Columbia -- is it really the school that would fit me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>A tiny bit of background: I am a Biomedical Engineer. I choose this degree because I am very interested in the under-explored world at the micro/nanoscale. But my decision for this major was also based in the fact that the field of Biomedical engineering is supposed to be the most rapidly expanding field over the next 10-20 years. So I have two interests: What I am interested in... and making good money. </p>

<p>Next year I will be transferring to either WashU (Washington Universerity of St. Louis) or Columbia University. (I will spend two years at either University) WashU is known to be a great school and for its incredible medical school, which gives its Biomedical Engineering program top marks. Columbia is of course known to be one of the top schools in the world, but it comes along with an expensive price. I'm looking at a 1/2-full scholarship to WashU. From Columbia I'm looking at ~50% financial aid as my parents are around the 180K bracket.</p>

<p>**In your opinions, are the opportunities provided by Columbia more valuable even though it is not stereotypically known for its Engineering School? <a href="Considering%20the%20internships%20and%20opportunities%20in%20NY,%20the%20Colombia%20degree/brandname,%20connections%20&%20friends%20I%20will%20make%20etc..%20I%20mean%20at%20the%20end%20it%20is%20an%20Ivy%20league%20and%20that%20does%20carry%20weight">/b</a></p>

<p>I've heard that for research in graduate schools the reputation of the program itself is much more important than the university. In this regard I feel WashU places much higher than Columbia, but I am not necessarily interested in that type of graduate school.</p>

<p>Side note -- I'm leaving social life out of this because NY city life is easily dominant over WashU's horrific "social scene" Also, While this is a thread relevant in the transfer student thread, I'd hoped to see responses pertaining to the opportunities of these colleges with the aforementioned variables, rather than to the transfer process. I'd appreciate it if this thread was kept here</p>

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<p>bumpidly bump bump</p>

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<p>50% financial aid as a transfer, let alone with a 180k income, is REALLY optimistic, speaking from experience. For that reason alone I’d go with WashU. Also, you seem to be oriented towards grad school. I can’t speak for WashU, but if their BME dept is as good as you say, then there should be plenty of opportunities to do research there.</p>