Tufts, URochester, UMichigan or SUNY for Engineering

College Search & Selection
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Another option is Emory 3/2 with GTech. But I would have to apply sophomore year but I am at or above the 75% for schools in terms of stats. Also have a lot of APs so should be able to cut out most of the Emory extra year. Other than Emory I was accepted for engineering

Possibly biomedical, electrical or nuclear (most likely not nuclear because my family hates the idea). May go premed or business down the road or PhD or get an engineering job no idea now. Cost within a 20k range is not a factor (eg do not care if one is 40 and one is 60, got some money at some of them but not enough to matter for me.) The fact that SUNY Binghamton Scholars could be under 10k if I get STEM scholarship is a factor but I really hate that option (want a fresh start, know too many people) and my parents are not pushing it. If you say SUNY Binghamton please do not base it on cost unless the difference is really NOT worth it. For example had I gotten into Yale or Duke I would have gone there over SUNY without thinking twice, it would have been worth it to me (I know not to everyone). Otoh I did not apply to any private colleges on the same level as SUNY or even a half step above because there seemed to be no point to spending twice as much (I did apply to a couple but did not get much money so I am not considering them).

Do not care about weather, plan to return to NE.

Want someplace where I can have interesting discussions and have my questions answered.

Do care about general intuitional prestige. This is probably my biggest concern with URochester.

Not a rah rah person, no interest in sports or drinking but I do not think of myself as a UChicago type either. I am pretty normal but have always felt a little stifled by my high school.

Enjoy inventing and start ups and playing in the lab

Want a social life so want to avoid any place known for deflationary grading. Also I am not competitive, prefer collaborative.

I did not visit most of these but the 15 schools I visited (Cornell, Amherst) mostly looked alike to me. I could see myself at most except BU, and NE because they did not have a campus, I also was not into UMass Amherst, seemed too big when we got there but I did really like Cornell. Really liked the vibe and people at WUSTL but was WL and they rarely use it. I will of course visit before making a decison, probably all of them. I just wanted another perspective.

So Emory, UMichigan Engineering, Tufts Engineering, URochester Engineering or SUNY Binghamton Scholars.

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I don’t think you should consider the Emory 3/2 program, but that’s just my opinion.

Of the schools you listed, they’re mostly very different.

University of Michigan has a huge amount of name recognition and is a gigantic school. Lots of good sports teams, huge campus, etc. University of Michigan is big enough that you can probably ignore the sports/drinking/etc. and be fine, but it’s a big part of the social scene there. I don’t really know much about the school in particular, but you may want to consider your other options if you aren’t into drinking or sports.

Tufts and University of Rochester are mostly peers for engineering, and not nearly as prestigious as University of Michigan. However, University of Rochester is getting a lot of recognition for biophotonics and its biomedical engineering program, and Tufts’ program is great for certain things. If you’re doing biomedical engineering and want to focus in regenerative medicine or cell/tissue engineering, Tufts is a great place to be. Regardless of rankings, Tufts has a huge amount of research in the cell/tissue engineering field. However, if you’re more into instrumentation and devices, you may want to consider your other options (Binghamton is honestly a pretty good school if you’re more interested in the electrical component of biomedical engineering).

Binghamton Scholars is another great option, although I would agree that it’s not quite the same level as the other schools (I was accepted into Binghamton Scholars, but I declined it for ED to Tufts). Binghamton has relatively good engineering programs, and my friend’s brother who went there got a (paid) internship with Lockheed Martin when he was either a sophomore or a junior, and is now a relatively successful mechanical engineer. I know plenty of people who have done well after going to Binghamton, but if it’s not where you want to be then I wouldn’t even consider it – assuming money isn’t an issue.

Tufts sounds a lot like what you want in a school, but the engineering is relatively small and not considered particularly prestigious by a lot of people. If you want to do premed, any of the schools will be fine for you. If you want to get a PhD, the school’s prestige may matter very slightly. I think once you visit you’ll know very quickly which you prefer between University of Michigan and Tufts/URochester. The two sets of schools are very different imo and you should know pretty quickly which you have a preference for.

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Unless those people happen to be located in . . . uhhh . . . I don’t know . . . BOSTON!!!

And I agree that it sounds like a great fit for you. :slight_smile:

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@dodgersmom – I’m going to be a Tufts engineer. The engineers that I know didn’t choose Tufts because it’s the most prestigious program we could get into. Actually, I think the competitiveness of its engineering program far outweighs whatever prestige it has. I’m going to Tufts because I want to get that style of education and that environment. I love the school and I can’t imagine going to any other school. I think Tufts is a wonderful school, but I don’t think many people choose it for its name recognition :slight_smile:

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One thing to consider re: UM is that the engineering school is on North campus and most engineering students end up living there. It is like a smaller home in the bigger home of the whole of UM and seems to be somewhat removed from the intense party scene/ frats of central campus. And certainly all that central campus has to offer is easily accessible to anyone on North campus. Being from Michigan and a town where a lot of students from our local HS go to UM it’s funny but it seems most of the kids I know are not super interested in the party/ frat scene and they seem perfectly able to find others like them at UM. It’s a big enough school that there are all sorts of different types of people who go there.

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Actually, between Michigan and Tufts, Michigan is more prestigious even in Boston.

I don’t know much about SUNY Binghamton in terms of STEM.

Engineers are by nature collaborative. In real life, teams accomplish things.

Michigan engineering is very hardcore. Doing well at Michigan will open up doors that none of the others will. It will be difficult and somewhat consuming. It’s on everybody’s recruiting list and is especially popular in the northeast because many students from the northeast go there. It is also huge, so you should be able to find a group of like minded people to hang out with. Academically, it’s way above the others.

Tufts and Rochester both offer a less “in your face” approach to engineering. Their students do well. I find that Tufts students tend to go to graduate school. I suspect that students at these schools are “happier” while they are in school.

I think that you have good choices. Now it’s really about you. What makes you happy.

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Michigan!

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Don’t worry about party or alcohol problem, the UMich campus and student population are so large that you can choose the way of campus live you want. My D and her friends are not the party kind and they live in the Hill area. They have plenty of things to do that they do not really have time for party anyway. It is probably more about your friend circle than where your dorm is located. Anywhere is within a short bus ride anyway.

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Thank you everyone for the insightful comments. Like most people with high school engineering I have done a lot of work with sensors and the more mechanical aspects of biomechanical engineering. I have not had a lot of exposure to true biomedical but I am interested but I may find a whole different field. I know I do not want to do mechanical and a friend chose UMichigan EA for that reason and did not apply any place else. No votes for Emory? I agree the 3/2 is annoying but assume I could get admitted. Is it very difficult to get into the 3/2 or 2/2 with the business school? I know Ross is hard as a sophomore. My parents are pushing for Tufts because of the driving distance but it is really not a big factor. Is Tufts very competitive? The school seemed very mellow when I visited. I really do not have a preference yet, just want someplace that is me.

10

The problem with 3/2 programs is that most students end up never doing the engineering part. If they are happy at their initial school, they don’t want to leave their friends and go somewhere else.

Also, look into Rochester some more, if you don’t want a big school. Its engineering program is well-respected.