At first glance, you might think starting your engineering path at a small liberal arts college like St. Lawrence is counterintuitive. Shouldn’t engineers dive right into circuits and CAD software? But here’s what our graduates say: starting at SLU gave them a distinct edge.
“Coming from a liberal arts background, I’m not just another resume. I can communicate. I can lead meetings. I know how to take a technical concept and explain it to someone who’s not technical. That makes a difference in job interviews and on the job,” one alum shared.
This is where SLU shines. Yes, we challenge you academically, but we also develop your whole self. You build critical thinking, writing, and collaboration skills that many engineering schools simply do not have room to prioritize. These are the “soft” skills employers consistently rank as most valuable.
You will also explore fields beyond engineering, such as economics, global studies, or environmental policy. That breadth of knowledge helps you see how engineering fits into the bigger picture. Whether you are designing buildings, batteries, or bridges, that matters.
Internships and the Importance of Projects (Even Weird Ones)
Engineering employers care about what you have built. Many of our students, who had not taken a formal engineering class before transferring, still land competitive internships because of the projects they completed at SLU and on their own.
One alum designed a humidity and temperature-controlled habitat to raise crickets, just for fun. “It was a little out there, but it showed initiative, problem-solving, and engineering instincts,” he said. “It got me the interview, and once I was in the room, I could speak confidently about what I had built.” He credited SLU for giving him the time and space to pursue it. “I had professors I could talk to about it, friends who encouraged it, and the flexibility in my schedule to actually make it happen. That kind of environment matters.”
Another student built a liquid lens for an independent study and ended up interviewing at a 3D printing company where optics were essential. “That lens project came up in the interview,” he said. “It made the difference.”
You do not need access to a million-dollar machine shop to start. You need an environment that nurtures curiosity, rewards persistence, and offers real support, and SLU provides all three. Our faculty encourage independent projects, and our labs are stocked with the tools you need to get started. Even better, we help you connect the dots between theory and application.
The Hidden Advantage: Transfer with a Tribe
Moving to a big university can be intimidating, but SLU engineering dual-degree students don’t do it alone.
“The best part? I got to Columbia and already had a group of friends from SLU,” one student said. “That made the transition easier, and when you are in a big city like New York, that matters.”
SLU students have a built-in support system at their partner engineering schools. Whether it is Columbia, Dartmouth, Clarkson, or RPI, they join a tight cohort of motivated, community-minded students from similar backgrounds.
Even students who transfer alone still feel the difference. “Because of SLU, I knew how to make study groups. I knew how to approach professors. I wasn’t afraid to ask for help. That helped me make friends fast.”
Learning to Fail and Keep Going
One of the most valuable lessons SLU students carry with them is how to fail constructively.
“I used to panic if I didn’t understand something right away,” one graduate said. “But at SLU, I learned that failure is part of growth. If you’re never failing, you’re not pushing yourself.”
Whether it’s bombing a Modern Physics exam or struggling through an impossible Thermodynamics problem set at Columbia, our students don’t give up. They know how to persist, ask questions, and seek out help.
They have also seen the value of late-night study sessions with friends, office hours with professors who know them by name, and the discipline to push through when it is tough. Those habits stick long after they leave Canton.
A Word on Balance and the Value of Joy
SLU students work hard, but they also have fun—and they don’t apologize for it. It might sound cliché, but it came up again and again: joy matters.
“I joined clubs. I studied abroad. I went to Pub 56 and Java, joined the football team, made lifelong friends. That balance kept me sane,” one student said.
Another noted, “At SLU, I learned how to be a person, not just a student. This might be the best part of the engineering dual-degree program. You get three years in an environment where you are encouraged to explore, supported by your professors, and immersed in community. You grow in ways that engineering coursework alone cannot teach."
Then, you take that version of yourself—confident, curious, and capable—to a top-tier engineering school, and you thrive. Most importantly, you become the kind of engineer and person the world actually needs.
