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How good is the program? How does it compare to engineering programs in other top schools?

By Jaybert (Jaybert) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 02:09 pm: Edit

if you want to stay ivy league, the best choice for engineering is Cornell

By Marite (Marite) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Harvard does not have an engineering program. Consider Caltech or MIT instead.

By Dadx (Dadx) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 03:03 pm: Edit

Gotcha

see

http://www.deas.harvard.edu/undergradstudy/

By Marite (Marite) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 03:34 pm: Edit

Dadx:
My hubby got his Ph.D. from the DEAS in experimental Physics in the 1970s, so I know it exists. Much as it pains me to deprecate Harvard, however, the dept.of engineering and applied science is more applied science than engineering. It can function in large part because of cross-registration with MIT. But why would a student intent on engineering come to Harvard rather than MIT mystifies me. This is where the Ivy League does not shine brighter.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 07:08 pm: Edit

Harvard does have an engineering programme - I know a few people in it (some undergrads, and a grad student). It just involves a lot of time at MIT.

By Cuauhtli (Cuauhtli) on Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 07:14 pm: Edit

so basically anyone attending would be getting an mit education at harvard?

By Netflix (Netflix) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Marite - Harvard does have an engineering program. DEAS stands for "Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences", and the courses entail Comp Sci and EE.

It just happens that Harvard really sucks at Engineering. Cornell is ranked very highly in that regard, partially because it shares the teaching model with Stanford, which also emphasizes Engineering/Hard Sciences.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 01:46 pm: Edit

Netflix and others:

I do know about Harvard's Engineering program (I AM at Harvard and have been since 1970 and hubby got his degree from DEAS--see my post above).DEAS functions only because of cross-registration with MIT (again, see my post above). I would not consider sending a child of mine to Harvard (double legacy notwithstanding) to do an engineering degree, just as I would not send a student to do history at MIT, despite its having great historians.

By Cuauhtli (Cuauhtli) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 07:44 pm: Edit

mmm...the thing is I wish to pursue a double major, and I just feel harvard suits me well (I hope they feel the same about me!). Anyways, so you would really not recommend me attempt to attend harvard to study engineering?

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 08:41 pm: Edit

If your primary purpose is to study engineering, then no, you'd be better off at an engineering school such as MIT, Rose-Hulman, Caltech, Cooper Union. But there is a risk that once at one of these schools, you will change your mind and want something less applied. In that case, you are better off at a place like Harvard or Williams or Cornell or other universities or LAC with strong math and science departments. If your heart is set on Harvard and you think to double major, look up the departmental requirements for the various majors you are considering. Some are easier to combine than others. An important issue is the tutorial system for different majors ("concentrations"). Another way to go would be to major in one field but take a variety of electives in another. Beware, though, that Harvard has very onerous CORE and concentration requirements.

By Cuauhtli (Cuauhtli) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 09:48 pm: Edit

Alright, Ill consider all my possibilities....thanks marite!

By Cuauhtli (Cuauhtli) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 09:49 pm: Edit

and others!

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 11:54 pm: Edit

You have to be very careful about double-majoring at Harvard, as they want your concentrations to be in related fields. For example, physics and chemistry are acceptable; French and Spanish are as well; but physics and French would not be allowed. You could get a certificate in a foreign language (which recognizes the courses you have taken) in addition to a major such as physics, but you could not double concentrate in physics and language.

By Interestedmom (Interestedmom) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 01:14 pm: Edit

This should give you an idea about engineering at Harvard. My son went to the Harvard table at a college fair and said that he was interested in engineering. The Harvard rep stuck his nose up on the air and said, "Then you should go to the MIT table." My son was very turned off crossed the school off his list of possibilities. He is now at Stanford. I'm surpised that nobody has mentioned Princeton, an undergraduate-friendly place with a great reputation in engineering.