Please comment on choosing a school for undergrad and it's importance

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>This is a cross post, but i'd really like the views of people from this forum and from the transfers forum, and not everyone from either visit both. </p>

<p>That said, I am in S. Fla, I attend community college here, have a good GPA and want to major in Chemical Engineering. This requires that I move, as there are no programs for it around here. So, I figured, might as well go someplace nice that also has a good program. </p>

<p>The first place I wanted to go was to San Diego, I visited UCSD, and loved the campus and of course, San Diego itself. I sent out apps to UCSD, UCI, UCLA, UCB, GA Tech, UT Austin, and Rose Hulman (but realized later it'd be too damn cold for me there!) </p>

<p>Now, it's down to the wire and i'm wondering if the US News rankings matter as much as I think they do. Berkeley is #2, which is really great. UT Austin is #7, but it doesn't look like my boyfriend could find work there. GA Tech is #15 and i've already been admitted to there. But, I wonder, what if I don't get into Berkeley, but I get into some of the lower UCs, how would they really compare with GA Tech. Would graduate schools rather I go to GA Tech for Chemical Engineering UG than, say, UCSD? If I get good grades and work hard, will I not have the same opportunities when all is said and done? UCSD doesn't seem to be anywhere on the list for excellent ChE schools, but I am still drawn to San Diego. Don't get me wrong, we really liked Atlanta, too, but it is not San Diego, ya know. Either way i'll be paying out of state tuition, but i'm actually glad to be leaving Florida, i've been here too long. </p>

<p>So, it'd be great to hear what engineers (and future engineers) think of this! </p>

<p>Angela.</p>

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<p>From what I understand, engineering graduate schools look primarily at grades, recommendations, and research experience. These will be available at all of schools (higher ranked schools sometimes have more opps for research though) on your list. </p>

<p>Good job on getting into those schools. </p>

<p>Would it be possible for you to post up the rankings for Chemical Engineering? I would be very grateful.</p>

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<p>This is from U.S News...</p>

<p>Engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's; specialty: Chemical
1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech
2. Cooper Union
3. Rowan University
4. Bucknell University
5. University of Minnesota-Duluth</p>

<p>Engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate; specialty: Chemical
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
3. University of California - Berkeley
4. University of Wisconsin - Madison
5. University of Texas - Austin</p>