Mechanical Engineering at UoM(Ann arbor) or UIUC

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am really having a hard time choosing between the two. I am an international student from Malaysia and the difference in cost between the 2 institutions is not an issue at all.</p>

<p>I am aware that both these places are great engineering schools. But in terms of Mechanical engineering, which school is better?</p>

<p>I am also interested in studying abroad. Which institution has a better study abroad programme?</p>

<p>And in terms of job opportunities, which school has the edge?</p>

<p>I also heard that the weather at Michigan can get terrible during winter. Is the weather at ann arbor bad enough to influence my decision or is it a small matter.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your input. Really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>According to US News, undergraduate mechanical engineering:
Michigan #2
UIUC #6</p>

<p>But honestly, either school would be great in your chosen field. Winter weather in Ann Arbor is pretty awful, but Champaign-Urbana is not appreciably better; I certainly wouldn’t choose either school for the weather. Personally, I’d choose Michigan for two reasons: a richer intellectual culture overall, and a more interesting town. But then as a Michigan alum, I’m biased.</p>

3

<p>I would base it entirely on cost. Both are equals.</p>

4

<p>Viduka, here are my answers to your questions:</p>

<p>“I am really having a hard time choosing between the two. I am an international student from Malaysia and the difference in cost between the 2 institutions is not an issue at all.”</p>

<p>Good. Since cost is not an issue or factor, we don’t have to address this matter.</p>

<p>“I am aware that both these places are great engineering schools. But in terms of Mechanical engineering, which school is better?”</p>

<p>Michigan and UIUC are equals in Engineering…and in Mechanical Engineering. There isn’t a difference between #2 (Michigan) and #6 (UIUC).</p>

<p>“I am also interested in studying abroad. Which institution has a better study abroad programme?”</p>

<p>Although both schools have excellent study abroad options, I am not sure Engineers have the time for such frivolous activities!</p>

<p>“And in terms of job opportunities, which school has the edge?”</p>

<p>For pure Engineering jobs, both schools are roughly equal…neither has the edge. For jobs in other industries, particularly Investment Banking or Management Consulting, Michigan has the edge. Michigan transcends the public school image much better than UIUC, and that translates into a slightly more recognized brand name, both in the US and internationally.</p>

<p>“I also heard that the weather at Michigan can get terrible during winter. Is the weather at ann arbor bad enough to influence my decision or is it a small matter.”</p>

<p>Ann Arbor is not colder than Urbana Champaign. On average, there is probably a 2 degree difference, which is not even noticeable. </p>

<p>[Urbana</a> - Illinois Weather Forecast on Yahoo! Weather](<a href=“http://weather.yahoo.com/Urbana-Illinois-United-States/USIL1191/statistics.html]Urbana”>http://weather.yahoo.com/Urbana-Illinois-United-States/USIL1191/statistics.html)</p>

<p>[Ann</a> Arbor - Michigan Weather Forecast on Yahoo! Weather](<a href=“http://weather.yahoo.com/Ann-Arbor-Michigan-United-States/USMI0028/statistics.html]Ann”>http://weather.yahoo.com/Ann-Arbor-Michigan-United-States/USMI0028/statistics.html)</p>

<p>Although nobody has brought this up, general setting and location favor Michigan. Ann Arbor is a much nicer town than Urbana Champaign, and it is more ideally situated. Ann Arbor benefits from having a major city such as Detroit nearby. Given its 50 mile proximity, Ann Arbor has access to a world class, international airport (less than 25 miles away) and major entertainment (art, music, shopping and sports). Urbana Champaign is not nearly as nice or cosmopolitan as Ann Arbor and Chicago is a good 150 miles from the closest major airport or large city. </p>

<p>“Thanks a lot for your input. Really appreciate it.”</p>

<p>You are very welcome…now Go Blue!</p>

5

<p>i choose um just for the better reputation.</p>

6

<p>anyone else…any pro-illinois points?</p>

7

<p>Also, I just want to clarify something. Why do people say that UMich is more expensive than UIUC. The cost for non-residents at both colleges are roughly the same according to the websites below.</p>

<p>Michigan - [University</a> of Michigan Office of Financial Aid: Cost of Attendance](<a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Financial_Aid_Basics/cost.asp]University”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Financial_Aid_Basics/cost.asp)</p>

<p>Illinois - [University</a> of Illinois Financial Aid: Undergraduate Non-Resident 2009-2010 Cost](<a href=“http://www.osfa.uiuc.edu/cost/undergrad/nonres_0910.html]University”>http://www.osfa.uiuc.edu/cost/undergrad/nonres_0910.html)</p>

<p>any comments?</p>

8

<p>There are several reasons why Michigan is more expensive than UIUC:</p>

<p>1) Michigan is more expensive for upper classmen than it is for Freshmen and Sophomores. Total cost of attendance for Freshmen and Sophomores this year is roughly $45,000/year, whereas it is closer to $47,000 for Juniors and Seniors.</p>

<p>2) Michigan’s cost of attendance increases annually, UIUC locks students for their four years of college. So Freshmen coming into Michigan this year will pay $45,000. However, by the time they are seniors, when you factor in annual increases in tuition and the upper-classmen premium, they will be paying over $50,000. Freshmen enterning UIUC in the fall will be paying slightly less than $45,000 (anywhere from $41,000-$44,000), but that tuition will stay the same throughout their college careers. As such, over 4 years, UIUC ends up being roughly $18,000-$30,000 cheaper than Michigan. As a side-by-side comparisonfor four years of college:</p>

<p>Michigan: $195,000
UIUC (Engineering and Sciences: $176,000
UIUC (Arts, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences): $166,000.</p>

<p>In short, Michigan is more expensive, but UIUC is not that much cheaper.</p>

9

<p>Even assuming academics are a draw, the overall environment at UM>>Illinois. Just about $20,000 worth.</p>

10

<p>My Illinois alum friends tell me there is a business in Champaign-Urbana that delivers fresh-baked cookies to students, and they have hot ones coming out of the oven up until 3 am. To my knowledge, U-M lacks this awesome service.</p>

11

<p>“My Illinois alum friends tell me there is a business in Champaign-Urbana that delivers fresh-baked cookies to students, and they have hot ones coming out of the oven up until 3 am. To my knowledge, U-M lacks this awesome service.”</p>

<p>Haha, we have the same exact service. It’s called Insomnia Cookies. It’s pretty awesome, but I don’t know if I would make it a deciding factor.</p>