Engineering Purdue vs. UIUC vs. Rose-Hulman vs. GeorgiaTech

College Search & Selection
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<p>I have been accepted to Rose-Hulman and Purdue, and most likely UIUC and Georgia Tech will accept me. I also have applied to reach schools (Caltech, Stanford, MIT) which I plan on accepting admission hands-down if I am admitted to any. My questions are concerning my probable Bio/Biomedical Engineering major with the intent of graduate study in Medicine, Business, or continued Engineering.
I have observed the rankings and see that UIUC (#4) is superior to Purdue (#10). Living in NW Indiana, is the education and prestige at UIUC worth the out-of-state tuition as opposed to Purdue? Purdue has a new biomedical building which is said to be finish in 2007 (coincidentally in my favor), will this significantly boost the Biomedical Engineering rank for Purdue?
Where does Rose-Hulman stand with UIUC and Purdue? Keep in mind that I embrace heavy work loads and campus atmosphere is insignificant. Rose-Hulman has been ranked #1 in schools without a masters program, is it recognized thoughout the country and world as one of the best engineering colleges? Also, Georgia Tech has a high ranking in my intended Biomedical Engineering major but it is a long way from home, is it worth it?
As for graduate study, I desire to attend highly ranked Biomedical Engineering Duke and John Hopkins. Do they see a big difference in UIUC, Purdue, Georgia Tech, and Rose-Hulman?
The honors program at Purdue greatly appealed to me, however due to eligability requirements, it looks less evident that I will be selected. I have a low GPA 3.71 unweighted (barely top 20%, attributed to C's in math) with 1410SAT 790m (ironic math score vs. grades eh?) 620v. Surpassing 4.0GPA looks promising by end of school year. Assuming I do not make the honors program, how much difference does that make my choice in Purdue? </p>

<p>Much abliged to any input.</p>

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<p>Georgia Tech is one of the worst colleges once you get outside of the class room. The campus is big slabs of concrete, unsightly, AND HORRIBLE living spaces. If you make Purdue honors, I'd take that over UIUC, but Georgia Tech is bottom on my count. Great academics are one thing, but I want to have good four years as well.</p>

3

<p>Purdue. Don't choose a college based on rankings or prestige (within reason).</p>

4

<p>I would also go with Purdue in your case. UIUC is a GREAT engineering school, but that reputation collapses once it comes to biomedical engineering. Their program is still in its infancy and they're having some trouble developing it as well as they'd like to. One of my teachers' sons went there and he transferred because the biomed engineering was so poor because it was so new. That building at Purdue sounds like a great boost, and I think it's your best bet.</p>

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<p>Thnx for input</p>

<p>I talked with an Honors Purdue Engineering student who basically said that purdue is challanging, but it is well worth it. He did not know much about Rose-Hulman, but from what hes heard, the education received is comparable to the top universities' (Caltech, Stanford, etc.). </p>

<p>If I was to change my specified engineering major to say materials engineering, would UIUC be the better choice?</p>