<p>Hi I am considering a few state schools for my undergrad. I would like to study either engineering or computer science. Possibly end up doing both! I would like to attend schools strong in the sciences and math. Engineering/Computer Science/Math/Physics this is what I value the most out of a school. The schools I am considering are:</p>
<p>I am clumping grad rankings with undergrad rankings. I am assuming they are fairly close and lets be honest, grad rankings matter more. If as school is churning out more research papers that bodes well about the faculty at particular school. The links above are just examples.</p>
<p>Michigan, Maryland and UCLA come out everywhere in all the rankings I have seen, UVA and UNC don't appear anywhere on the list when it comes to the sciences and these two schools are known to have a strong reputation. Michigan comes out on top in pretty much all of them, followed by UCLA and Maryland. While I am leaning towards Michigan heavily, they are located far from the east coast. Maryland is an east coast school and its next to Washington, DC. I would surmised the opportunities are better at Maryland. UCLA is on the west coast and I don't find much prospects with what I am studying in that region. I don't understand why UVA and UNC are not even on the list, I was really hoping to consider them; however, they don't show up anywhere and they are ranked above Maryland in the total undergrad ranking. Which I find deeply perplexing?? Are these schools overhyped?? Or are they do excel in the non-science fields. What do you guys think. Can anyone draw on from experience to help me guide me to the better school. What I am not taking into account. Thank you in advance!! Please any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Strong grad schools doesn’t equal strong undergrad teaching. Strong research doesn’t equal strong undergrad teaching. UVA and UNC spend a larger portion of their money on undergrads than do UM and UC. Doesn’t mean they’re weaker schools (though I personally think UM is a strong candidate for the best public school in the country).</p>
<p>Kudravka, I am not sure I totatly agree. Graduate rankings are what I really counts – its a mark of the type of faculty that work at the school. I am not after “the school experience” as an undergrad. I want to work and study under the best professors, and I want to attend a top research university with smart faculty that publish lots of works. This is best proxied by graduating rankings not undergrad, I am sorry. But I definitely agree with you I think University of Michigan is the best public school in the country. I would rank it slightly above Berkeley.</p>
<p>“But I definitely agree with you I think University of Michigan is the best public school in the country. I would rank it slightly above Berkeley.”</p>
<p>I would give the overall edge to Berkeley in academics, with Michigan right after Cal.</p>
<p>UNC doesn’t have engineering. If you want the top public engineering program in NC, then you look to NCSU. And while UVA does have a good engineering program, Virginia Tech is probably considered the top public engineering program in VA. If you want a public university in the southeast that is strong in Engineering/Computer Science/Math/Physics, then you might want to also consider Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>Just because a school has the most distinguished faculty for grad school doesn’t mean you are going to ever have these professors. You may have them in your intro classes with hundreds of students, but a lot of these faculty are usually researching and teaching grad students. So, you may not get that one-on-one interaction you seem to be looking for.</p>
<p>I am still perplexed as to what solid programs does UNC and UVA have?? Do they excel in the liberal arts? Why is that they outrank Michigan and Maryland in the standing?</p>
<p>Do you have cost constraints, and what state are you a resident of?</p>
<p>You may want to put “financial aid estimator” into each school’s web site search box to see if you can get an estimate of net cost after non-loan financial aid at each school to see if it is affordable.</p>
<p>Hilbert, going to the school with the greatest scholars isn’t going to mean you ever get to talk to them. IMO, it’s much smarter to go to the large public schools for grad school than undergrad. 400 person intro courses aren’t worth paying $25,000 a year for. If you have the stats, you should consider Harvey Mudd, MIT, Stanford, etc. These are schools that simultaneously excel in STEM fields and offer good opportunities to undergrads. Another alternative is to go to a community college for two years and then transfer to a state university, since you’ll save a lot of money and avoid the worst of the congested classes. Unless you have $200,000 in the bank, no one is too good to consider community college.</p>
<p>While community colleges are a good option for many students, in this era of budget cuts, they seem to have worse problems than the four year universities in terms of class availability, at least in California.</p>
<p>Also, a student who is advanced may want to take junior or senior level courses as a freshman or sophomore. This is not available at a community college. (Such an advanced student may not be a good fit for an undergraduate-only college either, since s/he may want to take graduate level courses as an undergraduate.)</p>
<p>Are you instate for any of these schools? What state are you in?</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>Will your parents pay all the costs for all these schools?</p>
<p>If you need financial aid, and you’re OOS for UCLA (or Cal), Maryland or Michigan, then they won’t likely be affordable. UMich does give merit for very high stats.</p>
<p>UVa and UNC do meet determined need to OOS students.</p>