Tufts Blogs

Hello my friends! 

Maybe you’re starting to think about college. And maybe you’re even starting to think about the wonderful world of engineering because you can’t get enough of those problem sets in trig. Or you’ve spent countless hours Googling everything to do with MATLAB and have a giant list of YouTube videos to watch on the subject. Or you literally can’t stop asking “why?” when you see your dirt road eroding differently each season or detect a slight difference in the textures of your two newest eyeshadow palettes.

I could go on.

There are a million different ways to be an engineer and perhaps just as many ways to educate engineers. So how do you find the pathway that is the *Goldilocks* (aka the juuuuust right) fit for you?

Just like in your broader college search (i.e. not just applicable to students thinking about engineering!), you need to think about the type of community that will be best for your academic, social, and mental success. Instead of giving you links to an overwhelming number of lists and articles...I think that it is really important for you to first have an honest reflection and chat with yourself about what you need to thrive (not just survive) in college. 

Let’s buckle up for some reflection...

• Think about your support network right now. Who’s in it? How do they lift you up? Does any one particular person or resource directly contribute to your success and joy in school? How do you want to see this support system reflected in your college community?
• What’s your favorite class right now? Who is your favorite teacher? Why are they your faves? 
• How do you learn best? Is there a specific learning environment that allows you to shine and explore at your best?
  What is the best conversation you had this past week (it doesn’t need to be academic!)? Who was it with? How was the conversation indicative of what you value in your relationships? Is this reflective of the type of people you’d like to surround yourself with in college?

Continue to ask yourself questions about your learning style and your community. By actively thinking about what sets you up for success and happiness in and out of the classroom, you can start to imagine the type of college environment that will be an incredible fit for you. 

Now that you have a *macro* idea of the type of school you might want to attend, let’s dig into engineering. Here are some important things to consider when looking into engineering programs:

• Why do you want to study engineering? How do the different schools you’re researching align with why and how you want to pursue engineering?
• How big is the undergraduate vs. graduate population? If you want to do research as an undergrad, will you be able to?
• Do you want an engineering-only undergraduate experience? Or do you still want access to all types of academic programs and disciplines while working toward your engineering degree?
• Do you want the option of exploring many different engineering disciplines before declaring a major or are you okay being admitted directly into a major or path or study?
• What’s your take on a collaborative vs. a competitive academic environment? Which do you prefer? 
• What professional opportunities are available to you outside of your college environment? Do you want to dive into the start-up, tech, or research scene while taking classes? 
• What spaces exist for you to create, build, and design? How do undergraduates utilize the research labs and maker spaces available to them? 
• Do you meet the prerequisites for the engineering programs you are applying to? At Tufts, we strongly encourage students to pursue four years of rigorous math and science study in high school, including physics and calculus when available and accessible. Other universities may have stricter curriculum requirements. Be sure to do research beforehand so that you are eligible for all the incredible engineering programs you are considering. 

You might be asking yourself...but Beky...that’s just a list of open-ended questions!!! Where do I go to take a definitive quiz and get a definitive answer on the *ONE* school that is *THE* school that will be *THE* best college *EVER* for me???

Friend. Breathe. Here’s a secret.

There is no one college that is the one and only college for you to be successful and happy at. You will find many different schools that have what you want! Focus on the big picture first (aka aaaaaall of those questions I pose above), and then start making your way through college research materials (I’d recommend reaching out to your school counselor for some great resources) to find schools that match everything you want and need. You’ll be glad you did :)

Happy college-ing!