<p>For engineering, I highly recommend Rose Hulman and Olin. True hidden gems but extremely presitgious to others in the engineering world. For an interesting pre-med route, check out Tulane’s Creative Medical Scholar program. If engineering is not certain, but you want an intellectual campus full of incredibly smart and engaged people, check out U of Chicago. Of course, both Caltech and MIT seem like a natural for a science person. Vanderbilt and Duke would offer you prestige as well as nicer winters than Cornell.</p>