JHU vs USC vs UCLA vs CMU

[nubcaek]

<p>I'm having a really hard time shortening this list and ultimately making a decision but I only have about a week left to do so. I plan on majoring in bioengineering and possibly double-major (unlikely) or minor in some business-related field so I'm looking for a school that has both a very strong engineering program and business program.</p>

<p>I'm aware JHU has one of the best BME programs in the nations but unfortunately I didn't get into that program, but they do have a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering major that is quite similar, just not as focused on medicine (or so I've heard).</p>

<p>USC is the only one giving me money as I'm an international student, but that really isn't too big of a deciding factor for me. Otherwise, I like that they have a good engineering and business department. I've visited and really love the Cali weather as I'm from the New England area.</p>

<p>I've walked around the UCLA campus, but not a formal tour. The campus and surrounding areas seem nice, but I don't really know too much other than they have a pretty good engineering department but no undergraduate business major (though there is economics). </p>

<p>I didn't really like the initial feel of CMU's campus and Pittsburgh as a whole, but it might just have been a bad first impression. As for academics, the engineering school forces those who want to do bioengineering to double major with a more traditional field of engineering, which might not leave room for a minor or (eek) third major in business. The quality of their engineering and business programs is very good though.</p>

<p>After college I'm planning on either doing something in the biotech industry or going full-out into business or finance or consulting and the like. Any input or advice would be appreciated, thanks.</p>

[Kyuu]

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I didn't really like the initial feel of CMU's campus and Pittsburgh as a whole

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<p>As a Pittsburgher - I only slightly resent that comment.</p>

<p>XD Pittsburgh is actually a very good city when it comes to being a college town. There's quite a few places to go and shopping districts to check out, though from what I've heard, CMU students don't get off campus that much. However, the district they're in still has a few nice hot-spots, as I hang around there quite often. If you're a high schooler living in suburbia 15 minutes outside of downtown, you'll probably find it painfully boring (like me.)</p>

<p>I can't tell you anything about UCLA or USC, but I can tell you that CMU's engineering program is better than JHU's in everything except BME, but that isn't to say it's not good (this from college gossip swapped in calc class). They both have great business programs, but if you're looking to perhaps changing your mind, that's not an option as a major at JHU. CMU is also very intense - I have a few friends who go there, and they're always working, always busy. JHU is pretty intense too, but the insider's scoop on that is that it's not as bad as CMU.</p>

<p>...and that's about all I can offer you.</p>

<p>ETA: For the record, I'm headed to JHU, but I'm a Pittsburgher, so I just thought I'd offer what insight I had into two of the ones you mentioned.</p>