<p>Right now I'm in sort of in between Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, and USC. I know Michigan has one of the best engineering programs in the nation along with USC only a couple schools down (based on rankings), but I feel like I would get a better overall education at Hopkins, and which also has no core curriculum and the class size would be much smaller. I'm looking to study computer engineering but I don't want to base my decision solely on rankings. In terms of social aspects and school pride I think that Michigan has a lot more to offer, and a better balance between extra curricular/social activities with academic work. At USC, I've heard the engineers work way too much compared to everyone else, but there's a good social scene also. At Hopkins, from what I've read, it's competitive and students tend to spend much more time on academics. Another thing I liked about Michigan is that it has the largest alumni network in the world, so if i do decide to go work in another country(Brazil- my home), I think it'll be easier to get a job. Although, since Hopkins is in a city, there are many opportunities for me while at school. USC is in LA which I have lived there and I'm not too big of a fan of the city even though there are many opportunities. So these are some pros and cons of each that I'll have to think about. I would like to know different people's perspectives on these schools. If you attend one of them, convince me to go there! haha....Thank you!</p>
<p>For Engineering, Michigan is the best of the three. JHU and USC are not ranked as high.</p>
<p>Academically, do not let the myth that classes at Michigan are larger than at private universities sway you. Research universities, and all three of your choices are BIG TIME research schools, will typically have faculty that are more interested in research and working with graduate students than they are in instructing undergrads. You will have many professors who genuinely care, but just as many who do not. Private universities typically offer a greater number of small seminars and that often distorts class size figures. Few students take more than 2 or 3 of those seminars during their college years and most of them are very gimmicky in nature. Also, many private universities distort class size figures by dividing lectures into several sections taught by the same professors. Public universities do not do that. This gives the private university the appearanfce of having smaller classes, but the concerned faculty at private universities is actually more overstretched than at the public university because it must lead multiple lectures. So while it is true that introduction classes at Michigan are larger than those at many private universities, those clases will be large either way (150+ students at private universities and 300+ at Michigan). But more specialized courses and intermediate-advanced courses will be roughly the same size at most elite public and private universities.</p>
<p>I would go for fit, and it seems like you prefer Michigan’s balanced campus environment. Go for it! ;)</p>
<p>I see you posted the same thread at all three schools. The posters at JHU and USC both implied, “my school or Michigan.” That should tell you a little something about Michigan’s national appeal for academics as well as the whole collegiate experience.</p>
<p>^aerolite – your home country is known right now to have excellent prospects for people in your field of study. Does you family know anyone in the profession back home who can give you some input? My hunch is the answer would come back Michigan, but I’m biased ;)</p>
<p>FWIW - also note that I’m probably a little biased as I’ll be studying EE at Michigan - of the CE guys I know who attend/ed CoE, all of them are doing pretty awesome stuff post-undergrad: three grads who are going to / doing MS’s & PhD’s at Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard; one went to Stanford Law School to study intellect. prop; last guy went to Harvard to study Dentistry <-lol, this makes me chuckle every time. Of course, all of these guys probably worked really hard, but from first hand I’ve seen that CE’s here do some pretty sick stuff. Also, dude who made Google is a CE, 'nuff said : )</p>
<p>Socially, you’re more likely to get a ‘quintessential’ college experience; academically you’ll be going to one of the strongest Engineering programs in the world, in addition to the EECS department being top tops. Couple that with an amazing campus, super recruiting / placement - both grad school and industry wise - and unmatchable school spirit, that made the decision super clear (for the cherry, I got this for free). Pending cost of attendance - if all three are in the same ballpark - I’d pick Michigan.</p>
<p>^^^^Well said Ali!</p>
<p>thanks for your opinion</p>
<p>Once again aerolite23, are you getting the drift of what’s going on here. On the USC boards; USC or UMich. On the JHU boards; JHU or UMich. On the Michigan boards here; Why would you go to those other two schools for engineering? ;-)</p>