Best University in Boston, MA for FSAE?

[iLearn]

Hello FSAE'ers,

I'm an older student (early 30's) going back to school (have bachelor's degree in non-engineering field) to pursue a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in the Boston area.

Since I have a deep interest in sport car performance and am a hands-on learner, which University in the Boston area has the best FSAE program? Any recommendations and insight would be much appreciated.

[RobbyObby]

Is there really such thing as a "best" FSAE program? Are you really going to learn more by going to a school who's FSAE program places higher at competition? Just being a part of the program is enough for most anybody. I would actually venture a guess that you'll get more out of being on a team that's small and maybe doesn't place as well, cause you'll be able to get your hands dirty with more aspects of the car and learn more than on a large established program where you need years on the team in order to be a major player.

I would start by looking at the Formula SAE website, which lists all current schools and most have links to their webpages. And if you really care to know, they have archives of overall competition results dating back to 2000 or so, to determine which team is really the "best".

But if you really want a challenge... go to a school with no FSAE program and start one up!

[BMH]

I know Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has a FSAE team. Not too far from Boston either.

[Racer-X]

Something I can add to this is MIT seems to be the nerdcore team if you will. I have heard that they spend a huge amount of time designing and and not a lot of time doing its that whole more chiefs than indians thing. Not to knock them or the team this is just my observation. I believe they are going to electric next year too.

With that being said I would focus getting into a school that you like and then find the team there. Depending on how motivated you are you can spend between 10-50 hours a week on a formula team. Its not your while life, just a big part of it.

[acedeuce802]

I wouldn't choose a University based on the teams results, but more so how the team itself operates. Choosing a University should be a large enough decision to make you visit each school. Try to contact all of the teams that you plan on visiting, and check out the shop, how the team operates, and get to know the teams. Make sure the team is a group of members who are accepting, and you get along well with. I'd say that's a pretty important part of being personally successful on an FSAE team. It is a very demanding (and sometimes stressful) program, and it's important that the team dynamics are there.

There are benefits to both large and small teams. I have experience on a reletively small team (10-15 people total, 5-8 core members), and it is very nice having more "clout" on the team, than if I were at a larger school (I was a system lead by the end of my Freshman year). But then again, a larger team who may place better in the rankings, will likely have more resources. With a larger team, you probably also don't learn quite as much, but it all depends.

[iLearn]

Thanks for all your input everyone. I could not find any really strong FSAE teams in the Boston area, but UT Arlington looks really good so I might give Texas a try instead. Any other suggestions for Boston schools?

[Charles Kaneb]

iLearn,

Texas A&M needs to replace me. I'm from Worcester MA and was in the same situation you were in. It's been a great two years here.

[Charles Kaneb]

Worcester Polytech has a couple of my friends on the team and do well whenever they make it to competition.

[Brian Barnhill]

Originally posted by Charles Kaneb:
Worcester Polytech has a couple of my friends on the team and do well whenever they make it to competition.

Ugh... that's a REALLY sore point from last year. I think a lot of them learned a valuable lesson from it though.

iLearn: If you want to take a look at WPI and talk to their SAE (they have formula, Baja and I think they are starting Hybrid, and they also have a motorsports club separate from all of that) shoot me a message. My brother is still on the team there and I am friends/still in contact with part of the team and club and can put you guys in touch (and I am a WPI alum from the formula program)

[Cardriverx]

I visited MIT a couple months, they are switching to electric FYI.

[Rex Chan]

I think you guys missed the point of the OP: he said best FSAE team, not best *placing* team.

The best way to see what an FSAE team is like is to go and visit - ugrads are lazy, so may not respond to emails/etc. I've been around only a few FSAE teams in Melbourne, but each one has a different culture, as well as how they go about things. Some have very different focus on what they want their car to be, how the FSAE team is a part of uni/college course work, etc.

I would probably avoid a team that has a 100% turnover rate each year (even though my uni does this), because the huge change year to year means pot luck in team culture and direction. See what the team makes (vs gets sponsors to make, if that's important to you). See what the team focus is - speak to the guys who are really doing stuff on the team/know their shit. You should be able to get a god feel for the team by spending a few hours at their workshop.

Hope this helped.