<p>I'm a Civil Engineering major at all five schools. Not completely set on civil, but as of right now, I think it's the discipline I'm most interested. I like the idea of being able to change majors. USC would be the cheapest option, followed by Cal and Case, and then Columbia and Northwestern, but my family can afford each choice. I'm not a stereotypical fraternity guy, but I'd be open to consider joining one if Greek life is the main social center of campus. I'd probably want to get involved with research and/or internships, and while I'm up for a challenge, I don't think I'd do well in cutthroat, competitive, grade deflationary environments.</p>
<p>Engineering in itself is cutthroat. So, expect that the engineering program at all those schools would be very competitive. </p>
<p>For civil engineering, Berkeley is ranked number 1 in the nation. That is important to consider because if you’ll be applying to big companies after graduation, or would be applying to grad school, your undergrad college would be taken into account. You’d not have a hard time getting into research as a civil engineering at Berkeley. In fact, I would venture that the department would highly encourage their students to get involved in research, and when it comes to that, the quality of research projects done at Berkeley is much higher than all those schools in your list. I’d go for Berkeley, if I were you.</p>
<p>Not necessarily, at least if students are admitted into their majors (as opposed to having to make a high GPA in curved classes to enter the major). However, at many schools, engineering does get a stronger group of students than the rest of the school, or the weaker students leave engineering after the first year due to the rigor of the engineering majors.</p>
<p>All of those schools have stellar engineering programs. Berkeley’s Greek life is definitely not the “main social center of campus.” Berkeley would definitely be more competitive than the others, especially engineering. Given the information you said, I’d say USC if money matters and Columbia if it doesn’t. </p>
<p>Berkeley is a great choice for Civil Engineering. But this…
“I’m not a stereotypical fraternity guy, but I’d be open to consider joining one if Greek life is the main social center of campus.” Don’t go there… don’t mingle with a bunch of losers.</p>