<p>Hi, I'm deciding between:
Columbia SEAS (Egleston Scholar)
Northwestern McCormick (Murphy Scholar)
USC Viterbi (VIterbi Fellow + Trustee Scholarship)
UC Berkeley (in-state)</p>
<p>I'm a Civil Engineering major at all four 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 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>Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t know about the quality of civil engineering at Columbia but it definitely has a reputation for being one of the easiest SEAS majors. Your concern for grade deflation is probably unwarranted re Columbia, I think we’re pretty inflated if anything.</p>
<p>Changing majors at Columbia is easy, and often you don’t even get to take many classes related to your major until sophomore year (because of our core) so take that for what you will (thus a lot of people decide relatively late on what they want to study).</p>
<p>If you like Greek like Columbia’s not really the place. Frats are very low key here, and even though they do exist, I think there is a general negative sentiment towards them. </p>
<p>Research/internships should be excellent at Columbia given it’s a private school with less students, a lot of research faculty, and being in NYC.</p>