Picking Colleges

Academics

A frequent misconception is that what you study within a particular field is pretty much the same at all schools. 

Especially, you might think, in a field as cut and dried as engineering.  As one parent said to me, “After all, calculus is calculus, Shakespeare is Shakespeare.”  Believing that, you may be in for a big surprise when you arrive on campus.

• As a freshman at the University of Delaware you enter directly into an engineering major, such as electrical, civil, or mechanical, and begin courses in that specialty first semester. During your junior and senior years you pursue advanced technical electives.
• At Brown University you do not pick an engineering specialty until well into your junior year. The first two years you take science and mathematics courses that teach fundamentals shared by all engineering disciplines, then you select a major.
• And at Harvey Mudd College, you never pick a major within engineering. While you may take many specialty electives, the college offers a 4-year unified program that emphasizes interdisciplinary problem solving and awards an unspecialized engineering degree.

When evaluating engineering programs also compare hands on, design, research, internship and independent study opportunities, as well as faculty and facilities, to see which you prefer.

• Whatever your prospective major, it is wise to look over the overall approach and specific courses at different colleges. And if you do not know what your major might be, do so for a few subjects you find interesting.

• Browsing department websites or catalogs is also a fun way to learn about different fields.

• Picking colleges, match quiz. • Learn about colleges you are interested in. • Academics •