<p>Hello, rising HS senior here, and despite being set on a pre-med track for the longest time, my interest has shifted more towards engineering, specifically ChemE. I live in Virginia and am over the 150k income bracket, so there's not a chance of getting any need-based aid. Plus, I know that UW doesn't give many merit scholarships at all to freshmen, so if I got in I'd be paying full OOS cost of around 38k/year. My parents are willing and able to contribute 40k/year if the school has a groundbreaking advantage over in-state options like UVa and Va. Tech. This is where my questions come. I actually have a few inquiries , so here it goes:</p>
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<li><p>I know rankings/statistics aren't everything, but I did notice that UW has a top 10 ChemE department and is very well rounded in all engineering departments, stronger than Va Tech and definitely stronger than UVa. It also seems to have a very good job placement rate, one that rivals top programs like MIT and Stanford. In my opinion (albeit one that isn't too experienced with finance), it seems that UW would be worth the extra money especially since the in-state options don't give much merit aid (UVa none at all, Va Tech a very small amount for very few people). Am I right in believing so?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it true that the Madison area is one of the highest-paying, yet also one of the most competitive, areas for chem engineers to work? That's the impression I got from the BLS statistics. If so, does going to UW and getting a ChemE degree give a significant advantage to graduates who wish to work in the Madison area?</p></li>
<li><p>I noticed that their department is called the Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Does this mean that the curriculum here has somewhat of a biochemistry/life sciences perspective?</p></li>
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