Hello! After applying to a plethora of schools, I have so far been accepted to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (in-state), University of Washington- Seattle, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Boston University. I am waiting on University of Wisconsin, Tufts, Vanderbilt, University of Virginia (deferred), Bucknell, and University of Michigan (deferred). I hope to study biomedical engineering in college, with a focus on prosthetics and biomechanics. However, I see a 25-50% chance of me switching to mechanical engineering. Academics are definitely my top priority, so I would see myself choosing a more selective school over a less selective one. Lastly, I would like recommendations ignoring costs, and then I can later do a cost benefit analysis if the prices are worth it.
US News rankings
-Biomedical engineering:
3. Georgia Tech
10. Michigan
11. University of Washington
12. Boston University
15. Vanderbilt
17. Wisconsin
18. University of Virginia
21. University of Illinois
NR. Virginia Tech (no biomedical engineering major, only minor)
NR. Bucknell University
NR. Tufts
-Mechanical engineering:
2. Georgia Tech
5. Michigan
6. University of Illinois
14. Wisconsin
15. Virginia Tech
NR. University of Washington
NR. Boston University
NR. University of Virginia
NR. Bucknell University
NR. Tufts
NR. Vanderbilt
However, these are my other priorities:
-Strong academics (Do rankings matter?)
-Good job placement (can a website like this be trusted? http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/best-schools-by-majors/engineering?page=15 )
-Quality professors (and preferably smaller class sizes)
-Campus diversity(in both race and state/country of origin)
-Not difficult to change majors within school
-Fun athletics to support
-Nice campus
-Social students (not all introverts)
-Attractive students
-Other things to do on/around campus besides party (I’m not a huge partier myself)
-Overall nice students
-Collaborative environment
-Places around campus to be adventurous (nature, state parks, etc.)
If you have any input at all, please provide it! I need all the help I can get. Thank you!
GT is the obvious choice on your first list for academics. Job placement is excellent and they have a very strong co-op program. On your list GT is great for academics, job placement, teaching (there are large classes) , athletics, campus, stuff to do (in downtown Atlanta). There is not a whole lot of nature accessible in the middle of a city. If you are talking about ‘attractive students’ keep in mind that GT is about 65/35 M-F (60/40 in undergrad). GT has different colleges for different engineering specializations.
On your other list Michigan engineering has most of the assets of GT plus has a beautiful campus, 50-50 MF ratio, lots of things to do, and a lot more access to nature via city parks and university property. It’s in a small city and easier to navigate.
For each school:
Net price?
Did you get direct admission to biomedical engineering (or mechanical engineering)?
Difficulty of switching to biomedical engineering (if not direct admit) or mechanical engineering (if you change)?
Between UMich and GTech, if you really want to transfer, Michigan is actually very easy to switch within CoE. Everyone is undeclared engineering for the first 2 years and then declare (from what my UMich interviewer told me). I haven’t looked too much into GTech about switching in engineering.
Both are well rounded public universities but I think I’d prefer Michigan because of the campus ambiance and environment. (Also bioengineering considering switching to EECS here, same boat as you lol)
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Lastly, I would like recommendations ignoring costs,
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Who is going to do the cost analysis? You? or your parents who would be paying the higher prices at pricier schools?
What are your parents saying? Will they pay all costs no matter where you go?
Were you given any aid/merit from any of these schools?
Good job placement? For prosthetics, etc, you’re going to need to go to grad school, so that is where maybe “job placement” may come in.
Who will be paying for the masters degree?
If UIUC costs a lot less than the other choices, then I don’t see any reason to go to the other choices.
Son went to Georgia Tech and even in the depths of the Great Recession, he graduated 2010 and had two job offers. Many had none in Civil Engineering (he was EE). Friends in high tech say Georgia Tech is always on the list of where to recruit and they did even in 2009 and 2010. Bet Michigan is in the same league. Now the economy is doing well so likely lots on your list have healthy recruitment records.
I’d choose either GT or Michigan if cost is not a big issue, and UIUC is saving $ is important.
I’d say Michigan fits your “other priorities” better than GT. Based on that, I’d pick UMich if accepted, GT if not.