<p>One of my favorite things about posting on this site is watching the incredible misinterpretation from what is actually said, followed by an attack on the poster… Precisely what you just did. </p>
<p>I am not arguing that UIUC or Umich have a worse name recognition in the Midwest, or in the engineering field for that matter. What I am arguing, and what I can promise you, is that once you get outside of the Midwest and engineering, many people will not have any clue about the quality of education at either school. And no, I am not talking about some punk kids I hang out with. When I was choosing schools to go to, I spoke with older people, my parents friends, and people who I trusted to give me good advice. The overwhelming majority had an immediate recognition of the name Purdue and had good things to say about the school, most knew very little to nothing about UIUC, perhaps slightly more about Umich, but still not much. Take it or leave it…</p>
<p>If you are going to work in engineering for your whole life, there won’t ever be a problem, as anyone in the industry will know any of these schools. If you're going to live in the Midwest, there won’t ever be a problem, for as you say - in the Midwest Purdue has a worse reputation. SOOOO, relax a little. For me, I am not planning to work in engineering my whole life, nor am I planning on living in the Midwest my whole life - so for me, Purdue was a good choice.</p>
<p>purduefrank. I have never met anyone who thought that Purdue was a superior school to Michigan or Illinois, until you. I realize you have to justify where you went to school, that is normal. Most people in this country have no idea where Purdue is. They couldn't even name the state that it is located in. So don't try to fool yourself. I am telling you that Michigan has a MUCH better national and worldwide rep than Purdue overall. Maybe not in podunk Florida where you obviously came from, but in the real world. There is no misinterpretation here, except for your remarks. If people in the real world have no idea about the quality of a Michigan education, then they have less of an idea about a Purdue education. Those are my facts. You need to get of out W. Lafayette a little bit more.</p>
<p>Fine GThopefull. I agree with you. Purdue is better known in Florida and more prestigious than Michigan. Gee, who would have thought a school in the middle of podunk Indiana would have such a following among two people in Florida? Well then again, Notre Dame is well known. It's just for football right?</p>
<p>Well, with your groundbreaking logic, I am sure many people in the country(or the world) would have to agree that Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are far below the almighty schools of UIUC and Mich huh?? I mean, there was a long time when I didn’t know where any of those were, yet I managed to form a pretty good impression of them. I mean hell, I didn’t know where Notre Dame was until I came to Purdue, but yet somehow it carries a good name in both education and football. Now, I mean, because the actual state is spelled out in Michigan and Illinois, YEAH, pretty hard for someone to guess where those are… Sound, sound, argument. Keep up the good work! Just keep trying to discount where I’m from and who I know, it serves a point to help me know your character. Apparently, the fact that I lived half of my life in the West, and half in FL, and know quite a few people on the planet earth - means I live in a Podunk town and know idiots. Why don’t you ask a few people in California about your precious schools? Then ask them about Purdue when they give you a blank stare… Or make a comment about Mich football.</p>
<p>NOTE TO EVERYONE BESIDES RJ:
I think Mich and Illinois are great schools, and I'm not trying to put down anyone who attends either... But the kid keeps attacking me.</p>
<p>The people in California will think that Purdue (Perdue) is a company that procesess chickens. Look, just because you are ignorant, doesn't mean everyone else on the planet is as well. You are the one who is under the delusion that Purdue has the "way better name recognition" than Michigan or UIUC. You made that statement, and I called you out on it. I'm happy you got into Purdue and that you like it. But please don't insult my intelligence. Take away the engineering program from Purdue, and you have an average Big Ten school. Actually even with the engineering program at Purdue, you are just an average Big Ten school. Michigan is known worldwide and in this country as one of the top public schools anywhere. Purdue is an afterthought. When you ask anyone knowledgeable, even in California, about the quality of U-M they will say it is one of the best. I never stated that Michigan was in the realm of the top of the Ivy League schools. I have enough knowledge to know that it isn't. Of course, I also have enough knowledge to know that Purdue isn't in the Ivy League either.</p>
<p>You never stated that it was an IVY, but you made a completely illogical argument. Stating that because most people dont know where a school is, means its a bad school. That comment is flawed from a hundred angles. As for me insulting your intelligence, I dont believe I have made even one personal attack on you. Yet, in every one of your previous posts you managed to make a personal attack on me. Ignorant, hang out with dumb(for lack of an adjective) people, live in a Podunk town, couldnt get into Mich or UIUC etc. And you just stated what I said from the beginning, that an informed person is going to know any of the schools. I dont disagree that U-M is a top program in any number of fields, I know they are. But, from my experience, I also know that many people are not aware of this fact Like you, Im happy that you are happy with your choice of schools, assuming that you go to U-M. I hope to never have such a ridiculous conversation again. However, I stand by what I said to begin with - and cant see any evidence that you called me on something that isnt true </p>
<p>Look. You are the one who made the ridiculous statement that "Purdue has a far better name recognition," than Michigan or Illinois. Then you made a few other comments that are simply not true. That's fine. It's your choice. Just remember that other people also read these threads, and if you're going to be making silly statements, someone might call you out on them.</p>
<p>Ok RJ. Fair enough... To make my point a little more clear, I have lived in California, Colorado, Utah, FL, New Hampshire, New Zealand, and British Columbia. I have traveled to many other places, if you could, why don't you give me some sort of reference as to your vantage point. Can you say that you have a good idea of the general reputation of Mich from outside of the midwest? Not from CC advocates, but from normal everyday people who don't live for college, but just pick up names here and there of good schools that they hear about? Have you ever lived outside of the midwest? Do you get your information from anywhere beside USNEWS rankings?... Help me understand why it is so hard for you to think that I have a valid point? Also, are you aware that Purdue has more international students than any other public university in the country? Why do you think they come here?... Because it's an unknown in other countries?</p>
<p>You'll notice that once again you made a presumptuous statement that was easily dismissed. By the way, I have family and acquaintances all of this country, so I am well aware of the prestige of Michigan. Purdue might be well known, but I have a feeling it has to do a lot with the funny sounding name of the school. I mean when you were a little boy and you heard the word Purdue, you probably laughed a little bit. It stuck in your head just like Slippery Rock College in Pennsylvania sticks in mine. :-)</p>
<p>This is from American.gov Nov. 2008 </p>
<p>For the sixth year in a row, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles leads U.S. institutions in international student enrollment (7,115), with New York University coming in second (6,404). Other campuses in the top 10 are Columbia University in New York, New York (6,297); the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (5,933), Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana (5,772); University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan (5,748); the University of California, Los Angeles (5,557); the University of Texas at Austin (5,550); Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts (4,948); Boston University (4,789); and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (4,610).</p>
<p>I stand corrected, Purdue has the second largest international student population out of public universities. I don't mind being corrected if you can validate your point, instead of attacking me personally. However, even with the correction, my point is still valid.</p>
<p>I'm an engineering student at Umich, and I know that Purdue is very highly regarded both at my school and in the Midwest at large. I was accepted to UIUC, Purdue and Mich and ended up in Ann Arbor since I pay instate tuition, but would have been happy at any of them. Most people at Umich would agree that these three are peers in terms of engineering. The only difference is that Umich is more selective in its admissions and has a higher retention rate, while Purdue tends to admit more and fail those that are in over their heads. (This happened to one of my friends.)</p>
<p>I would argue that Mich does have a better reputation outside the Midwest due to the strength of its other programs (LSA, Ross, etc), but for an engineering major it doesn't matter that much. There is no company hiring engineers that doesn't know what Purdue is.</p>
<p>To the OP, there is certainly a difference in difficulty between the top 30 schools and the rest, although it's more of a gradient than a sharp cutoff at 30. If you have a good handle on calculus and physics though, you'll be fine at any of these schools if you work hard.</p>
<p>I also believe that Purdue has more internationals because it is known basically as just a very fine engineering school and quite frankly is much easier to get into than U-M and UIUC. Purduefrank, Michigan is better known and has a better overall reputation than Purdue. Go on the general boards with your point of contention. I think you might be suprised at the response you'll get. Make sure you include the statement about "Purdue having a far better name recognition," than the other two schools.</p>
<p>As a recruiter for Lockheed, you may be interested to learn that we make no academic distinction between UMich, UIUC, and Purdue. Now, go make friends.</p>
<p>No question that Purdue is a peer of UIUC and Michigan in engineering. It's just that the poster tried to insinuate that Purdue had a better name recognition than Michigan as an overall institution. That is simply false.</p>
<p>sang....sorry I don't know much about the intern selection process. I do know, however, that it is sometimes as simple as 10-15 minute phone interview.</p>
<p>Ive been to both public and private and private school grade so much easier than public U's, its almost ridiculous. Especially how some top schools don't put F's on transcripts.</p>