by a tick.

[Mingus]

I'm thinking about doing engineering too, and I'm applying to college this year as well. I'm thinking about MIT, U of Michigan, Embry Riddle, Georgia Tech, Cornell, etc. I'm not as advanced as you are in my studies, my school stops at AP Calc AB for my senior year, but I'm 16 yo and No. 2 in my class so I hope to get in some where good. I was thinking about aerospace engineering but have also thought about mechanical or any of that other good stuff.

[Scarlet Fire]

Originally Posted by Thor

Here in New England there are a few:

Northeastern (5 year programs include of year of work study internships.)

Huge +1 to this school. (Okay, I'm going there, so I'm a bit biased)

The internships you get at this school are incredibly helpful. You'll have up to 1.5 years of work experience when you graduate, which gives you a gigantic advantage.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Thor

One caveat. Nuclear energy may be back in fashion in 10 years,
but most nuke construction going on right now is abroad.

A new reactor hasn't been started in the US for at least 25 years.
The last plant to come on line was TVA's Watts Barr 1
plant with the 2 phase cancelled for years, but now back online
for 2013 completion.

Another field that might have possibilities is defense contractor's
serving the US Navy. This puts your job prospects at the whim of
General Dynamics and such.

I have some friends in civil engineering that have done quite
a bit better than their peers in ME. Take a second look at
that. Your biggest fear is being bitten by a tick.

Yeah that's true.

And civil engineering dose seem to be promising. There's more and more people on the earth everyday and somebody needs to figure out a way to get them around safely.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Yeah that's true.

And civil engineering dose seem to be promising. There's more and more people on the earth everyday and somebody needs to figure out a way to get them around safely.

One of my buddies own his own Civil Engineering company. He
does really well. Basic stuff, land surveying, septic system
and ISDS design and so forth. He's always busy and
he is making lots of dough. ME's that went to school with him
came out into a good starting salary, but plateau-ed very
quickly on earnings.

My friend that is a 'nukular' engineer has been employed by
Stone and Webster, GE and now Electric Boat (GD). None of
them paid him particulary well.

[Thunderscreech]

I'd say West Virgina University Polytechnic Institute. It's supposed to be the second-best engineering school on the east coast. But there again, all of that is secondhand information.

After i finish my two years of community college i'll be in your shoes.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Thor

One of my buddies own his own Civil Engineering company. He
does really well. Basic stuff, land surveying, septic system
and ISDS design and so forth. He's always busy and
he is making lots of dough. ME's that went to school with him
came out into a good starting salary, but plateau-ed very
quickly on earnings.

I've always been told the only way to really make a lot of money is to start your own business... I guess it's a lot easier to survey and do septic systems than to build your own nuclear reactor.

[moomoocajoo]

Strathclyde uni ftw!!!!


...


ok maybe not...

[WickedPissah]

Wentworth Institute of Technology is a good school

[Philbiker]

I think you're right about nuclear engineering, and it won't take 20 years as there are a lot of new plants in the permit process right now.

Just to throw you a big curveball...... Have you considered Military? The Navy has some of the best state-of-the-art nuclear power practical training in the world. The US Naval Academy in Annapolis can get you started (and is a pretty damn prestigous institution to have on your resume), and they have advanced degree partnerships with some schools near major ports (ODU for example). Gotta give your country many years of service. No student loan to pay off. Something to think about.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by Thor

Nuclear energy may be back in fashion in 10 years,
but most nuke construction going on right now is abroad.

A new reactor hasn't been started in the US for at least 25 years.
The last plant to come on line was TVA's Watts Barr 1
plant with the 2 phase cancelled for years, but now back online
for 2013 completion.

There are many new plants in the permitting process right now, and being fast-tracked. Nuclear is quietly picking up steam (so to speak) here in the USA faster than you may think.

Originally Posted by Scarlet Fire

Huge +1 to this school. (Okay, I'm going there, so I'm a bit biased)

CAA Rival to GMU where I graduated.....

[jkritchey]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

I'd say West Virgina University Polytechnic Institute. It's supposed to be the second-best engineering school on the east coast. But there again, all of that is secondhand information.

After i finish my two years of community college i'll be in your shoes.

Do you mean Virginia Tech?

[whoatherechunk]

Whatever you do.....start applying for scholarships NOW! I'm currently in college and that's the only thing I regret about my decision making. I could of jumped on more scholarships but I simply didn't because I was lazy.

[Fontaine]

im on my ps3 so ill keep it breif, i recommend College of the North Atlantic in St.John's Newfoundland...however they do not have that exact program they have LOTS of others like mechanical which if u you have that you can basically work anywhere. It is also one of the best engineering schools in canada, with REALLY low tution rates ... check there website www.cna.nl.ca ... its currently where im going to school