Anne
Would you recommend UMD or UND for a major in engineering?
I really want to go to college for some type of engineering but I am unsure as to which of these two colleges would be most beneficial for me. #college #engineering #college-major
2 answers
Kelly Kidwell, PE
Kelly’s Answer
Where you go to college affects where you work afterwards. So, if you want to work in a certain area of the country, or for a certain company, look at the colleges around that area or find out where many of the current employees of that company went to school. If you are down to the wire between two colleges that are very similar, this could be your tie breaker in deciding. More than anything else these days, I would also take into account the relative costs of each institution and decide on the value you are gaining by attending one of the other. You could go to a great engineering school out of state, or you could go to a good enough engineering school in your home state where you can live at home for a few years and save money? Choosing a college is a very complex problem! I wish you the best of luck.
Sarah Williams
Sarah’s Answer
I would like to add that there is not really a "bad" engineering school, as long as the program is ABET accredited. This accreditation ensures consistency and quality of education in engineering programs across the country. I would recommend only attending a program with this accreditation.
I went to a university that had a "good enough" engineering program, and it has had no adverse impact on my career. I, along with my classmates, have ended up with successful and rewarding careers. Most of us started out in the city where the university was located, but many of us have since moved all over the country.
Ultimately, choosing a college is not a choice of which is right or wrong; it's more like what is good vs. better. Most of the people I know chose a college based on location, affordability, how they felt about the campus, and whether or not the school had the degree they wanted. They all turned out fine!