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My daughter just got into MIT, Cooper U., and Columbia. We are having a VERY hard time choosing. I am ultimately leaving it up to her (of course!) but she can see the value of each of these schools, and that's making this extra tough. Any suggestions??? I want her to be successful and do well, but I also want her to have FUN. She plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.... Thanks. Violet

By m on Sunday, April 07, 2002 - 07:37 pm: Edit

Define "fun;" like turning teddy bears into routers? LOL.

http://draco.mit.edu/teddyborg/

(If this is truly what MIT students do for fun, I'm going there! Geek powa!)

-m

By R Storm (Anonrs) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 02:26 am: Edit

I think the main thing that you need to throw into your decision making process in regards to Cooper Union would be the lack of alternatives should she ultimately decide that she is NOT interested in engineering.

By violet turner on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:08 pm: Edit

Yes, Shannon realized that Cooper may be limiting where as Colubmia will be quite the opposite. Even MIT won't be that limiting because there's no doubt that she will stay in the science or math fields even if she leaves engineering. On the other hand, a former student of mine attends Cooper U. and he decided that in addition to engineering he wanted to study law. His professors met with him and created an individualized program that encompasses both. The size of Cooper, and the location, really allows for one on one advisement and learning. See! This is what we do! We rule out a school and then we figure out why we should rule it back in...this is a really tough call. V

By Dadster on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:24 pm: Edit

this is a really tough call

That's what happens when you have great choices! Congrats to your daughter, Violet!

By Violet Turner on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 05:55 pm: Edit

Thank you Dadster. She wasn't one of those kids where it all came easy. She would get home from school and open the books and go to sleep with them still open. I know that there are many other children who work just as hard, and so she feels really blessed to be given so many great choices! I know all of this will be decided in a month, but even though it's a positive anxiety, I'm anxious none-the-less! V

By Lauren on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 05:25 pm: Edit

I was rejected to MIT, I suggest going there! its worth it even if its not that much "fun".... that is the place to be an engineer, i dont think columbia even compares -- a "fun" alternative to MIT would be rensselaer, since they offer the same great engineering program, its just not as cutthroat

By Violet on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 08:53 am: Edit

As an update, Shannon took your advice Lauren. MIT made the most sense and thelocation is great. I am still a little shocked by the whole process, but if anyone has any questions I feel like I now have a lot of answers! BTW: She got into RPI as a medal winner, but Troy wasn't her cup of tea. Ironically as tough as MIT is, the kids seem really cool and supportive of one another; I guess it's also good to know that everyone is in the same boat, as opposed to Columbia where she would have been set apart. Anyway, where are you going Laruen?? V

By Kaia on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 07:58 pm: Edit

Hi Violet!

I'm a girl headed to MIT next year too...from the visits it seemed like the people who wanted to be happy were happy. There were people there who would rather be at "that institution down the river", and they were unhappy. But it is definitely a geek haven.

By Lyndsea on Saturday, June 01, 2002 - 09:44 pm: Edit

Geek haven! I made a false analogy once, due to how Carleton emphasizes frisbee- 1.9 per capita, according to their brochure. Carleton people play frisbee, MIT people play virtual reality ping pong across campus from each other.
Although I THINK this is a false example, it seems likely in the future! Needless to say, my brother wants to go there.

By Violet on Tuesday, June 04, 2002 - 09:48 am: Edit

Kaia,
Do you mean Harvard? I don't think their engineering programs compare. You can take cross classes at Harvard, though it you want. Shannon didn't apply there, although I have to say it was down to the final minute choosing between Columbia and MIT. Even though she knew MIT's program was stronger, it was hard to give up NYC.

Where are you from? We're from Long Island.

Lyndsea: That is REALLLLLLLY funny! I will share it with her! :-)

By joanne t (Joanne0012) on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 09:01 am: Edit

As an MIT alum, I'm pleased to report that frisbee is a major part of the campus culture. Our Ultimate Frisbee teams are interscholastic champions.

http://web.mit.edu/womens-ult/www/

http://www.mit.edu/~mit-ultimate/info.html

Having come only recently to these boards, I'm sorry I wasn't around for the original discussion. Mechanical Engineering is one of the most fun majors at MIT. She's in for a treat.

I am a little concerned about your description of your daughter as a plugger, though -- you mentioned that she'd "get home from school and open the books and go to sleep with them still open." If she had to work that hard in high school, the workload at MIT is going to come as a shock.

By Chrisd on Saturday, June 08, 2002 - 08:17 pm: Edit

Anyone here read the recent article in Friday's Wall Street Journal about problems in engineering education? MIT was mentioned as one of a handful of schools with innovative programs that keep freshmen from dropping out of engineering. Tufts was also mentioned in the list. I know the great reputation MIT has, but can anyone tell me what their innovative freshman program consists of?

By Dadster on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 04:02 pm: Edit

Missed that article, but it's easy to see why MIT and others would focus on retention - engineering schools have typically lost more students due to the workload and intensity. Caltech's ranking has periodically suffered because of their lower retention rate compared to the Ivies and other elites. Colleges like MIT can be selective enough at the front end to select students who can almost certainly do the work. Less elite engineering colleges often use freshman year to weed out those students who can't handle the work.

By Violet on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 02:22 pm: Edit

Joanne, thanks for the concern, but I think what I wrote may be a little misleading. Shan is NOT an English or history student. In order to get high 90s she had to work her butt off. I don't really recall much math studying and only science studying before tests. When we visited MIT I got the sense that she will fit right in. In fact, several students told her that just the fact that she believes in going to class is a great start!

Chris: MIT doesn't give grades freshman year. You either pass or the class disappears. Also professors put notes on the net to make students' lives easier. Also there's been a big emphasis on social life, so that students can have the best of both worlds, academic and social.

By Chrisd on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 03:32 pm: Edit

One of the reasons mentioned for the low retention rate in engineering is that traditionally students take all math and science classes until their junior year; no real "engineering" classes till so far along in school. Kids who want to be problem solvers, and get hands on skills get impatient and leave. I know some schools (OSU, CMU) that start students out in their freshman year with some hands-on classes, to experience different fields of engineering. I'd be interested to hear about any other innovative freshman engineering programs folks here might be aware of.

By mominva on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 03:47 pm: Edit

Check out Lehigh's Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program. First semester there is a 1 credit seminar exploring all possible engineering and business majors. Second semester is a 3 or 4 credit course where a group works to improve design, production and marketing of a product such as a hand-held power tool or mechanical toy.

By Dadster on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 09:44 pm: Edit

That sounds like an interesting program, mominva. There's actually quite a bit of overlap between business and engineering, particularly in the quantitative management area.

By Violet on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 06:18 am: Edit

From what I recall of our college trip last year, there were quite a few schools that empshasized engineering freshman year. Stevens did. They had you take a series of core classes in a varity of engineering disciplines so that you could choose your direction more effectively. I THINK Northeastern did as well. It's a jumble now, but one glance at a curriculum map for freshman year will reveal the variety students can take.

By Ravi P on Saturday, June 22, 2002 - 07:59 am: Edit

Help! Help!I have been looking for messages related to Cooper union in NYC. However I haven't found many. Is it because not many folks know about it or is it a well kept secret? I will be senior graduating in 2003. Cooper union is my first choice.I would like to go in EE or Chem E. Could anyone please tell me more about this school, the social scene, work load and its ranking among the other eng schools.

By sage on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 08:37 pm: Edit

Cooper is comparable to Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo in California.....or Harvey Mudd in Calif. as well. Depending on which state you live in or which state you prefer NY or Calif. you may consider these as well.

By s on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 11:35 pm: Edit

I graduated from M.i.t. and I think its the great school..

By Allan Wang on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 12:00 am: Edit

I got into Cooper Union this year (class of 2006). I will be majoring in Electrical Engineering there. I also got into MIT,Princeton, and Columbia. (Harvard rejected me). I went to Stuyvesant High School in NYC and graduated 15/750.
PSAT: 237
SAT: 1590 (800M 790V)
SAT 2: MATH IIC=800, Physics=800. writing-750
ALLAN

By Julia on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 03:54 pm: Edit

hey everyone:

My name is Julia and I was recently accepted on Early Decision to Cooper Union for Engineering. I will be the class of 2007. If you are planning on applying feel free to ask me anything, and if you are also going to be a part of cooper's class of 2007 then please contact me, it'll be cool to know you before the fall. My AIM screen name is SprnklsChem and my email is julias830@hotmail.com

By Josz (Josz) on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 01:33 pm: Edit

hi.....i was also accepted as my friend Julia (top message)to Cooper Union although for the school of art (class 2007)....all those regarding Cooper Union feel free to e-mail me at
Alianz18@aol.com
...or rather..my aol aim is (alianz18)
hoper to get in contact with you soon!!!