Are you thinking about applying to an engineering school? How many of those lists have you read? Chances are, if you’re thinking about continuing on to university to become an engineer, you’re pretty pedantic about this stuff. You probably have read all of the Top 10, Top 20, Top 100 engineering school lists. You may even be frustrated, or have a few (mis)conceptions:
A top-ranked school will give me a better education than an average-ranked school will.
Lists and rankings aren’t everything- you can get the same education from what these lists rank as a #5 school and a #50 school, if you care about learning. Yes, there are anomalies, but when it comes down to it, what matters is the individual student’s initiative and motivation to learn. Does that sound cliche? It’s true.
I will be a stronger candidate to employers if I come from a prestigious engineering school.
This is rooted in fact. An engineer coming from Berkeley or Stanford tends to stand out to employers. Luckily, for the rest of us, there is such a thing as a job interview. No matter where you come from, if your resume looks good to an employer, chances are you’ll be considered. Hell, you may even get an interview- you had better not screw it up! This is your one chance to showcase your character and what you can offer. A resume is passive, but you are active, dynamic, creative. You’re going to have to prove it. Keep this in mind if you’re apprehensive about interviews.
So stop worrying over those rankings, and choose a school that is strong in your field of interest. If you’re like most people and don’t have a clue, do some research; find a school with an environment that fits you. Just try to take these lists with a grain of salt.
One last tip for you prospective engineering students: don’t waste your summers during college sitting around; get some sort of internship or research position. It definitely pays off when you leave college.
The BIP Section 