Decisions and Engineering Programs

College Search & Selection
1

<p>It’s time for me to decide on a college, and this oddity in the US News rankings raises some important questions.</p>

<p>Shown here are the “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” with overall ranking and difference shown in parentheses.</p>

<li>MIT (7, +6)</li>
<li>Stanford (5, +3)</li>
<li>California-Berkeley (20, +17)</li>
<li>Cal Tech (7, +3), Illinois (42, +38)</li>
</ol>

<p>Look at Illinois! 38 places higher! It’s the opposite of one of my other choices, Penn, which is at least 20 (probably 30-some) places lower. Why is this important? Because I have to choose between them (and Carnegie Mellon, but their difference is a more reasonable +14) today! Can quality in engineering (not that US News is the authority, but let’s use it as a decent indicator for the time being) make up for a university’s overall quality? The other way - can a university’s overall quality overshadow a relatively weak engineering program?</p>

<p>Those are the general questions, and here’s my specific situation: I’ll be studying EE (at CMU, it’s ECE) at one of these places in the fall. Cost is a minor issue, UIUC is half the price, but it’s not one of my main concerns. It’s also hard for me to choose on which best prepares me for my future, because I don’t know if I’ll be getting an MS, an MBA, working, etc. I’m set on engineering or science - no worries about wanting to switch to the humanities after a semester, and I can reasonably see myself at any one of the three.</p>

<p>Anyone with thoughts on the questions presented (engineering vs. overall), why Illinois is so high for engineering yet doesn’t seem to get the same respect as the others, or what I should do, please share what you have to say.</p>

2

<p>The undergraduate engineering school ranking in US News is based on a "peer assessment score" which is primarily an assessment of academic quality in the engineering school by knowledgeable individuals at similar universities. The overal ranking is based on an peer assessment of the entire undergrad program plus numerous other factors such as SAT scores, class size, and so on. The undergrad engineering program at Illinois is exceptionally excellent relative to the rest of the university (which is nonetheless a very good public university). I hear the resources at Illinois are great in engineering.</p>

<p>I would choose Stanford, and then next MIT, and next Caltech (if the in-state tuition at Illinois is not a factor for your family).</p>

3

<p>Ah, if only I was so lucky! No, I haven't been admitted to the schools in the list; I'm only in at Illinois, Carnegie Mellon, and Penn (hopefully Cornell in the next few weeks... that will be another decision). The rankings are to illustrate how high UIUC is compared to its ranking as a whole. If I was in at all of the top five... well, the decision wouldn't be easier, but it would sure be a lot more desirable. Does the advice still stand now that my other choices aren't as glamorous?</p>

4

<p>I would attend Cornell, if you are admitted, then CMU, then Penn.</p>