<p>Hi, I'm from New York and intend to major in Computer and Electrical engineering, and minor in business and finances. I am currently choosing between the Fu School of Engineering at Columbia and the University of Michigan at Ann-Arbor but cannot decide. I've visited Columbia numerous times and planning a visit to Michigan but I need to decide soon. Which do you choose for the above studies?</p>
<p>bump… please help!</p>
<p>perhaps I phrased it wrong. My passion is in computer and electrical engineering but I would like a background in business for the company startup in technology I am currently working on. I have found information on dual degrees for students of the college of engineering I think this would suffice. From what I hear, Ross school is one of the best in the nation.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me some more perspective? I need to make a decision I’m so torn.</p>
<p>You will be fine either way, but you might have better contacts in NYC. Visit both. It really comes down to what type of experience you want. You probably couldn’t find two more different campus environments. Ultimately you will be fine either way, but when you visit Michgan, you will know whether or not you feel like you want that type of college experience. Big games, parties, college town to go with the hard work. Or NYC life but not really much in way of “college” experience per se.</p>
<p>Yeah I live in NYC and have visited Columbia innumerable times - I hang out there often and know the campus like the back of my hand. I agree the kids seem somewhat reclusive and the campus socially apart - everyone seems to be on their own and going about individually.</p>
<p>In terms of academics (for the majors above), research opportunities, internships, business exp and experience overall for engineering - would you recommend Michigan or Columbia?</p>
<p>Per US News:</p>
<p>Engineering overall:
Michigan #7
Columbia #25</p>
<p>Computer Engineering
Michigan #7
Columbia not in top 20</p>
<p>Electrical engineering:
Michigan #6
Columbia not in top 20</p>
<p>Easy case. If you want to do engineering, Columbia is simply not in Michigan’s league.</p>
<p>true… I like to somewhat disregard rankings at this point although I do recognize that Michigan seems to be a very accredited school in engineering and business.</p>
<p>Anyone else? I’d like some more input to help me make this decision.</p>
<p>Fronz, Columbia and Michigan have very different campus cultures. Both schools are located downtown and both schools are large (Columbia has 25,000 students and Michigan has 40,000 students). But Columbia is in downtown NYC whereas Michigan is in downtown Ann Arbor. NYC is a huge city on par with the likes of London, Paris and Tokyo. On the other hand, Ann Arbor is the quintissential, intellectual, quaint college town with a population of 110,000. </p>
<p>Of Michigan’s 40,000 students, 70% are undergrads. Of Columbia’s 25,000 students, only 30% are undergrads. That gives Michigan a distinctly greater college feel. </p>
<p>Michigan’s 40,000 students are scattered evenly on a 3,000 acre campus. Columbia’s 25,000 students are packed in a 400 acre campus.</p>
<p>Sports play a significant, albeit not major, role in campus life at Michigan. Sports are probably nearly non-existant at Columbia. </p>
<p>You really should visit Michigan before deciding. Given the polar opposites you are considering, once you have visited both schools, your choice should be clear.</p>
<p>Thanks Alexandre. I am planning a visit to UMichigan sometime soon. However, I don’t doubt the nearly unanimous claim that Michigan college life is amazing/exciting/fun. </p>
<p>My main concern is for the academics. I want to make sure the institution I choose can provide me with the best in research, internships, classes, professors, etc. in computer/electrical engineering and a background in business, as well as some smart, good connections for the future.</p>
<p>P.S Alexander: By the way, Columbia is uptown NYC - most of the original buildings on the upper west side, some on the east (none downtown). The sports, like football and swimming, are wayy up in the Bronx near the river hence the low school spirit. NYU and Cooper Union are downtown.</p>
<p>“My main concern is for the academics.” </p>
<p>Both schools are awesome academically.</p>
<p>“I want to make sure the institution I choose can provide me with the best in” </p>
<p>1) “research”: Slight edge to Michigan</p>
<p>2) “internships”: Roughly equal</p>
<p>3) “classes”: Roughly equal</p>
<p>4) “professors”: roughly equal overal, slight edge to Michigan in Engineering</p>
<p>5) “in computer/electrical engineering”: Slight edge to Michigan</p>
<p>6) “and a background in business”: Roughly equal</p>
<p>7) “as well as some smart”: Slight edge to Columbia </p>
<p>8) “good connections for the future”: Roughly equal</p>
<p>You really cannot go wrong. Once you have visted Michigan, go for fit. Let us know which way you go!</p>