chemE: Berkeley, Cornell, Columbia, or Penn?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was looking for schools with reputable engineering departments. Tuition is not a factor (although it initially was) at this time. Thus, I think it will come down to academics, location, and FEEL. Personally, I have narrowed this list down to several schools, which I'm still debating between:</p>

<p>UCB
Columbia
Cornell
Penn</p>

<p>I am looking to major in Chemical Engineering, but would like the option to switch because I am indecisive at times. The weather is not of much concern since I'm from Alaska--nothing is as cold as the weather up here. Thus, every college will be a pleasant change.</p>

<p>Where would YOU want to go given these options--and why?</p>

2

<p>in terms of chemE...it goes ucb, cornell = penn, then way down is columbia.</p>

<p>i would go to UCB if you want the large college feel.
if not, i would go to Penn over Cornell.</p>

3

<p>Cornell is better than Penn in engineering.</p>

4

<p>maybe for engineering in general but not chemE.</p>

5

<p>I read somewhere that for undergraduate chemE, Cornell was ranked higher. However, I have learned that I should take rankings with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>Howeer, the difference was from rank #19ish ro #21ish.</p>

<p>Berkeley is #2, so there is obviously a huge different between UCB and the ivies. However, I think Penn would provide a better social life, which is a safe compromise...</p>

6

<p>US News ranking for undergraduate chemical engineering.</p>

<p>I would prefer the Cornell environment over Berkeley despite Berkeley's higher rank in ChemE.</p>

<ol>
<li>Massachusetts Inst. of Technology<br></li>
<li>University of California–Berkeley <br></li>
<li>Univ. of Minnesota–Twin Cities *<br></li>
<li>Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison *<br></li>
<li>Stanford University (CA)<br></li>
<li>California Institute of Technology<br>
University of Texas–Austin *<br></li>
<li>U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign *<br></li>
<li>Princeton University (NJ)<br></li>
<li>University of Michigan–Ann Arbor *<br></li>
<li>University of Delaware *<br></li>
<li>Georgia Institute of Technology *<br></li>
<li>Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)<br></li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University (PA)<br></li>
<li>Cornell University (NY)<br></li>
<li>Univ. of California–Santa Barbara *<br></li>
<li>Pennsylvania State U.–University Park *<br></li>
<li>Northwestern University (IL)<br></li>
<li>North Carolina State U.–Raleigh *<br>
Texas A&M Univ.–College Station *<br></li>
<li>Rice University (TX)<br>
University of Florida *<br>
University of Notre Dame (IN)<br>
University of Pennsylvania<br></li>
<li>Virginia Tech *</li>
</ol>

7

<p>academics: Berkeley, no contest!</p>

<p>Location: Berkeley, the best part of the SF Bay Area</p>

<p>feel:
1-rural vs city. Go with cornell if you like to be in the country, but keep in mind that Berkeley is a pretty green place considering it's in the middle of one of the biggest agglomerations in the US. Lots of big beautiful regional parks right next to campus, and gorgeous countrisides in Marin, Napa and the Sierras nearby.
2-ivy vs big state school.</p>