<p>I've finally narrowed my choices and am finally down to these 3 AMAZING schools: NU, Cornell, and Duke. I've made my pro/con lists but they still go head to head. I plan to major in chemical engineering or materials science and go on to graduate school, whether for law, business, or a PhD, I don't know yet. </p>
<p>So far, Northwestern gives me the best finaid, about 30K. Cornell gives me nothing but work study and Duke is in between. I've visited both Cornell and Duke and loved both campuses. I visited Northwestern in the summer but didn't get to see their engineering building(s) or sit in on a class. I live in NYC, so campus-wise, I swing either way, I don't mind staying in a suburban setting or changing atmospheres. :)</p>
<p>Cornell Engineering is more well known but financial aid is a big factor and I don't know if it's worth it. My mom never heard of NU before I applied there so she worries about its prestige. What are some ChemE or materials science opportunities that Northwestern offer? Is NU's ChemE and materials sci program highly regarded professionally? Is the curriculum for engineering flexible enough to minor or pursue a pre-law pre-business track? Gah, I don't know what to do! Please help! Thanks. :]</p>
<p>wow with that kind of financial aid go NU. But maybe you dont want to go too far from home? idk. I would do NU in a hearbeat with that kind of aid. 30k a year i assume? If that is the case then you are basically given 120k to go to NU (a very very good school)over cornell (also a good school). If rankings matter NU is ranked higher than Cornell with Duke ranked higher than all of them (not in your specific major but overall).
As a side note, what is your financial status to get 30k in aid because i am going to apply to NU, but the finances may be a bit too much.</p>
<p>iissmrt, you should talk to SamLee about ChemE/Engineering at NU. I’m pretty sure you will be pleased with NU, at least as far as prestige and quality. And with the 30k FA, that’s pretty much a no-brainer i’d say</p>
<p>Chemical Engineering? Materials Science? Northwestern is top-ranked in those programs.</p>
<p>Go to Northwestern.</p>
<p>As far as graduate ranking (last year) goes:</p>
<p>Chemical engineering:
Northwestern/Cornell: 15th
Duke: it has no program :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Material science:
Northwestern: 3rd (2nd in the latest ranking but I don’t have a copy)
Cornell: 10th
Duke: unranked (>52th)</p>
<p>Ranking aside, NU has an awesome Engineering First curriculum; according to a presentation two years ago, the materials sci dept is so strong that it’s offered more internship positions than the number of students available to fill them. It’s by far the cheapest. NU hands down!!</p>
<p>Northwestern is very well-known within the materials science circle. It’s where the first materials science academic department in the world was established.</p>
<p>The chemE department enjoys strong reputation within the industry.
<a href=“http://news.dow.com/dow_news/corporate/2008/20080124a.htm[/url]”>http://news.dow.com/dow_news/corporate/2008/20080124a.htm</a></p>
<p>You have about 5 unrestricted electives on top of the 7 humanities & social sciences “theme” courses. You can have at most 5 courses in one theme area. So that means you can take as many as 10 courses in one area if you want to maximize. That’s assuming you don’t even have any AP credits.</p>
<p>It would be a close call without the financial consideration, but with it there should be no question: NU.
You will love the quality of the academics (especially in your fields of interest), the life of the campus and Evanston/Chicago!
As for your mother’s concerns, let her check out the rankings referred to above. She can rest easy. My kid wouldn’t have considered the others over NU. It’s not that they aren’t great; they are, but NU is just as good and has a real appeal to anyone who wants great academics, an active campus and access to a great city.</p>