<p>Alright, so as a Michigan resident, with a 31 ACT and a 3.9 weighted gpa, U of M is my number one choice for a computer engineering or mechanical eng. major, however, I am looking at many schools as a secondary option if that goal is not met. </p>
<p>I want to do something interesting and work for a large company ex. Sun Micro Systems, Designing Roller Coasters... Just something big</p>
<p>The schools are:</p>
<p>Michigan State - Big School, maybe too big, </p>
<p>Kettering University - Good co-op, sucky area, maybe too small, worried I would get stuck in automotive or would have to stay in Michigan. </p>
<p>Marquette University - Love the campus, Sister went there, worried about job placement after college, pricey</p>
<p>University of Dayton - Like the atmosphere, same concerns as above</p>
<p>MSU and Kettering are very good and relatively cheap.</p>
<p>Your flexibility depends on your willingness to spend money. There are a lot of options if you are willing to spend the cash, but MSU or Kettering are a bargain for instaters.</p>
<p>Try to get into MSU's honors college, then that will take a lot of the size of MSU(And get you into classes way easier).</p>
<p>You should take a look at Michigan Tech; fine tech school at an instate price. The Upper Peninsula is rather isolated and cold, though... Kettering is fine also. Michigan State may be your best bet. It's overall size is big, no doubt, but it's not so bad once you get into your major, and the facilities and faculty are superior to those you've mentioned (they just opened a Structural Fire Testing facility which is the 1st and only one in the nation owned by a university: <a href="http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/3107/content.htm%5B/url%5D">http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/3107/content.htm</a>.)</p>
<p>Marquette is a nice school, but shouldn't enter the discussion.</p>
<p>Case Western might be an option. It's a very tech heavy school, and ranks well in virtually every branch of engineering. Granted, it is a seemingly costly private school. But even if you don't qualify for financial aid, you would most likely receive substantial merit aid. It tends to fall within the top 25 best value institution because it generally tends to offer nice aid packages to people with stats like yours. When all is said and done, your tuition bill would comparable to a state school if got aid.</p>
<p>^^ I think you missed the first sentence. The OP is applying there. </p>
<p>"U of M is my number one choice"</p>
<p>Also, I don't really get why you say that the reason MSU might be a bad option for your safety because it's too big, when UofM is a big school as well. About 38,000 at UofM and 42000 at MSU depending on grad student/undergrad student figures. Not a big difference really.</p>