<p>I have to narrow down my application choices real soon. My parents are only letting me apply to 5 schools because of teh cost of applications and they do not want to waste money on schools that I definitely will not be attending</p>
<p>Here is my list right now:</p>
<p>1)Rice
2)UTexas
3)LSU (did this one) total safety finacially. Forced to apply
4)RPI- Fee waived b/c medalist
5)Ga Tech</p>
<p>Excluding RPI since its free I am down to MIT and Michigan.
Pros and Cons</p>
<p>MIT
I really think the atmosphere at MIT is wayy too nerdy for me and that I would not like being there with all those really smart people. I already get sick of all the weird smart people at my school now. Also does not have Biomedical engineering.</p>
<p>Pro: Great academics and research options plus Boston.</p>
<p>Michigan:
Pros: Much better atmosphere in relation to party. Still has good academics (not MIT but still good)</p>
<p>Cons: So damn cold, cost a alot for out of state.</p>
<p>I have been really interested at MIT but I think it may have been the brand name and not the social atmosphere.</p>
<p>BTW I want to be a Biomedical Engineering major.</p>
<p>It sounds like you're a better match for Michigan, but I don't know about their BME program. Have you looked at Case Western? Case has a superb BME program, and the application fee is waived if you apply online.</p>
<p>University of Washington might be good, fairly high ranked BME without a super steep OOS cost (~19-20k tuition). But then again, I might be slightly biased, as it is in my state. But if you are very qualified/have monetary needs, the highly ranked private schools should be able to throw money your way.</p>
<p>Edit: Sorry, regarding MIT vs michigan, if you arent well researched on where you stand vs other MIT applicants, you should. If you are very competitive, I would go for it. Otherwise, I would apply for Michigan.</p>
<p>Pros
Work hard/party hard atmosphere, athletics, social scene, ann arbor, great resources, top 10 in nearly every field, number 3 business school in the nation.</p>
<p>Cons
Giant class size = less individual attention
Weather sucks</p>
<p>MIT</p>
<p>Pros
Great academics, boston, great resources, smart student body, name value, number 2 business school in the nation</p>
<p>Cons
The "I gotta Study" atmosphere isn't for everyone</p>
<p>Be honest with yourself. If you really think you have a shot at MIT, i'd apply to MIT. If you think you have a really slim shot, i'd apply to michigan.</p>
<p>is there a substantial enough of a difference in the weather between Boston and AnnArbor that warrants people saying that the weater sucks at Mich. while Boston isn't worth the mention?</p>
<p>MIT is certainly not a place for everyone, but it's definitely not the ascetic 24/7 study-fest people often assume it must be.</p>
<p>First, as a freshman at MIT, you get to pick the dorm you want to live in. Some conform very well to MIT stereotypes, and some do not. Moreover, there are 27 fraternities and 5 sororities, and about 50% of freshman men and 20% of freshman women pledge. Social life is a very important element of the MIT undergrad experience, and you can find all kinds of social life on MIT's campus. </p>
<p>Most people who go to MIT aren't easily identifiable -- if you stuck them in a lineup, you'd never be able to "tell" they go to MIT. For sure, everybody at MIT is very intelligent, so if you don't want to be around intelligent people, it's not a good choice. But not everybody is "nerdy" or "weird", by a long shot.</p>
<p>Have you visited MIT? Most people are pleasantly surprised by MIT's culture when they visit, because it's quite a bit more diverse than the stereotypes suggest.</p>
<p>Yeah Louisiana, LSU is gonna be free b/c of TOPS. However I been there plenty of times to know that I need to go out of state.</p>
<p>Duke I was really considering it hard but choose not to because it does not have too much outside of Biomedical. I really think i want to do that but if not Chemical is my fall back b/c I am really good in Chemistry and Duke does not offer it</p>
<p>What do you guys mean in the difference in weather in Bostona and Ann Arbor. I figure they are about the same. Glance at the weather channel or news every now and then to know whats coming.</p>
<p>I'd go to Michigan over MIT, just a better experience, and since many engineering students at both go onto grad programs you won't be at a disadvantage - thats just me, don't really know much about either school besides stereotypes</p>
<p>I've spent years and years in both the Boston area and the Ann Arbor area. Climate is in general the same. If anything, the Ann Arbor winters would be milder with less snow. Boston has more sunny winter days, while in Michigan the sun can disappear for weeks at a time in winter.</p>
<p>You have to be one of the few people who has LSU and MIT on his short list.</p>
<p>Being a Michigan Alum, I always suggest it for those who ask. :)</p>
<p>But seriously, you should pick to the program that has the best program for what you are trying to achieve, even if you think it's a long shot. No matter what school you choose, you will find people who are exactly what you need in friends and collegues, so I wouldn't get that hung up on the MIT atmosphere as opposed to the Michigan one.</p>
<p>And since I've lived in both Ann Arbor and Boston, let me assure you that it's just as cold in Boston as Ann Arbor. In fact, if you happen to be in downtown Boston on a cold day, that wind off of the water will make you want to cry.</p>
<p>If you are born and raised in LA you will have no concept of the level of coldness you will encounter in either place. </p>
<p>MIT is hard to turn down. I know if I had the opportunity to study at MIT, I would probably not have turned it down. I know I would have had a better time at Michigan, but MIT (along with Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale) is a once in a life time opportunity...a priviledge that is hard to decline. </p>
<p>Yes, Michigan's campus is more lively and spirited, but MIT has Boston, which is a great college town. I have met several students at Michigan who turned MIT down in favor of Michigan, but in their case, there was either a huge cultural clash (they were clearly better suited to a campus like Michigan) or significant cost differential (more than $100,000 over 4 years). So, if you feel that you are truly not designed for the MIT culture or if the difference in cost is signficant, you should probably consider Michigan. Otherwise, I'd say go for MIT.</p>
<p>By the way, Ann Arbor is not noticeably colder than Boston.</p>
<p>Easy: apply to Michigan rolling this month, if you aren't ready GET ready!! I sent in a half-hazard application in, and I was accepted two weeks later which meant no need for safeties. Get in by october. If you get in and the aid is good, only apply to reaches like MIT, Duke, Hopkins, and Penn. Then choose your dream school.</p>