Michigan vs. Northwestern vs. Madison vs. Minnesota

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>I'm doing biomedical engineering, no chance for need based aid</p>

<p>Minnesota - worst academically, 15k, liked campus and honors program, feel like I'm a little too good for this school/All my work will be for nothing, worried about huge student body, 1 hour away from home.</p>

<p>Madison - better academically, 20k, campus too crowded, didn't like busy streets, don't like party atmosphere, 5 hours from home.</p>

<p>Michigan - better academically than both, 48k, again worried about size, campus ok, 11 hours from home.</p>

<p>Northwestern - around level of Michigan, 55k, like size, worried that people will all be geeks, worried about difficulty, loved campus, like Chicago, 8 hours away from home, like prestige/makes all my work in high school feel worthwhile, co-op program supposed to bring 50k-80k in income.</p>

<p>Do Michigan or Northwestern give Merit Aid? Which is best in biomedical engineering?</p>

<p>I really have no idea which to go into. I've been accepted to all but Northwestern, I think I have an 50/50 chance at Northwestern. This is the hardest decision of my life. Oh, and my grandparents are paying for half no matter where I go, so its not like my parents are going to run out of money, but they could be paying 30k for four years or over 100k.</p>

2

<p>

Live on the lakefront and stay away from State Street and the private dorms.</p>

<p>

You’ve got to be kidding. Northwestern is a Big Ten school; it’s not the University of Chicago.</p>

3

<p>Michigan’s BME program is ~ the same as NU’s, if just slightly better. I would wait and see what kind of financial aid Michigan and Northwestern offer. Chances are, Michigan probably won’t be able to offer enough to make it worth it over Minnesota or Madison; if granted acceptance, I wouldn’t be surprised if Northwestern gave you a good amount of Fin Aid. I’d go with Northwestern in this scenario.</p>

4

<p>These are all solid for BME. If the prices end up as you predict, I recommend either Minnesota or Madison. I don’t see the point to paying a significant surcharge unless you really strongly prefer Michigan or NU.

Put this thought out of your mind right now. There are legitimate reasons to seek a prestigious education; this is not one of them. There is absolutely nothing you can do about the work you did in high school now. It is in the past and has no bearing whatsoever on the ultimate impacts of the choice you make.</p>

<p>Good luck, whatever you choose. I applied to three of these, so maybe I’ll see you next year.</p>

5

<p>Wisconsin is probably the best bang for the buck. Academics and campus life is better than Minnesota. Michigan and Northwestern are good choices. Based on your post, it sounds like Northwestern is where your heart is if your family can afford it. I wouldn’t worry about it being all geeks (it isn’t) or too hard (getting in is harder than staying in).</p>

6

<p>Twins, what do you intend on doing with your degree? If you wish to work in Engineering, go on to get a PhD in Engineering or go to Medical school, I would recommend Wisconsin. Otherwise, it would be a more difficult decision.</p>

7

<p>I’ll rank what I think I would want to do after undergraduate studies, but I am not that sure yet.</p>

<ol>
<li>Get MBA eventually so I can move into management</li>
<li>Masters in BME?</li>
<li>Medical School</li>
<li>Patent Law?</li>
</ol>

<p>I am interested in minors/certificates in business/econ/finance. I know Northwestern has good ones, but they are very selective. Does anyone no about these programs at the other schools?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help</p>