<p>I currently go to the University of Michigan but am thinking about transfering out because tuition is killing me. I am a resident of Texas so I'm thinking about transfering in state. I also know that it's a lot easier to get need based aid from private schools so I am also looking at Rice and Vanderbilt. I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering with either a minor in environmental studies or political science. I want a school that will give me research opportunities but the school doesn't necessarily have to shove research down my throat. Which do you think the strengths and weaknesses are for each school for academics and for social life?</p>
<p>I looked at UT, Rice, and Vandi. (didnt look at A&M due to the whole I bleed orange and Tell aggie jokes for fun thing. I would fear for my life if i went there. Hook 'em horns.) </p>
<p>UT has a good engineering program. they will work you, but it pays off. They want to get their kids jobs. Life there is always exciting, its a big place. (ok, huge)
Rice, great program. My other top choice. small, every one knows everyone, and its great. awsome profs, great classes, and a work hard play hard life.
Vandi as to what it offered to me was a safety. I was a legacy, it was a school in the south with a good engineering program and a good social life. I could suck it up for a year and then bail if need be.</p>
<p>Filling the chink in tomboy's otherwise good descriptions, here's what I know about A&M, then I'll add my two bits on UT and Rice.</p>
<p>People at A&M are very into their school. It's definitely a love-it-or-hate-it campus-- you either like the whole Aggie attitude or despise it. They offer a very solid education in engineering, especially something like mechanical engineering, and the research opportunities are also excellent. Be sure to visit the campus to see whether or not you like the feel of it. If you like your visit, you'll probably like it at A&M as a student.</p>
<p>I think that if you really like UM other than the tuition, UT is probably the closest you'll get out of those four. Gargantuan school in a middle-sized town (IE, bigger than Champaign but smaller than Houston...) with tons of opportunities and giant course selection. Not as much personal attention as you might get at some smaller schools, but still a high-caliber education with TONS of in-Texas connections for strong job opportunities post-graduation. Again, good research opportunities.</p>
<p>Ah, Rice. My alma mater. Very strong school in engineering with a LOT of quirk. Definitely worth reiterating the work hard/play hard ethic that tomboy mentioned. It's a small school with only about 2500 undergrads, and the professors there are first-rate and are very close to the students, both in an academic sense and in a social sense. I've had beers with my profs. It isn't <em>too</em> small a school, though. There are always new people to meet and new things to get involved in. Undergrad engineering research there is extant, but you have to hunt for it a little more. Rice is what you make of it, and if you want to get involved in research, nobody's going to tell you that you can't, in some way, shape, or form. It's a very cool place, and the overall undergraduate experience truly can't be beat. Not that I'm biased. Tuition's pretty small, too.</p>
<p>I know absolutely nothing about Vanderbilt engineering.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, for the input guys. I've visited A&M's campus and liked the "aggie spirit." I like how everyone, well almost everyone, is really into the school. Is there this type of unity and spirit for the other school's I have mentioned. Also what do you think about living that close to the city at Rice, vandy, and UT. A&M isn't right up in the city so it has it's own feel. How did you view the locations of the other schools?</p>
<p>Rice is very self-contained. It doesn't feel like it's in the middle of the city. It's surrounded by hedges, and there's very decidedly an "on-campus" and an "off-campus" to it. People at Rice really love Rice. It's not a rah-rah kind of loving Rice, we don't bleed blue and gray... But we can't imagine being anywhere else, and we'll fight to the death to defend our school. Not as much spirit, but a lot of unity.</p>
<p>UT bleeds orange, but it's not mandatory, from what I can tell. There's plenty to be proud of, though. There are lots of very dedicated fans. Lots of spirit to go around. Can't say for certain... just my perception.</p>
<p>No idea about Vanderbilt. =)</p>
<p>Dude, how can you leave the University of Michigan...it's the best place on Earth...and one of the top 3 or 4 Mechanical Engineering programs in the nation! hehe Well, if you want a top Engineering program with a great campus atmosphere and affordable tuition, forget about Vanderbilt (too expensive and only average in Engineering) and Texas A&M (not the nicest of campuses). UT-Austin is awesome. I would say Rice would be as expensive as Michigan. So it really boils down to UTA.</p>
<p>Rice
Private tuition and fees: $20,160
Room/board: $8,980
Total: $29,140</p>
<p>Michigan
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $27,129
Room/board: $7,374
Total: $34,503</p>
<p>Rice
Students receiving need-based grants: 33%
Percent of need that was met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $18,360</p>
<p>Michigan
Students receiving need-based grants: 24%
Percent of need that was met: 90%
Average financial aid package: $11,306</p>
<p>Source: US News, 2006</p>
<p>...and if you visited A&M and liked it just fine, then go ahead and apply. There's nothing particularly wrong with its campus, it's just in a different style than many other campuses, and it actually fits A&M pretty nicely. Anyhow, if you want to leave Michigan, that's your prerogative.</p>
<p>The only reason why I would leave Michigan is that I had to take out 12k in loans for my freshmen year alone. That's a lot. And I would like to do the 5 year masters program and then do a study abroad. Once you figure all of that in I am going to leave here with around 60k in debt. Rice gives more financial aid and is cheaper and I would get in state tuition at A&M or UT. It makes sense from an economic standpoint. UT, Rice, and A&M are not far behind in far of engineering prowless. Are they?</p>
<p>No, of course not. Alexandre's just an alum of UMich and thusly, as we all are with our alma maters, is partial to it. =)</p>
<p>Apply! See what happens. I imagine you'd not have as heavy a loan burden at UT, Rice, or A&M, and you'll receive just as excellent a mechanical engineering degree as you would at Michigan. Really, when it comes to undergrad engineering programs, the variation in quality between the top twenty or so is very, very small. They're all good.</p>
<p>Keep us posted!</p>
<p>Aibarr is right. I was actually teasing you...partially. I was serious about Vanderbilt and A&M. I don't think Vanderbilt comes close in terms of Engineering quality and I don't think A&M is such a great environment. However, UTA and Rice are awesome in every way. I would agree with aibarr and apply to A&M, UTA and Rice for sure. IT just isn't worth getting $60,000 in debt, no matter how great the university is.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I'll send in those transfer apps, if anything it will give me some bargaining power with the financial aid office.</p>