<p>Background: I'm looking to go into engineering. I got rejected from my first choice (Yale), but got into Columbia, Cornell, Tufts, and Pitt (and some others that I'm not considering any more). Now I'm having major difficulties choosing.</p>
<p>Without having been on the campus in about a year (I'm going back in a week or two for an overnight), I'd say Columbia is ranked #1 on my list of the four. The problem is, they didn't give me any financial aid... while Pitt gave me a full tuition scholarship plus $4k per year. Does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>I’m really into running, although not looking to do it competitively in college. In addition to liking math and science (engineering major, derf), I write novels in my (very little) spare time. I’m a voracious reader, edit the school paper, and have been playing piano since I was 5. I’m very into music and politics, and am strongly opinionated on both subjects. </p>
<p>My middle school was tiny and my high school small, both suburban, so I’m definitely looking for a change of pace.</p>
<p>If finances is a problem, I would say go to Pitt. It will not give you that much difference in undergrad education and it is a big enough university where it will not be a problem to find other highly intelligent hard working students. Full ride and stipend is hard for anyone to pass on.</p>
<p>I would through out tufts.</p>
<p>I think for engineering Cornell would be the best option and I think Pitt has a better rep then Columbia for engineering (I could be VERY wrong on this though)</p>
<p>if u wanted engineering, why (mind my language) the heck was Yale your first choice? lol. Their engineering is not awful, but it’s pretty close to that in comparison…</p>
<p>Cornell has had a couple of engineering students go on to become rather famous authors, including Kurt Vonnegut and Thomas Pynchon. Cornell also has a fantastic running club, and if you have never jogged through the foothills of the Finger Lakes, you are in for a real treat:</p>
<p>Cornell has had a couple of engineering students go on to become rather famous authors, including Kurt Vonnegut and Thomas Pynchon. Cornell also has a fantastic running club, and if you have never jogged through the foothills of the Finger Lakes, you are in for a real treat:</p>
<p>Go to Pitt. It’s engineering dept. is probably as good or better than any of others except, perhaps, Cornell, and the internship opportunities in Pittsburgh are vast. And, if you decide to go on for a Masters, you’ll already have the money.</p>
<p>Heck, with the $200k you’ll save not going to Columbia, you have a downpayment to start your own firm!</p>
<p>Interesting thread in that S has similar decision, with the Construction Management program at SEAS being particularly appealing to him. Both schools are a great fit with his sport (swim) and both fit in that he wants to be near a city. Many people say spend the money for Columbia for the networking and future opportunity. I’d love to hear opinions.
Neither school offer us any merit money and we have no recognized “need”, though S is 1st of 4 in a row and we have a bad investment in Florida that is costing us what we had saved for college.</p>