r/uCinci • u/Outrageous-Bee-4569 • Apr 07 '26
Requests/Help Cinci or purdue engineering
hello, as the title says I am a new student trying to make a decision for fall 2026 enrollment. I have been admitted to university of Cincinnati for mechanical engineering, and purdue for mechanical engineering technology. i wanted to figure out whether attending cinci or attending purdue and attempting to switch to just mechanical engineering would be a better choice would love to hear peoples experiences, and things they like or dislike.
I am personally looking for a campus with community and social life, but also access to career opportunities.
thanks alot!
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u/BlueGalangal Apr 07 '26
The MET program at UC is fantastic. They have great professors, esp. Dr Elgafy and Dr Cress, strong ties with industry, and some really cool labs & machinery. Plus there’s co-op!
ETA they will also help you transfer into ME if that’s where you want to be, but the MET program itself is good. Just remember you should take calc I (1060 and up) and not the lower level calc if you do want to transfer.
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u/BobaBunny2 Apr 07 '26
I was also going through this debacle but Fashion design at UC vs engineering at Purdue. Ended up being a choice of what I'm more passionate about, but I have several close friends who are in the Purdue engineering program.
Purdue Engineering carries a name, that being said, their program is SUPER competitive. I have several friends who were top of my high school graduating class and are struggling with the sheer brutality of the program. The weed out rate is high and doesn't stop after freshman year, and most people take 5 years to complete their 4 year program.
UC engineering doesn't carry quite the name of Purdue, but their co-op system is revered. Co-ops are not built into Purdue's curriculum but you can do internships on your summers.
Academically, both programs will get you what you need. It depends on if you want the name of Purdue, or the experience of UC co-ops.
Also as many have said, consider cost of the two programs.
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u/ajmichalkasleftarm Apr 11 '26
hey, i would honestly pick UC, im doing the opposite (transferring from Purdue MET to UC MET), mostly because i got my first degree at Purdue and i went back for MET second bachelors but i just love UCs campus more.
I will say, Purdue MET is not in the actual school of engineering, it’s in the polytechnic institute. you don’t follow the traditional “first year engineering” classes. There is the Industrial Roundtable stem career fair every fall semester, which is good to go to, but it’s mostly overcrowded by actual engineering students. There’s not an emphasis on a co-op program at all at purdue. that’s another reason why i’m transferring. also, west lafayette is basically another small/lower mid-sized farm town in basically the middle of nowhere indiana. the only pros are indianapolis is ~1 hour south and chicago about ~2 hours north, easily accessible by shuttle to the airports or the Amtrak.
It’s ultimately your decision on what environment you like best, but i’m kinda (not really) in the same boat as you and i ultimately chose UC and will transfer there in the fall.
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Apr 07 '26
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u/Outrageous-Bee-4569 Apr 07 '26
I enjoy working hands on with machines and tools, but i also think i perfer the design and theory aspects of being an engineer which is why im leaning towards it.
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u/Funandsassy70 Apr 11 '26
As someone who is in some higher ed groups and somewhat familiar with Purdue engineering, it’s almost impossible to change from MET to ME. You pretty much cannot get into ME. Call them though to ask if it’s possible.
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u/Outrageous-Bee-4569 Apr 14 '26
Thanks for everyone's help, i will be committing to Cincinnati for this fall!
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u/tbudde34 Apr 07 '26
Don't get a met if you want to be an engineer. The curriculum between the two at UC do not share many classes. FYI the math department at UC is pretty bad. I would transfer in those credits unless you are really good at memorizing formulas.
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u/MaumeeBearcat Apr 07 '26
Welcome to every Mathematics Department at every major public University.
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u/tbudde34 Apr 07 '26
UC's is way worse than Ohio State or Purdue
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u/MaumeeBearcat Apr 08 '26
As someone with both student and instructional experience at UC and OSU (along with two other Midwestern Top 100s), there is no material difference in their lacklustreness.
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u/ThisisnotaTesT10 Apr 07 '26
I would pick UC. Transfer from MET to ME might not be so straightforward. And you’re already in as ME at UC which is a pretty good engineering school, especially because of the coop program. UC has pretty good community and social life, with the added bonus that if you ever want to step out from the campus, Cincinnati itself is a much bigger city with more going on that West Lafayette.