Hello all. I'm a female junior in high school who's considering majoring in Engineering. Are there colleges known for supporting and promoting women in this field? I'd love to hear your thoughts or experiences. Thanks!
Yes, there are a number of colleges that have engineering programs known for supporting and promoting women. For example, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers numerous women-specific scholarships and events through the Society of Women Engineers chapter.
Harvey Mudd College, a liberal arts college with a strong emphasis on STEM fields, has worked to increase the enrollment and retention of female students in its engineering program. Their student body is slightly more than 50% female—the highest percentage among comparable co-ed engineering programs.
Stanford's School of Engineering also has numerous initiatives and resources to support women, including the Women in Engineering program which helps to foster and support a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Another good option is California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Through their Center for Inclusion and Diversity, they promote community and equity in the STEM field, which includes efforts to support women in engineering.
The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University has a strong commitment to supporting women in engineering, demonstrated by a magnificent nearly 1:1 ratio of male to female undergraduates in the engineering program as of 2020.
Also, Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts has an approach to engineering education that is heavily project-based and hands-on, and they have a student population that is nearly 50% female.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other schools out there with strong engineering programs and resources for women. Remember that what's far more important is your personal comfort and fit with the school's environment, culture, and teaching style, in addition to its support structures for female students in engineering.
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