<p>Hello! As I just cannot make a decision, I am here to ask for your help, and any thoughts or ideas are welcomed and more than appreciated.</p>
<p>I am planning to major in Chemical Engineering/ Chemistry in college, and I am accepted into ChemE major in UIUC with a space in the iEFX program. While for CMU, I only got into Chemistry and waitlisted for ChemE.</p>
<p>I know that UIUC is strong in engineering, and I love their facilities (especially the library^o^). And since iEFX is like a honor program, I assume that I will be able to take higher level classes etc.? The tuition will also be cheaper for me as an international. However, UIUC has a huge (and not so diverse, I heard?) student body, and a very high acceptance rate, so I wonder how strong the incoming freshman class will be and how is the quality of educatioin there.</p>
<p>On the other hand, CMU has a lot of opportunities for intern, research, study abroad; and as a private school, there will be more personal attention. Plus I really like the energetic and creative atmosphere in CMU. Yet the tuition is fairly high (although my family can somehow afford it), and Chemistry major in CMU has an embarassing ranking for grad. school level (50:P, but I don't know about undergraduate ).</p>
<p>After all, I just cannot make a choice. So please please help me with it, I am very appreciated for the help!</p>
<p>Is there any idea out there? I am sorry to say that but I am really in a great rush. My parents are pushing hard on me and they said that if I can’t decide by the end of today, they will simply toss a coin and see what comes out, which … I can’t even think about it…</p>
<p>UICU is excellent in chemistry and engineering. It may not be terribly diverse, but you will get an excellent education. There will be many smart students there. You don’t have to worry about there not being very many smart students there. You will find plenty. If the money were not an issue, I would probably recommend CMU for the smaller size and campus environment, but for the money, I would pick UICU.</p>
<p>I agree with shennie’s recommendation. UIUC is exceptionally strong in your areas of interest. Indeed, I would probably recommend it over CMU even if it weren’t less expensive. You will get a first-rate education there, and will be well placed for either graduate school or immediate employment upon graduation.</p>
You can get the same opportunities at UIUC, perhaps more. UIUC has more on campus recruiting and better industrial connections for chemical engineers.</p>
<p>What if I am planning to go to grad school?
Both me and my family wish that I can go to grad school instead of going to work after graduating from college. However, we are interested in trying out some new stuffs for grad instead of sticking with chem/chemE. For this reason, I will be double majoring or at least taking minors in fields like economy, finance, computer science etc, just to get myself prepared.
So which school do you say will serve me better for grad school if I am not planning to stay with chem/chemE for grad level?
A lot of thanks for ones who’ve given suggestions! Thank you very much!</p>
<p>BUMP
Would someone please give some more ideas? I really need to decide today!
Btw, I posted the thread in on a college discussion forum back in China as well, yet most people there said go for cmu, so I am just confused right now…</p>
<p>I have a feeling that USNWR’s rankings of undergraduate schools is what is pressuring the OP to go to CMU over what is really a better program for his interests.</p>
<p>I do have a bit concerns about rankings, but not much after all.
Plus, while CMU is the better overall, UIUC definitely has a stronger COE, which make things even more complicated.</p>
<p>What I am concerning the most is how many opportunities I can get in each school. At this point, UIUC seems to have very good research projects, but not a lot of connections with big chem companies (the companies that I saw on its list are mostly sth like IBM, Microsoft, Intel etc.), while CMU has parternership with companies like Bayer, P&G etc.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything more about this whole intern+research thing? I will be more than appreciated if someone is willing to share that information with me.</p>
<p>I’d go to UIUC. It’s cheaper and better school for chemistry. </p>
<p>I’d choose CMU over UIUC only in a few majors, e.g. computer science or electrical & computer engineering (even though UIUC has a higher EE ranking according to USNWR, I think CMU is actually a better ECE school as suggested by international rankings like THES).</p>
<p>You will have plenty of graduate schools possibilities at either school. UICU is well regarded and respected by other schools in the country. If you do well as an undergrad and have excellent GRE scores, you will have good grad school possibilities regardless of what school you attend. Either way, you will get a fine education. It is up to you how much you want to pay to get it.</p>