<p>Could anyone offer any insights into these engineering programs ,and which might be a better for someone who wants to study engineering but may want to do something else later.</p>
<p>Fu all the way. Thats only because you say you might want to do something else later. Cal UCLA and USC provide really strong pure engineering educations, but Fu offers a good engineering education in lieu of a strong liberal arts curiculum.<br>
Most students from the Fu actually dont go into purely engineering careers. Many go to premed and they are perfect candatites for 'leadership engineering' such as patent lawyers, board members for regulation commities (fda), etc.
If you want to do pure engineering and are sure you want to do engineering go with the others.
If you are not sure, go with the Fu. You have most leverage and still get a great education.
AND NYC RULES!</p>
<p>I know of many engineering students from Columbia who go on to do engineering management or financial engineering, which is where all the $$$ is at. You won't make much money doing pure engineering theory and research unless you're a genius of geniuses. Columbia engineering programs are at the same level, if not better than, the engineering programs of those schools you have listed. I think Columbia is the most flexible, and more prestigious, on the east coast, at least.</p>