<p>I know NU is better than OSU (maybe even a lot better) -- reputation-wise -- but the OP has got a full ride from OSU and it will cost him 30k/annum a year at NU. By the time he'll graduate engineering from NU, he must have spent about 120k for tuition alone. If you check out the general salary scale of engineers of both OSU and NU, there really isn't a huge gap. Thus, UMich would really be the clear best option for the OP since it is very reputable, its graduates are highly employable and is only paying tuition half of NU, which is not a better school than UMich especially in engineering.</p>
<p>Well, this is just how I see it and the OP doesn't have to take my advice. :)</p>
<p>Seriously, unless he got into MIT, he should go to UMich. If not, OSU with a full ride.</p>
<p>Look at the recent graduates of each school and where they have been accepted to grad shool or where they are employed. This info is usually somewhere on the website. This will give you an indication of how far apart the programs are. I would venture a guess that in engineering it just doesn't matter. Many times it's more important to attend a school where you think you may want to locate eventually. Many times your internships will turn into jobs.</p>
<p>I would look at which companies are investing in the school. Companies fund research for several reasons; to insure good supply of educated employees and to get low cost research on emerging industries. The wild card stuff. So are old and dying industries funding the research facilities in Chem Eng department? Oil and gas are dying. Or is ADM and Conagra type companies funding the research? Alternative fuels is the future. And yes internships do turn into jobs.</p>
Really? The last time I looked, oil was at nearly $100 a barrel and oil companies were making record profits. Next time you pull into a gas station and pay for your $3+/gal gas, tell them they are a dying breed and you will have your last laugh.</p>
<p>Come on now, I heard the same story when I was a young ChE (remember the oil crisis in the '70s?). By the time alt-fuels become economically feasible, the OP should be well on his way on his management track. Care to predict when alt-fuels will replace fossil?</p>
<p>Most of the top ChE departments have changed. Less than half or even a third of the research projects are in the traditional ChE areas; more research interests and fundings are now in the bio/biomedical and nanotechnology areas.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And yes internships do turn into jobs.
[/quote]
True, but alumni network and industrial connections will give you more opportunities for the more lucrative internships.</p>
<p>powergrid,
My apologies for mis-reading your post. I totally agree with your post #21. It's certainly not worth paying $120K extra ... unless the parents can easily absorbed that financially.</p>