Clemson vs. Virginia Tech vs. University Of Pittsburgh for civil engineering??

<p>I just got accepted into the University Of Pittsburgh and am most likely going to be accepted by Virginia Tech (not sure about Clemson though).</p>

<p>I really like the city environment of Pittsburgh but unfortunately I want to major in civil or environmental engineering and Pitt is strong in bioengineering and not many other engineering fields. Clemson and Virginia Tech have very strong programs but are in the middle of nowhere (which can be annoying) and is farther away from home.</p>

<p>Do you think in this case I should go with the college I like the most as a whole (Pitt) or go with the strongest academic program (Clemson/Virginia Tech)?
What other schools do you suggest that I apply to that can give me more of an urban feel, have a strong engineering program and is in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region? (farthest south: Virginia, farthest west: michigan/ohio).</p>

<p>Thanks guys for helping me again,
Pierre</p>

<p>Have you perhaps thought about Georgia Tech? It's a little further down south, but its in Atlanta and is one of the best engineering schools in the nation.</p>

<p>I would personally choose a school that has the best program. Think about it, 20 years from now, its not going to matter where your school was located, however, the quality of the curriculuim will affect the work that you do. Also, college is a big investement, and you want to get the best education you can for your money.</p>

<p>I lived in SC for a while, and I know that while Clemson is in the middle of nowhere, there are bigger towns, like Greenville, Charlotte, and Atlanta, close by. Also, I'm sure you will find something to do with ~15,000 students on campus. Somebody's bound to be hosting something. Same goes for VT.</p>

<p>I have looked at Georgia Tech, however I have heard that it is very demanding, and I'm not certain that I can succeed there. I actually want to get a good education and have new experiences in and out of the classroom, not work 24/7. Don't know if this is exactly true about Georgia Tech (someone can correct me on that)</p>

<p>Does the college you go to really affect your job options after college? or are grades more important? I'm really not familiar with what companies use to hire college graduates.</p>

<p>I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you base your choice of college on which one you perceive to be easier, I dont think you are going to make it in engineering.</p>

<p>It's gonna be tough where ever you go. Period. It's engineering's nature.</p>

<p>Now about work opportunities. Since GT is a well known school nationally, it will probably give better opportunities nationally. Similarly, Clemson and VT are more regional schools, so you won't struggle getting a good job in the south.</p>

<p>Of course I know that engineering is tough, I'm just saying that I would like to have people around me who are not worried about studying all the time and would like to go out and do something fun once in a while.</p>