Stuck choosing schools that falls in the between...(Computer Engineering)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I have recently been accepted to Purdue for Computer Engineering. Though it's a decent school, it's one of my lower choices. The schools that I am currently waiting to hear back from are Carnegie Mellon, GA Tech, UMich, Cornell, UCB, UIUC. I have been told (which I agree) that with these schools, there's a chance I won't be accepted anywhere else. These are my stats</p>

<p>SAT I: 2180
SAT II: Math 2: 770, Physics: 800
Toefl: 116
Unweighted GPA: 3.84
Weighted GPA: 4.08</p>

<p>I should also note that I am an international student (Southeast Asia)</p>

<p>Now my question is this, do you guys think there are other places in the between of Purdue and these schools which I am missing? I'm finding it hard to choose places that falls in between. Purdue is a great school and I won't mind going there, but I feel I owe myself a fair shot at this whole process.</p>

<p>Many thanks for reading guys, any comments/suggestions will be very much appreicated</p>

2

<p>There are some other schools better than Purdue.</p>

<p>You can see here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings[/url]”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>By the way, I don’t think Purdue deserves to be #8 on that link above. Purdue 4 year graduation rate is very low.</p>

<p>You should apply to private colleges like USC, Upenn, Northwestern,…, and some public schools like UCLA, UCSD (I strongly believe Purdue is below these 2 schools), U Texas Austin,…</p>

3

<p>@coolweather‌ Thanks for your comment! I forgot to include UCSD to the list which I applied to, apologies. Unfortunately the deadline for the UCs and UT have passed. May I ask why you think UCSD is better than Purdue?</p>

4

<p>Based on opinions of my friends and my experience in working with UCSD and Purdue graduates.</p>

<p>And UCSD is higher than Purdue in this ranking:</p>

<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings[/url]”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>@coolweather‌ many thanks for your input!</p>

6

<p>@coolweather, it is ridiculous to say that Purdue Graduate Engineering School should be lower in the grad rankings because of the undergraduate graduation rate! Grad rankings are not based on that! They are based on research productivity and ‘reputation’. Undergrad college graduation rates are often lower at state schools that exist to educate the state and take a wide variety of students who may not be as prepared or have financial resources to graduate among other reasons, not to say there shouldn’t be a higher rate of graduation.</p>

7

<p>^ That graduate school ranking was made by USNWR as you see in the link above, not by me.</p>

<p>I did not say Purdue grad ranking is lower because of low undergraduate graduation rate.</p>

<p>I agree with you that graduation rate is lower in public schools than in private schools. But Purdue 4 year graduation rate is too low ( around 47 %) compared to the public schools that the OP is considering.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/Students/RetGradRates.html[/url]”>http://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/Students/RetGradRates.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Undergraduate Statistics”>Undergraduate Statistics;

<p><a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/UIUC_Profile.htm[/url]”>http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/UIUC_Profile.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

For all you guys stumbling upon this post in the future, for your reference, I got into UMich, GA Tech, UIUC and wait listed at Berkeley

9

Wow - congrats!!!

10

@dodgersmom Thank you, do u have any suggestions/pro and con of each?

11

Not a clue. Ann Arbor is a GREAT place to live - but that’s all I know. My recommendation would be to go with whichever one is the most affordable. Why don’t you try posting this question in the engineering forum?

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/

12

Congrats! Thanks for letting us know. Yes, UMich is a great school.

13

UMichigan, Georgia Tech, and UIUC are all top 10 programs in engineering… all are fantastic! There is no obvious, objectively better one over the other… you really cannot go wrong.

You need to compare finances… what will be the cost of attendance for each (tuition/fees/room/board minus grants/scholarships, but not including loans)? How much loans will you need to take out for each.

14

UMich, GTech, and UIUC are all terrific in engineering.

UMich has a greater lay reputation outside of the STEM world, however.

Costs, however, should be important.

Did you take APs?

15

Ga Tech is in the heart of a major city – Atlanta – where there are nearly six million people in the metro area, and loads of opportunities for jobs and internships. None of the other places you’re currently admitted are in a major city. Think about that when making your choice.