A big part of the problem is the lack of really good engineering professors.
It is hard to produce an engineer. It is exceptionally difficult to produce an engineer, that has experience doing engineering AND is a good TEACHER.
IMHO Georgia Tech is great research university and great for going to grad school. I'm not so sure that it is so hot in undergraduate teaching. Many universities have this problem.
I spent nearly a week this summer at MIT. Before I went I had the impression that they were only for "theorists". I left impressed at the breadth and depth of undergraduate lab and research opportunities. These opportunities are fantastic ways to help students learn and to keep them motivated.
Rose Hulman is noted to be an undergraduate teaching university. They don't do research. Just great teaching. Ditto for the Air Force Academy.
A second part of the problem is career guidance. Some people should not choose an ABET engineering career, they possibly should be choosing an ABET engineering technologist career.
FYI, Professor Woodie Flowers is a recovering member of
BTA bad teachers anonymous.
A lack of great teachers, and a dearth of good guidance counseling, formal or informal, is a big part of the problem.