<p>I know when I was looking for a university that would fit my needs and goals, I had a hard time finding the information that I needed to make my decision. Now, after being in college for a while I can offer what I have found at Purdue. Hope this will help someone...</p>
<p>Aside from the fact that I have a bias towards Purdue, I would like to offer as honest an insight about the school of engineering as I can. As an engineering student at Purdue I am thoroughly convinced that the program here is one of the best. Although some classes in the first year of engineering will be large, there is ample access to both professors and grad TAs who can direct you as you need. All of my classes are very hard, bar none. If you plan to earn As and Bs you will not have much of a life outside of school unless you are greatly above average in intellect. As far as how Purdue compares to other top programs, I cant say, as I havent gone to any of them. However, I will say that with the exception of schools such as MIT or Berkeley, Purdue enjoys a better reputation than most. While I realize that UIUC and the like are solid programs, most people outside of the Midwest and/or the engineering field will probably not recognize this fact. On the contrary, Purdue is a famous name around the world, this will come of greater importance as you progress through life and find that the name is really what you are banking on when choosing a college, as the level of education probably varies only slightly among top programs. Engineers are heavily recruited from Purdue in all industries, with job fairs attracting hundreds of international companies. Purdue also has the largest population of international students in the country, as they come from Asia and India for the engineering program. I will say that the weather in West Lafayette, IN could be better, as I am from FL. As a testament to what I have said, anyone that I talk to in FL has heard of Purdue, it serves a point that the school carries such a reputation. I have read other posts on here about the quality of students at Purdue, and I am sure that MIT will have better, but let me assure you that those who cant hack it wont be in the engineering program long. I believe there is something like a 50% drop rate from beginning to the end of sophomore year. There is a higher acceptance rate than at other top programs, but I believe that this can be attributed mostly to the location and they size of the school - meaning that demand is not as great as supply in this case. All in all, I have found my experience here to greatly exceed my expectations. I know that I will have one of the best jobs in the country when I graduate, and I will also have a great shot at getting into a top MBA program, as many undergraduate engineers go off to MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, etc. I will always be proud that I went to Purdue and I will forever be in debt for the opportunities that have materialized while here. I would highly recommend Purdue to any individual who desires a great challenge and a wonderful experience.</p>