<p>CShuck: </p>
<p>I went to Columbia College, but I kind of had a crush on engineering and wish I would have done it - so I know a little bit, overall I just want to answer your questions around rankings. But I hope that some of the actual eng people around can vouch.</p>
<p>I think the first thing and biggest thing to know about the eng school at Columbia is that it is different. Different in the sense that it openly tells students that they should use their education as an engineer to go into non-engineering fields, and over the years it has continued to harp on the fact that it will give you just as sound an engineering experience as MIT, but will also give you a) New York City, b) a strong liberal arts background, c) a focus on service-learning and community engagement. </p>
<p>The second thing to know is about engineering rankings. If you use the US News you should know that is that it is entirely subjective (they ask engineering people 1-5 what they think about a school and with or without knowing the school to rank). If you are a big time math/sci person you know that methodology is kind of fishy. It especially does not apply in Columbia's case. Why? Columbia eng is as rigorous as any other school in terms of math/sci angle, but is and this is to paraphrase a Columbia alum who did his masters at Columbia after doing undergrad at MIT, to give you the tools to be innovators and leaders in your chosen field. As he says it - MIT made him very good at engineering, Columbia gave him the ability to see how engineering was integrated into the wider fabric of the world and how he could integrate himself into society far more than the training he received at MIT. So why would this be bad? Because it is not the traditional way to think about engineering. You can get other opinions elsewhere, but going back to my crush on engineering - if I were to be an engineer, I would want to do it at Columbia. It feels like a place on the cutting edge. And if you don't believe me, it is always interesting to hear Vice Dean of the eng school Mort Friedman talk about how people at MIT and CalTech have begun to modify ideas that Columbia has had and integrating it into their curricula. Similarly, I have also heard Mort mention that because Columbia is different it is going to have some critics who may downcheck departments or even the school. This is not a devaluation because Columbia is worse, but goes to show you that change is sometimes not appreciated. </p>
<p>I hope to at least dismiss some of that in your thinking because if you believe Columbia is much worse then you aren't going to give it a fair shake. Also, I am not here to say that other schools are not going to be great options. Think, though, what you want in life, what you value, and choose a school that will most match those thoughts. In general, if you want something a bit more out of your college education than just engineering 24x7, or you want to see how engineering integrates itself with other disciplines - Columbia should definitely be on your list.</p>
<p>With that as a preface, here are some thoughts on your questions.</p>
<p>1) ChemE is a good department at Columbia, and especially with a top 10 ranked pure science department, chemistry is strong here. I think going to what I said about people undervaluing Columbia sticks here. Of the people I know who were ChemE many are now at top MD/PhD programs, strong PhD programs at CalTech, Stanford, etc., so do not let a subjective number deter you here.</p>
<p>2) Engineering is tough wherever you go, it is not as if Columbia is any easier. I can easily say some of the smartest kids I met at Columbia were engineers and without question the hardest working. I do not know other schools, though I hear people at MIT often talk about how incredibly rigorous that is. Anyhow, If your fear is that Columbia is engineering-light, well I think that would be an overstatement, it is pretty comparable. </p>
<p>3) I have seen the full gamut, probably even more diverse than other schools. Some friends are still in school, some are off to med or law school, some went to work on wall-street, a handful are doing research based work at NIH, for a big pharma (if you like ChemE, you should know that Columbia is right across the river from most of the New Jersey Pharmaceutical companies and they often hire Columbians), etc. So if your question is do you still have the same opportunities I would say yes you would - probably even more just because the nature of the school is that you can take your engineering degree and go anywhere, plus all the top firms no matter the industry recruit a lot in New York.</p>
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<li>I know a lot of Columbia undergrads who are at every single one of the schools you mentioned and here is another thing, I don't know many stories of people feeling as if they had a less opportunity because they went to Columbia. The Columbia brand name still travels very far and because during your time at CU you will be able to do research have tons of internship opportunities (another thing the university pushes) that you will be a) unique applicant to graduate programs just based on the fact that you are not a one-note, b) have significant experience for them to want to have you.</li>
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<p>I hope this helps.</p>