<p>I would like to be a chemical engineer.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech</p>
<p>Preferences? Large campus, mid-size campus, college town, metropolitan area, bioengineering, materials, polymers? Close to home? </p>
<p>Don’t care if it’s not close it the size and I want to be in pharmaceutical. </p>
<p>There are SO many good options that you’ll have to develop some more criteria to guide yourself. One person’s great option might be another’s crappy option. You have to define the parameters.</p>
<p>First, size does matter. The experience at a giant, amoebic campus will be different from a medium or a small campus regardless of your major. Not to mention, the engineering experiences will be different. Do you care if many of your classes are taught by graduate students? That’s frequently the trade for going to big powerhouse research schools. Yes they have lots of toys and do cool research, but it is centered on their doctoral candidates. You’ll have to work hard to crack open opportunities. A small school might have professors even teaching your labs. They’re generally there because the love teaching. The trade, not many toys. The key is to find the balance, a school where the teaching AND the academic experiences outside of class (research, clubs, etc.) are good.</p>
<p>Second, location does matter. Do you want urban? Suburban? Rural? With location comes weather. Love sweltering heat? Freezing cold? </p>
<p>Third, with location generally comes non-academic opportunities, which are underrated and EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT to your college choice. Much of what you do in college IS NOT academic. It is a total experience. Do you ski? Hike? Surf? Love art? Food? You name it, location will determine what your opportunities are.</p>
<p>So, there is no “best.” There really isn’t even a short list of “best,” because “best” is determined by the criteria YOU set.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Most important, how is your credential? I have asked a similar question on behalf of my D with a full resume of her. The answer to your question would depend on that even you don’t care about the size, location, and cost of the schools.</p>
<p>Billcsho is right. Most engineering universities are tough to get into. And most of the best ones are state universities, meaning that admission for out-of-staters is even tougher. Get back to us about your home state and your high school preparation. Of course there are excellent privates, but we need to know more about your credentials.</p>
<p>Admission credentials and cost constraints are typically major factors in determining what schools are realistic for you.</p>
<p>There are 163 schools with ABET-accredited chemical engineering bachelor’s degree programs.</p>