<p>It's pretty big, seeing as though it is a separate program that you have to apply for. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you were given the opportunity to publish as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>THE HONORS PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO PICK NU OVER CALTECH OR MIT. </p>
<p>You will get excellent chances to do extremely rewarding and personal research at MIT and Caltech. You will be working in the best labs with the most important people in the field. Northwestern simply cannot compete. Unless you really need someone to hold your hand through undergraduate research, don't pick HPUR. If you have any ambition to publish at all, go to the other schools, you will do much better work. </p>
<p>Although yeah you probably will have a slightly higher chance of publishing here. </p>
<p>Addendum: Just so you know, I do research in a lab, and they are always reciting researchers from MIT and I always get jealous and think "why aren't I an undergraduate doing research in THAT lab." Well of course the reason is because I didn't get into MIT, but unfortunately, that excuse won't work for you. So think about that.</p>