Question about which college to apply to

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm planning on majoring in Electrical or Chemical Engineering, but I'm also planning on getting a Masters/PhD.</p>

<p>So my question is: Which top (and I mean very top) schools should I apply to?</p>

<p>I know that Caltech, MIT, and Stanford are very good at engineering so I will apply there. But should I still apply to Harvard/Princeton/Yale even though their engineering isn't as great? </p>

<p>My parents tell me that the most important thing is to get into the best graduate school for my major, and thus they want me to apply to Harvard/Princeton/Yale for the prestige factor... they said that undergrad in engineering won't matter (if I'm going to get a masters/phd) as long as it's from a top university.</p>

<p>But my opinion is that if I am accepted to say.. Stanford and Harvard, I should choose Stanford over Harvard. So there doesn't seem to be a point in applying to Harvard. (My parents on the other hand would make me choose Harvard over Stanford) The problem is that I don't know if my parents are right or not... could I get some advice? (preferably from engineering majors who are undergrad/grads)</p>

<p>Some extra details: I don't really care about the size of the campus/city/class sizes/that kind of stuff. I'm pretty confident that I'll enjoy being at any of the top universities. I also do have a chance at the very top schools.</p>

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<p>Princeton has an excellent engineering program in electrical and chemical. Princeton is probably the best combination of prestige and good engineering education. Harvard and Yale...not so good...I wouldn't apply. </p>

<p>Cornell has the best engineering program in the Ivy League. I think Cornell offers the best undergraduate education in the country in engineering (except biomed). Columbia and Penn have excellent engineering programs.</p>

<p>Stanford is dominated by graduate students, I believe, but has a lot of prestige. </p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon is a great engineering school but lacks the prestige of the Ivies. Same with Michigan, Illinois, Berkeley, Northwestern, Rice. All great engineering programs.</p>

<p>I think Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell might be good choices for you. If you live in CA, MI, or IL then apply to Berk/Mich/Ill. Best engineering for the money.</p>

<p>It is a good idea to apply to a couple of safeties.</p>