<p>So I'm trying to decide what my last safety-type school should be. I want to major in environmental engineering (I realize it's a division at Civil at most places, so the availability of environmental options is important) and I'm stuck between three schools. </p>
<p>University of Washington
University of Vermont
University of Colorado - Boulder</p>
<p>Which one is better engineering wise, since they aren't typically known as the big name engineering powerhouses. As well as which is just a better environment or anything else that would factor in to picking one over the other. I have all my other schools I'm going to apply to, so I don't need any more school suggestions. Just advice on which one of these three would be best. Thanks.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about the engineering programs, but you will be very hard pressed to find better college towns than Burlington or Boulder, especially if you like the outdoors. Burlington is smaller but has Lake Champlain as well as the mountains. If you like smaller schools go with UVM; if you are drawn to bigger state universities go with Colorado.</p>
<p>I'd say that UW would be a great college. I personally think that it has the best city among your choices, and it's a nationally known school (though it's better known for medical stuff than environmental). Look at other things like weather, too. UW is moderate year-round and slightly rainy, while UVM and UCol Boulder have beautiful winters. Also, UW is pretty warry of out-of-staters, so that might be a consideration (though if it's a saftey for you, I doubt you'll have a problem)</p>
<p>As a Vermonter, I personally would favor UVM. UVM has a stronger "private school" feeling than many other public universities, Burlington is an awesome town, however it is expensive for a public (I don't know if this matters...), especially for an out-of-stater.</p>
<p>Colorado would also be cool, as Boulder is a great city, and a great place for learning about something involved with the environment. It is, however, a huge party school. </p>
<p>UVM does have more of a feel of a private school, in part because it is relatively small (~8000 undergraduates) and it part because it essentially IS a private school, as only ~10% of the budget comes from state funding. This is why it has the highest in-state tuition. UVM is clearly different from the other 2 in that it is much smaller and therefore more intimate, and has no big-time football (Hockey and Basketball are king here) which may be important to some students. But the new President is very dynamic, has an aggressive and bold vision of growth for the university and the place feels very alive and positive. As I thought about Colorado more, I think it would be important to look into the problems they've had with the climate of sexual abuse on campus they've had there and the apparent willingness of administration there to look the other way. As a parent I would have some serious concerns about what went on there and especially with how it was mishandled by administration.</p>