<p>I'm a 21 year old chemical engineering student here in Sweden and am currently in my third year of studies. We have the possibility to go abroad for one year after we have finished our third (other years too, but it's recommended to go in our fourth year of studies).</p>
<p>My university has a big number of partner universities over the whole world but I'm only interested in the ones located in USA, mostly due to the unquestionable good education/experience and that I'm not really that good in any language besides English and Swedish.</p>
<p>So I've been lurking the net for days (1oct - 1nov is when we have to apply) for information about the universities that are available to us. Wikipedia, <a href="http://www.**************.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.**************.com/</a> etc. But I don't really get any wiser there. So since this is a forum that has a lot of people from all over USA I thought it was worth giving it a shot to see if someone here has anything to say about the states/universities which are available.</p>
<p>I'm not really looking for the best education. I'm mostly doing this for the experience so parties/social life etc matters a lot. I ofc have to take chemeng courses so I believe that rules out chapel hill and some other universities on the list. Anyway... </p>
<p>I can apply for like 10 of the universities below and only 3 within the UC network. So what would you choose out of the ones available to me? </p>
<p>Universities available for us:</p>
<p>University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Nebraska - Omaha
University of Nebraska - Kearney
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Virginia USA
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Missouri University of Science and Technology
University of Kansas
Western Carolina University
University of North Carolina-Asheville
Appalachian State University
Winston-Salem State University
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
East Carolina University
University of California (Everywhere except SF)
Kansas State University
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-St. Louis
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Oklahoma State University
University of Oklahoma
Texas Tech University
North Carolina State University
Santa Clara University
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale</p>
<p>Unfortunately CH doesn’t have anything to offer in engineering so I think that isn’t an option for me.</p>
<p>As for atmosphere I’m looking for a good and fun experience combined with engineering studies. Since I’m just staying for a year I don’t want it all to be about attending the school with the best chemeng program but more-so about having fun and doing more than just focus a 100% at school. I hope you get my point :)</p>
<p>I have heard great things about UCLA and UCB but I’m not really that into Berkley. I don’t know why really, maybe it’s because so many from my university want to go there :)</p>
<p>However UCLA is definitely on the top of my application. </p>
<p>These ten, IMO, have the best social atmosphere, with a strong preference for UNC-Asheville and Appalacian State. U Kansas will be the best “party school” of the lot.</p>
<p>University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Nebraska - Omaha
University of Virginia USA
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of Kansas
University of North Carolina-Asheville
Appalachian State University
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Santa Clara University</p>
<p>Since you’ll be in your fourth year, I’d strongly encourage you to do your study abroad at a school that is strong in your major. Unfortunately, most of the schools on your list are not strong in your field, chemical engineering. UC Berkeley would be by far the strongest choice, but there are several plausible contenders. Here are the schools on your list that are highly ranked by US News in chemical engineering:</p>
<p>School / US News undergrad rank, chemical engineering</p>
<p>UC Berkeley / #2
UC Santa Barbara / #18
North Carolina State / #19
University of Virginia / #23</p>
<p>I’d especially urge you to consider UC Santa Barbara and NC State. Very likely neither will be very popular with others in your program because the general reputation of these schools is not as strong as UC Berkeley, UCLA, and the University of Virginia. But they offer quality programs in your field, and each has much to offer. Santa Barbara is a gorgeous southern California coastal town in a relatively unspoiled part of the California coast; the campus is in one of the most beautiful settings of any in the United States. NC State is in Raleigh, a dynamic southeastern US city anchoring the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill “research triangle” area, a fast-growing, highly educated, innovative corner of the nation.</p>
<p>Of the four above, if you want to party, UC Santa Barbara is your choice. Great university in a fantastic, picturesque location. About one hour north of Los Angeles. UCSB is an acronym for University of California on a Sandy Beach.</p>
<p>Berkeley’s chemical engineering program resides in the small, world renowned College of Chemistry. It is a smaller college envrionment at a large public research university. </p>
<p>Another major plus for an international exchange student is proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area. All major attractions (including major airports) are readily accessible via public transport…a huge benefit over other colleges (like UCLA and UCSB) where you’ll need access to a car.</p>