Olin College of Engineering

“The future model for engineering education,”  that’s how the founders and current faculty at Olin College of Engineering describe their school. Interdisciplinary project-based instruction that trains students how to think, learn and approach challenges is at the core of this school’s curriculum. Olin is a small school serving less than 350 students who are all pursuing a degree in engineering. The school is young, having graduated their first class in 2006.  The school is also unique in that one of its major goals is to provide a tuition free college education to the best and brightest in the engineering field.  Due to current economic conditions they have had to amend this goal and currently offer half tuition still making it one of the best college buys in the country.

Olin’s curriculum is based on the “Olin Triangle” emphasizing engineering and science, business and entrepreneurship and liberal arts.  Classes are held in labs and machine shops as well as traditional classrooms.  Classrooms have state-of-the-art instructional media.  Basically, the place is gorgeous with the newest and best of everything.  

To be a part of this little oasis is not easy though.  To be accepted you have to be incredibly accomplished (SATs CR 780, M 770, ACT’s 34).  In addition, the school looks for students with strong social and verbal skills.  Once at Olin, students are described as working all the time.  However, they also point out that they are working because they are intrigued and excited by the projects.  Faculty are young and passionate as well.  There is no tenure and while professors are expected to conduct research they are not expected to do it at the expense of teaching.  Professors leave MIT and other top tier engineering schools because they are equally excited by the innovation that is Olin.

Inherent in the culture of Olin is a strong honor code which highlights respect, patience and understanding for your community.  While students are generally liberal, there are also students who come from highly religious and conservative backgrounds.  This, however, has not seemed to create a problem.  Women make up over 40% of the student population.  The school is 1% African American, 4% hispanic and 11% Asian.