CWRU vs Cal Poly vs Colorado Boulder

Colleges and Universities A-Z Case Western Reserve University
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Hi, I am an international student who, after receiving several acceptances, has finalized his list down to this final 4, each for different reasons. I have applied to civil engineering for all 4 universities, and also have a passion for architectural engineering which is not available in CWRU. Moreover, I am currently wait-listed at Purdue but after speaking to admissions office and providing them with my scores, and looking at their wait-list statistics I will say I have high chances of admittance, considering their low yield rate. If admitted to Purdue, I will attend there 100%. Meanwhile, I need to send my deposit to one of the other three schools and I am not sure which one. Here are my opinions on each one.

Colorado Boulder: The most expensive on the list but by far the most respected in civil engineering nationally and internationally (I have to consider international reputation as the chances of working in the US after grad is slim). They excel in civil engineering in particular, as well as Boulder located in the most beautiful college town in the US, with numerous activities to participate in daily. Also - Division 1 which is a plus because I love attending sporting games. However, not sure if the final cost of $58,000 is worth it, and I will have to take approximately $40,000-50,000 in loans over the 4 years.

CWRU: Definitely the most renowned and prestigious university overall from the four; however, is not particularly known for its engineering programs let alone civil engineering, bar Biomedical Engineering. It costs $55,000, but I estimated that after participating in the Co-op program I can reduce $10,000 from each year with the income generated. International reputation is lesser than Boulder’s and Purdue’s. However, Division 3, and I’ve heard pretty crap reviews about Cleveland and its crime and safety.

Cal Poly: The most technical of the schools above (which I love) and also the cheapest. However, my major concern with Cal Poly is that it is not recognized at all outside of the US, perhaps even so outside of the West. Yet, it is extremely recognized for its civil and architectural engineering programs, and their graduates are highly respected and sought after, and boast one of the highest starting salaries in the country (top 20 ROI and Median Salaries). So will this regional reputation affect my future if I do not work in the west coast? Another problem I am concerned with is the lack of diversity in the student body; as an international Arab student I feel I might be discriminated against and be subject of racism, and that is definitely a big no for me! Is such the case in Cal Poly. The town of San Luis Obispo is beautiful, secluded with lots of beautiful scenery and college students, and not too far off from LA, which is a bonus. It is the cheapest option, only $37,000, and Division 1, with soccer being a very popular sport there which coincidentally happens to also be my favorite sport.

Overall, I feel like Colorado and Cal Poly will offer me the greatest college experience and I will truly enjoy my time there, with Colorado having an edge in its academic reputation that I am not sure is worth the extra $20,000 and debt. On the other hand, CWRU reviews tend to describe it as a static campus with not much to do, but its academic reputation and ranking are by far the best from all 4. This is my dilemma, academics vs experience? And if experience, is Colorado worth it?

Sorry for the long post, desperately needing help! Thank you very much

PS: I am more of a party student than an academic student; don’t usually hit the books till finals, and regard the social scenes of a university as one of the biggest indicators to my decision.

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I happen to be familiar with all the schools you mention, worked at CU Boulder, my older son is at CWRU in physics and know many students at Cal Poly. I think you should go to Cal Poly, for the price and job connections, if you want to stay in the USA, and find summer internships and work in CA.

Cal Poly is slightly more “hands on” than Case Western,which is an older east coast style technology school, super strong in sciences, math and engineering. You will get the theoretical grounding at Case Western, which may be missing at Cal Poly. Cal Poly may have better job options at the end, if you can stay in the USA. (and like California, as Cal Poly is best known out there).

For getting into a masters degree,CWRU is best perhaps, as its the most rigorous in the theory aspects.

CWRU is the most rigorous of the three, for the math and theory behind all the engineering. CU Boulder is solidly ranked in aerospace and good for biological engineering. For Civil engineering OK, but architectural engineering may be weaker than you are anticipating. CU has a separate school of Environmental Design, and urban planning, its not a traditional architecture program:

http://www.colorado.edu/envd/

CU Architectural engineering is more or less project management and lighting engineering, but CU Boulder did hire a very good architect to run the ATLAS program Professor Mark Gross. He is from Carnegie Mellon. If you think you can work for Mark Gross, don’t know how likely that is, then CU Boulder might be a good choice, but its not worth the out of state price, I would say. Mark does industrial design and the computer algorithms for design. This may not interest you, but I thought I would mention him. He is a superstar type of faculty.

Boulder is a nice city, and does offer a lot to do. However . I would say for arts,theatre and classical music, Cleveland is better and for a beach, clearly Cal Poly wins, so depends on what you like to do in your spare time.

Otherwise pick Cal Poly. Its a practical degree, in a small town and very well connected to west coast jobs. You will not be able to change majors though at Cal Poly. Computer Science and all other engineering majors are heavily “impacted” meaning no changing after you commit to civil engineering, but ask about that. Also it may take you five years at Cal Poly, some students take that long. Its a bit hard to register for classes there, but in civil engineering, a less popular major, may be better, so check about class registration and the feasibility of finishing in four years.

Case Western overall is the best engineering college by far on your list, but as you point out, you cannot study architecture. You can finish the Case Western Civil engineering program in 4 years. Case Western is the most flexible school on your list, if you change your mind and wanted to study accounting, or a science field, applied math, CS or any other branch of engineering.

CU Boulder should let you move around between school of Environmental Design and school of engineering,but check that too. You can move from Engineering at CU to Arts and Sciences, easily but the business college and the Environmental Design college have other requirements, is my understanding.

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Just read more carefully that you are an Arab student. The most prejudice you may encounter is in Colorado, not California or Ohio, in my opinion. Colorado is a predominately white for demographics and has a history of discriminating against Latinos. ( I spend about 29 years on the east coast, NYC and Boston, , and lived in Colorado for 25 years now).

We have very few synagogues and mosques, as well. Its highly Christian environment here, even with Boulder embracing gay students and faculty and Buddhism!

Boulder is a little more open than Denver, but its smaller than you might think and Colorado students are a little less open to others than California or the midwestern and east coast students at Case may be.

Cleveland is a well integrated place with a lot of blacks, Polish, Chinese and Indian students. CWRU as a campus is more liberal and open than Boulder’s campus , believe it or not.
Boulder, the city, has a small Latino population, heavily discriminated against, but trying to fix this. Awareness is the first step! The Latinos here are immigrants from Central America,and Mexico, and there are problems between different races and cultures , but its kept under wraps at the university, mostly.

San Luis Obispo is very small, BUT the vast majority of Cal Poly students hail from ultra accepting and liberal California. California’s large cities are the most multicultural in the world, possibly. I believe you will have no troubles at Cal Poly because of the students there, of all colors, religions and nationalities.

California is a true melting pot. Most U of Cal schools are minority white at this stage, and its a highly aware and sensitive to differences in religion and culture.

With your Purdue hopeful admit, Indiana is also rather more white than California or northern Ohio/Cleveland, but I think Purdue is so well known and well ranked in engineering, that it attracts Asian and Arab students from all over the world.

Good luck.

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@Coloradomama Thank you very much! Will listen to your advice and commit to Cal Poly tonight. Much appreciated :slight_smile: