Help with choosing Engineering School

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey..I'm confused...as of now, I'm thinking of going pre-law and applying early to SUNY Geneseo. However, I've begun to wonder if that's my best bet. I sat down and thought about what I like and what I would be happiest with and realized that computers are my passion....so I've begun researching schools strong in engineering (primarliy computer) and am having some trouble....</p>

<p>To get a general idea of where I can and can't get into:</p>

<p>I am a white male from New York, attended a small public school.
I have a 92.9 unweighted GPA, 95.6 weighted (sorry, only have it in % form)
My SAT scores are: 570 CR, 690 M, 640 W.
My ACT comp. is a 26 (I believe my SAT scores are better).
My rank is 11 out of 91.
My list of extra-curriculars includes: Vice President of my school's community service organization, head of a few programs in it, Founder and president of a Habitat for Humanity chapter in my school (not yet, still finalizing that), Member of National Honor Society, Yearbook club, a few others.
I also won the RPI medal, a 15,000 dollar/year scholarship to Rensselaer. </p>

<p>What I am looking for is balance...I would love to major in Computer Engineering, but I don't know how happy I would be at the typical engineering school, ie slow social life, lack of females, etc. I am looking for a great college experience; reasonable male-female ratio, nice location, good social life, but at the same time, educational quality is extremely important. Price is also a factor, but not a huge one.</p>

<p>So, any ideas? Where can I major in Computer Engineering, get a great education and also love every minute of my time at college? Any opinions would be great. Thanks in advance, </p>

<p>Mike.</p>

<p>P.S. If it helps, I have alumni connections at Colgate and Carnegie Mellon (My cousin attended Colgate, and both he and his wife attended Carnegie Mellon.)</p>

2

<p>Carnegie Mellon and RPI are good. </p>

<p>Also, check out the Big10 schools, like Michigan and Wisconsin. They are strong in computer engineering and have great social atmospheres.</p>

<p>Good luck, Mike!</p>

3

<p>NY Schools: Union, SUNY Buffalo</p>

4

<p>Consider Northeastern. It's not a tech school, but it has very solid engineering programs, and you could make a lot of money with their co-op program, which would help you pay for college if price is a factor. And Boston's a nice college town.</p>

<p>(The co-op program is where you take five years to graduate, but your time includes multiple 6-month full-time internships for pay with real companies in your field, and you're still considered as student.)</p>

<p>Northeastern Electrical & Computer Engineering:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ece.neu.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ece.neu.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Northeastern Co-op Program:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.northeastern.edu/experiential/coop/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.northeastern.edu/experiential/coop/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

5

<p>USNWR ranked undergrad computer engineering programs. Here's the list:</p>

<p>Undergraduate engineering specialties:
Computer Engineering
(At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
1 Massachusetts Inst. of Technology<br>
2 Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
2 Stanford University (CA)
4 University of California–Berkeley *
5 U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign *
6 Georgia Institute of Technology *
7 University of Michigan–Ann Arbor *
8 Cornell University (NY)
8 University of Texas–Austin *
10 California Institute of Technology<br>
11 Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)*
12 University of Washington *
13 Princeton University (NJ)
14 Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison *
15 Univ. of California–Los Angeles *
16 Northwestern University (IL)
16 Rice University (TX)
18 Univ. of California–San Diego *
18 Univ. of Southern California<br>
20 Univ. of Maryland–College Park * </p>

<p>All of these schools will give a great education and have the bigger college atmosphere I think you're looking for. I wouldn't worry about picking the top schools...choose a school you like for atmosphere, cost, location and other factors.</p>

<p>Cooper Union is also a top rated computer engineering program, if you're looking for something closer to home.</p>

6

<p>Wow, thanks alot everyone...very helpful. I'm actually researching just about ever college mentioned, lol...one quick question, though...What are my chances of getting into Cornell?</p>

7

<p>^ I'd say improve your SAT/ACT scores for a better chance. You got good extracirriculars. I wonder if it's tougher for in-state students to get into Ivies?</p>

8

<p>Are you going to pass up the $15,000/year scholarship to RPI? Or is it a stipend you can use at any school? That's tough to pass up...</p>

9

<p>It's just for RPI, and yes, it is alot of money...I just want to know that I will enjoy my four years and RPI seems to have notoriously unhappy students...I suppose reassurance from an RPI student would help, lol.</p>

10

<p>I suggest you apply to some other schools you like and see what kind of financial aid they award. Then weigh the costs and the schools...it will be a clearer picture for you then.</p>

<p>Do you need to commit to RPI early to get the award?</p>

11

<p>Nope, it applies to normal admission.</p>

12

<p>mike: We've heard the same thing about RPI. But there's gotta be someone who likes it there. </p>

<p>Big 10: Ohio State - There's a Buckeye merit scholarship for OOS.</p>

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<p>You would think, right? I'm just waiting for someone to come along and tell me that the social like is fine...it really is an amazing school, I just want to hear some positive stuff about the social life.</p>

14

<p>S1 received the RPI medal before his senior year, as well. We went to check it out, but he really did not want to go there, and did not apply. You might want to check out U. of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. Although it was not the school he chose, we were very impressed and it was definitely more balanced, which was something that was as important to him as it seems to be for you. It's not in the best location, but he really liked most everything else about it. We know others who have gone there for computer engineering and have loved it!</p>

15

<p>Your SAT scores seem to be a little bit low for a competitive application to a top computer engineering school. That shouldn't discourage you from applying, but I'd suggest re-taking the SAT if you have a chance to do it. </p>

<p>Moreover, keep in mind many engineering schools also require two or three SAT II tests besides the regular SAT. Have you taken any yet ?</p>

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<p>haven't taken any SAT II's yet...took the SAT 2x and the ACT once....more tests....when will it end? lol.</p>

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<p>University of Rochester, SUNY Buffalo</p>