<p>I need all the input I can get to make a smart decision as to where I will be attending college next fall. I plan to major in engineering (most likely civil however not yet completely sure) and I also want a business background. Hopefully, grad school is in my future, MBA. Dad wants cheapest option. Mom wants closest. I don't know what I want because there's advantages to all. But in the end I want a school that I did not regret going to, had the best experience of my life and my future is secured in terms of jobs. My choices are as follows according to expense from cheapest to most expensive.</p>
<ol>
<li>Washington University in St.Louis</li>
<li>University of Illinois at Urbana</li>
<li>University of Chicago (I know they don't have an engineering school)</li>
<li>Illinois Institute of Technology</li>
<li>Northwestern University...I have yet to receive a fin aid package</li>
</ol>
<p>I have yet to visit uchicago even though I live like 20 miles away...I loved washu's campus...northwestern i've visited but last year and iit I've done a project on for architecture...u of I I've visited but barely had a chance to tour all campus..but I liked their rec center...
Thanks for the help in advance</p>
<p>Well, for civil, you are likely to need a Professional Engineer license, so you want to attend a school with an ABET accredited civil engineering degree program. So not Chicago.</p>
<p>Consider also whether you are admitted to the major, and (if not) how difficult it will be to declare or change major at each school (school web sites should give some idea).</p>
<p>If you are concerned about post-graduation employment, your visits should include visits to the schools’ career centers and ask them what companies come recruiting for students in your major.</p>
<p>Besides financial considerations (which are very important), you need to make a choice between smaller schools (Wash U and IIT) and larger schools (UIUC and to some degree, Northwestern). Some students do better at smaller schools where it may be a bit easier to get to know faculty. Another factor is urban and college town with Northwestern sitting in the middle. Finally, I would definitely consider whether you like the semester or quarter system. This seems frivolous but, in fact, there are significant differences. The semester format can seem less rushed than the quarter format, where you are taking mid-terms almost immediately.</p>
<p>I have personal experience with UIUC (I got my B.S. there and one son graduated in Biology) and IIT (I am on the physics faculty and another son graduated in Electrical Engineering) and you can get an excellent education at either and job placement is good in both.</p>
<p>Huh? Northwestern has 8,400 undergrads, Wash U has about 7,100, making both “medium-sized” private universities. That’s going to be a pretty trivial difference. I certainly wouldn’t make it a “make-or-break” criterion. IIT is smaller, with about 2,600 undergrads, but if you’re going to be studying engineering I’m not sure small size is an advantage.</p>
<p>Most people would say Illinois is the best engineering school in this group–in fact, one of the very best in the country–but Northwestern runs a strong second. WUSTL and IIT are good engineering schools, too, but a step or two back. If I were an Illinois resident and my kid wanted to study civil engineering (a field in which UIUC is ranked #1 by US News), I’d have a hard time coming up with reasons why UIUC wasn’t the obvious choice, unless the cost net of FA were lower at one of the other schools. My next choice would be Northwestern based on overall strength, strength in engineering, and location. IIT is located in a not great part of the South Side of Chicago. The campus itself may be OK, but go a few blocks off campus in most directions and it gets pretty dicey.</p>
<p>Just based on your cost estimates (and Chicago lacking an engineering program), UChicago and IIT should be no part of this equation.</p>
<p>That leaves Northwestern, Wash U and Illinois.</p>
<p>Outside of BME, it’s hard to support Wash U as an engineering decision over Illinois or NU. They have a long way to go to shore up programs, fix problems with high level faculty turnover, and define goals for merged departments. You’ll hear about ongoing building and plans for the future, but it will just be too late for you to reap the hoped for benefits. </p>
<p>If NU proves significantly more expensive than Illinois, I would favor Illinois (would re-visit - not too distant a trip -and be sure you like what you see). They have great engineering depth pretty much across the board and a well deserved international rep. If little cost difference exists (NUs financial aid proves generous) I’d go with NU for their wonderful, innovative Engineering First and Co-op programs and top job recruitment.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input. Would it be helpful to put my expected first year costs for you guys to get a better understanding of my situation?</p>
<p>Have a great time at U of I. It’s a fantastic school. Unless you really mean Wash U would be $20, not $20,000. Seriously, for what you want, u of I would simply be the best, not merely the best value. And congratulations on your great options.</p>
<p>I believe the numbers will be good for the next four years unless my financial aid situation drastically changes. I still have to talk to washU’s fin aid office about that to make sure.</p>
<p>Alrightt so northwestern financial decision came in…and it will cost first year $12,000</p>
<p>Also u of I increased to about $9,000 after updating my fafsa…
I have no idea what to do… U chicago and IIT at this point are out of the picture…
So it is down to wash u, northwestern and u of I… Wash u is the cheapest… But farthest…northwestern is the most expensive but closest… And u of i is best of both worlds…</p>
<p>However, there is also something else going on here with my financial aid situation…apparently my dad did not report in our tax returns a restaurant he bought way late in 2011 in December and our tax rep said that the overall gross income will actually decrease so I am hoping that it will decrease my efc for both northwestern and u of I… His updated tax return won’t be ready by the may 1st universal deadline… So I have to kind of take into consideration the the possible decrease in my costs for the two schools…</p>
<p>I had it decided that I want to go to northwestern because it’s solid in both business and engineering and it’s close to home and the big market that is Chicago…is it really worth going somewhere else for the money difference…in wash u’s case 12000 and u of I 3000.???
I am in quite a dilemma any help would be greatly appreciated… Sorry for the shpeal</p>
<p>The $12k you save will pay for a LOT of airfare/transportation so that mom can either see you a lot or come visit!</p>
<p>However, I’m concerned about that restaurant. It may not yet have income, but it may have property value that will come into play. </p>
<p>I don’t see the rationale for paying $12k per year for NU (a very good school) if WashU will only cost $20…unless you really don’t like WashU.</p>
<p>Did you get a large merit scholarship from WashU? If so, that may be a positive in the coming years. If your dad’s restaurant changes your EFC, then that merit will still remain. You may lose aid at the other schools. Your dad may be concerned about having to pay more money while also getting a business going.</p>
<p>For wash u I got a combo of the enterprise holding scholarship (based on merit,leadership activities and financial need) and a Ramirez scholarship based on need… Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed my stay at wash u but NU had always been on top of my list. I’m just at a standstill as to what to do :/</p>