<p>Which one do you think would be better for computer engineering? I'm pretty sure I will qualify for a 100% need based student so it won't cost me that much to attend either of those 2 colleges.</p>
<p>Which one do you think will get me a better job in the future?</p>
<p>carnegie mellon.</p>
<p>My mom went to UIUC... absolutely NO ONE she knows was in engineering. Things may have changed but CM definitely has a better rep for cpu engineering.</p>
<p>Umm, UIUC is one of the best engineering schools in the country (top 3) and has top computer and electrical engineering programs...</p>
<p>CM is good, but UIUC is the Harvard of engineering.</p>
<p>Both have great engineering departments. The key difference could be environment. My boss' daughter is an engineering major at UIUC and says only the engineering majors work hard; everyone else goofs off. At CM I think you would find a more academic environment overall. Also, UIUC is the epitome of Greek Life. the Greek situation at UIUC is so overwhelming from what we have seen that my D does not want to apply there. Additionally, while I have never seen CM's campus, UIUC leaves much to be desired.</p>
<p>MIT is the Harvard of engineering and then UCB. :-)</p>
<p>doesn't Carnegie Mellon have more prestige than UIUC in engineering?</p>
<p>Both these schools have outstanding computer engineering programs but, as susanr64 mentioned, they are two very different types of schools. UIUC is a huge state school in a pleasant college town atmosphere that happens to have exceptional engineering and computer science programs. CMU is a mid-size, highly selective private university in the middle of a large city which also has exceptional engineering and computer science programs. Both attract very high caliber engineering students, but the environments are very different and appeal to different types of students. As for academics and job prospects I think both schools will prepare anyone well for future employment as an engineer. But you are talking about 4 years of your life here, so the difference in atmosphere probably determines where you should attend, whether you prefer the large, social, "collegetown" type life or the more academic, urban experience. Neither of the two is "better", it all comes down to personal preference.</p>
<p>hmm on USNEWS rankings is says that
**
Computer Engineering**
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
2 Stanford University
Stanford, CA
3 Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
4 University of California--Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
5 University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL</p>
<p>Electrical Engineering
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
2 Stanford University
Stanford, CA
3 University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
4 University of California--Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
5 Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
6 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
7 California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
8 Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
9 Purdue University--West Lafayette
West Lafayette, IN
10 Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA</p>
<p>How can CMU be so low in ECE?</p>
<p>10 isn't really any different from 5. One of the most fallacious arguments one can make about whether or not a school is better is to look at the rankings outside the top 2 or 3 as highly stratified according to strength.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon's computer engineering programs are some of the nations best. Actually all of their engineering are pretty good.</p>
<p>Have you been accepted to both? Can you visit? I doubt there are going to be many differences job prospect-wise since both are extremely highly regarded in those areas.</p>
<p>What will make a difference is in how you approach research opportunitites and internship opportunities. It might be worth delving into how those opportunities play out for undergraduates.</p>
<p>this comes down to where you feel comfortable.</p>
<p>cmu =nerdy people who weren't smart enough to get in MIT, Stanford. </p>
<p>uiuc engineering is probably the same way, but it's more well rounded so you'll get some sports, school spirit, some parties, some good looking girls/guys along the way. </p>
<p>I've visited both schools, it really depends on where you feel comfortable and what you envision your college experience to comprise of.</p>
<p>Illinois profs and grads won Nobel prizes for developing key elements of computers--transistors and integratred circuits. I can't believe some people here are not aware of some of Illinois' major advances in computers and EE. The first siginficant web-browser was also developed at Illinois and was the model for Netscape.</p>
<p>One more voice saying you should choose based on atmosphere. They are both spectacular in your field. For me, it would be an easy call to live in Pittsburgh rather than Urbana, but for someone who enjoys a big sports scene and Greek life, it would be an equally easy call in the opposite direction.</p>
<p>"cmu=nerdy people who weren't smart enough to get in MIT, Stanford."</p>
<p>You could say the same for just about every school outside HYPSM. It's annoying when people make comments like this not knowing a thing about a particular school. The fact is, both have among the top programs in the country for ECE, and the kids are plenty "smart". At CMU EE and CE are combined so I don't know why there's a separate ranking for each, unless it's for the grad program.</p>
<p>Here's where CMU grads go after graduation: <a href="http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/employ/salary/ECE.pdf%5B/url%5D">www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/employ/salary/ECE.pdf</a><br>
Mean salary is $68,459, median $65,000.</p>
<p>I can't find the same info on the UI site after a few minutes. That's either my lack of computer savvy, or indicative of red tape you might encounter at a huge school. (probably the former)</p>
<p>I agree, at this level, go with the atmosphere. My S is a CMU grad (but CS, not ECE), and on the way back from visiting CMU, we went through State College, PA. He instantly hated Penn State, which would be similar to, I guess, Illinois. Others love that atmosphere. If this is your choice, definitely visit both. I will say Pittsburgh is a surprisingly good city, and UPitt is practically next door. Which makes that section of Pittsburgh (Oakland) full of students.</p>
<p>Are you asking about Computer Engineering or Computer Science? These are different degree programs in different departments at both schools. Computer Engineering is a subfield of EE. Computer Science is a separate department.</p>
<p>At UIUC Computer Engineering is in the ECE department and UIUC is far superior to CMU in ECE/EE as the rankings showed in a previous post. The two schools are not considered close at all in this field in terms of quality, reputation, depth, and breadth of offerings. For Computer Science, CMU is probably slightly better than UIUC.</p>
<p>From The Princeton Review</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon University</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"Carnegie Mellon University is “all about technology. Whether it be engineering, music, theater, robotics, science, or psychology; it’s about learning by breaking things down to find out how they work.” With nearly half the students engaged in computer- and engineering-related disciplines, Carnegie Mellon can seem to be the domain of number-crunchers, but in fact the school also excels in music, theater, design, architecture, all the hard sciences, business, and economics; it is truly “a place where nerds of all kinds can thrive.” One student observes, “Carnegie Mellon is strong in so many different fields. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I wanted to be in a place where I could find out early in a hands-on way, and switch to an equally great program if I wanted.” Those who choose Carnegie Mellon should prepare for academic demands that can “overwhelm you with work and stress in order to weed out the weak from the strong.” To help students cope, the school offers “tons of academic resources to get extra help, from peer tutoring to office hours to student-led review sessions. Still, it’s incredibly important to stay on top of assignments, or they really pile up.” Hard work “prepares Carnegie Mellon students for post-undergraduate success,” students agree, and when you reach that stage you’ll be assisted by “a great career center” that draws “constant job recruiting on campus” and maintains “fantastic alumni connections,” though this is somewhat dependent on a student’s major."</p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"The workload at Carnegie Mellon can be pretty daunting, so it’s no surprise that the typical undergrad here “is extremely studious and serious about academics.” In terms of priorities, “Extracurricular activities and a social life are far behind academics. Socially, people can be awkward.” Even so, “For every recluse or extroverted musical theater major that you’d expect at Carnegie Mellon, there is a polar opposite. People here feel a need to define themselves some way, to defy established stereotypes.” Carnegie Mellon draws “a very diverse student body where most people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, tend to get along. Occasionally some cliques form on campus (for example, a certain set of international students, or students from a particular major), but most of the time everyone is friendly.”</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"“Work hard, then work harder” might be the mantra of some Carnegie Mellon students; among them is the undergrad who tells us: “I go to class, I study in the library, and I work out. The day is so long that generally by the time I get home, I eat and am ready for bed because most of the time it’s 11:00 or 12:00 at night already.” Others tell us, however, that “if you are a social person, you can and will find other social people that you can have fun with.” The weekend, or Friday night and Saturday—”Sunday will of course be spent doing work”—is the time to cut loose. Greek life and movies are the big on-campus draws: “Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night a just-released movie from the main theaters plays on campus; you can get a ticket, popcorn, and a drink for under three dollars.” A good deal of students, though, prefer to have their fun in the city. Pittsburgh “offers a wide variety of things to do off-campus and the Port Authority bus system (free with a Carnegie Mellon ID) does a decent job of transporting students wherever they want to go.” There’s “always a gallery show to go see” in Pittsburgh, and professional sports, “great restaurants, shopping centers, and malls” are also a draw. The city “has a pretty big bar and club scene, but you must be 21.” One student writes, “You can do virtually anything within a reasonable distance, including a trip to a ski mountain.”</p>
<p>University Of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"The epically large flagship campus of the University of Illinois “is very challenging and gives you freedom to do anything.” Students here enjoy “all the benefits of a great public university.” There are over 150 undergraduate programs. The colleges of engineering and business are of the “most prestigious and hardest to get into,” but there are do..."The epically large flagship campus of the University of Illinois “is very challenging and gives you freedom to do anything.” Students here enjoy “all the benefits of a great public university.” There are over 150 undergraduate programs. The colleges of engineering and business are of the “most prestigious and hardest to get into,” but there are dozens of other “very strong and reputable” departments as well. “The research resources are amazing,” raves a Russian literature major. “The library has almost any resource an undergraduate or even an advanced researcher would ever need.” However, the drawbacks that come with such an expansive campus are present as well. Lower-level class sizes “are horrendously large.” “My largest class had 800 students,” notes a biochemistry major. “The massive bureaucracy” is a constant source of irritation. “Simple things like adding or dropping a class a few weeks into a semester can require five or six trips to different buildings to talk to different people, each time requiring you to explain your situation.” “Professors are more impersonal to freshmen, but seem to warm up to upperclassmen,” explains one student. “There are some professors that should not be teaching anywhere,” though. “A lot of times, it’s a toss up with bad/good professors,” counsels a geology major. “You can learn a lot and have a great teacher, but you need to ask around and find out who that good teacher is.” “There are professors and classes that you come across that certainly leave something to be desired,” agrees a women’s studies major. “But overall, I am very pleased with my academic experience at UIUC and have met some astoundingly intelligent, influential professors.”" </p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"The U of I has a decidedly Midwestern feel and “Midwestern hospitality” is abundant. “Kids from out-of-state and small-town farm students” definitely have a presence but, sometimes, it seems like “practically everyone is from the northwest suburbs of Chicago.” There’s a lot of ethnic diversity “visible on campus.” There are many Asian and Asian-American students. On the whole, the majority of students are “very smart kids who like to party.” “The typical student is involved and really good at balancing schoolwork, clubs and organizations, and their social life.” “They really study fairly hard, and when you ask, it turns out that they’re majoring in something like rocket science.” Ultimately, there’s something for everyone here with students who think about “nothing but drinking” to those who “never miss a class” and are “in the library every night.” “There is a niche for everyone</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"At the University of Illinois, there is “never a dull moment, despite the surrounding cornfields.” Over a thousand clubs and organizations provide students with a wide array of options. “Anything that you are interested in you can do,” gloats an engineering major. “It’s a huge campus but it’s not too spread out,” says a Spanish major. “You can get around anywhere by bike or bus and you don’t need a car.” “The campus is very Greek-oriented,” and the students who pledge the myriad frats and sororities “love the Greek life.” Some students notice serious animosity between the independent students and students involved in the frat scene. “It seems at times to take over our campus,” says one irate independent. Other students just don’t see the problem. “I think plenty of non-Greeks associate with Greeks,” asserts a finance major. “Drinking is a big thing at U of I.” Apartment parties and frat parties rage on the weekends. There is an “outstanding bar culture,” too. “If you’re 19, or if you can get an ID so you can be 19, it’s very popular to frequent the bars even during the week.” “If you don’t want to party all the time, there are plenty of other options.” “Intramural sports and playing sports on the quad and in Frat Park are popular.” The campus is “alive with the Big Ten spirit” and students are very supportive of their beloved Illini. “Awesome concerts” proliferate and “there is a really good artsy theater which runs foreign and indie films.”"</p>
<p>I'm asking about Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering. Unfortunately my parents are really stingy/poor so I'm unable to visit CMU. I don't really know much about CMU apart from the brochures they sent me and what I've read online.</p>
<p>I've gone to UIUC before for a competition, but I don't think I really got a good view of the whole campus. I've only seen stuff around the "quad". I live in Illinois and it seems like a lot of people that i know are going to UIUC. Will it be high school all over again?</p>
<p>One thing that I am concerned of if I go to UIUC is the class sizes. I've heard people say that there can be up to 600 people in 1 class. I wasn't sure what class that was but I hope it isn't an engineering one. Another thing is that UIUC is located in farmland area. I don't see how I can get a job there or even get an internship if there is no businesses there. </p>
<p>I hear that CMU has a bad Male to Female ratio and the school is composed of a lot of Asians (not saying that is a bad thing), but where is the diversity. I am also concerned about the quality of it's engineering courses. Is it superior than UIUC? But then again does undergraduate education really matter? I don't even know if I am going to go to graduate school because 8 years in college is just too much...</p>
<p>I know that Bill Gates once said that most of the people he hires is from UIUC, but I think that's just because UIUC has the biggest pool of engineers there. </p>
<p>I just want what you guys think about both of those schools.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Will it be high school all over again?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is one of the risks you run going to State U instead of somewhere else. This is why some people are so adamant about going OOS.</p>
<p>"cmu =nerdy people who weren't smart enough to get in MIT, Stanford."</p>
<p>Wow, did it just get chilly in here?</p>
<p>Dude if you have any doubts about whether CMU has a good computer engineering program, I think you need to familiarize yourself more with CMU's SCS and ECE. Not to sound cocky, but Carnegie Mellon basically invented computer science on some level (to clarify myself, I would also say MIT invented the internet in a way as they were a driving force behind it).</p>
<p>I hate to impose on something so personal, but I think you ought to focus more on the financial situation. If your'e doing RD then I guess it's not a big deal, but you have to understand that (and I'm not the most qualified to talk about this, but I've read things like this about Penn) more than likely most of your financial aid from Carnegie Mellon will be in the form of a loan. It may cost you the same up front, but it's unlikely that you'll manage to make off with a CMU education for free. Google some lists of the most expensive colleges in the US, it's like #10 or #11.</p>