<p>because USNWR probably ranked them higher and many people take a 2 rank spot difference in this "bible" as the be all and end all...instead of meaningless...</p>
<p>Even if you do look at USNEWS (which, BTW, I am totally against), Harvey Mudd is ranked the same and Cooper Union is below. Olin, I think because its too new, isn't even listed.</p>
<p>I wasnt recommending out of USNWR. If so, I would have recommended Rose Hulman, michigan and Purdue and UIUC etc. The schools I listed are slightly more selective and have great engineering programs. Cornell too has a great engineering program, one I hope to participate in. The schools I listed aren't necessarily better, but may be so.</p>
<p>"why would someone go to Stanford or Harvey Mudd or Olin or Cooper Union or Berkeley over Cornell for engineering unless there were strong non-academic reasons such as location or aid?"
Precisely because of academics, judging by the fact that students at these schools, except Berkeley, have exceptionally strong students, and are known for great engineering departments.
For some of those schools, for classes outside engineering cornell would be favored, if that is what you are saying.
Harvey Mudd and Stanford both have strong programs outside science, with HMC's crossregistration with Claremont colleges.</p>
<p>cooper union was my previous first choice before i started to go for cornell. i also considered columbia because i am rather fond of the city.</p>
<p>however, the engineering program at columbia does not seem to be on the same level as its LA program, and cooper union seems to have a lot of drawbacks from poor lab facilities and lack of a campus to inexperienced profs and oddball students.</p>
<p>cornell seems to be a good place to get an excellent education in engineering and a good background in humanities. also, if i decide i want to do something else with my life, it is one of the few places where i could switch into an entirely different program that would still be world-class.</p>
<p>i'm just very happy to see some positive feedback on my stats, and i thank you guys for spending the time to help some obsessive juniors (now seniors) find their way in this vexing process.</p>
<p>Well stanford is similar to Cornell in that regard, diversity of studies. </p>
<p>Harvey Mudd also has excellent liberal arts classes, both in its own college and the Claremont Colleges, though I don't know about the possibility of switching majors once there, ie majoring in something offered at pomona.</p>
<p>asherman, saying that berkeley engineering students aren't exceptionally strong means that you have no clue what you are talking about. Those people blow my mind, and I'm sure that they could be put up against any other group of students in the world and compete, or more likey be outright superior.</p>
<p>Gentlemanandscholar, sorry I was misinformed. I associated it with the other big publics. CA's asian population really lifts it up. I saw the class profile of Berkeley, and they are pretty topnotch. 1435 SAT and 4.42 GPA. Thats 100 points above Michigans average SAT. Also Berkeley's EECS is supposed to be extremely competitive, possibly as much as MIT or Stanford.
As always, dont believe posters. Check the stats.</p>