<p>I'm planning ahead for a likely choice that I'll have to make in the next month or so. Basically, I'll have to decide between UIUC and Michigan for engineering.
Here are some things to consider:
-I'll pay about 15,000 dollars less at UIUC per year, I'd have to pay full OOS tuition at UMich. My parents can afford the extra cost (and are willing to pay more), though.
-I'm not really sure which engineering program I want to go into. It will probably end up being Aerospace, mechanical, environmental, material science, or computer science.
-I also would either want a double major, minor, or take as many business classes as possible.</p>
<p>I have visited both, and I liked the feel (students, layout, etc.) of UMich better. The major concern I have with Illinois is that I got the impression that I am virtually stuck in the engineering school I applied into (MatSe) and can't really switch into other engineering majors, especially the popular ones. Is this a valid concern? And would I be able to take a lot of classes in the business school (for example) even if I wasn't admitted there? </p>
<p>One thing I noticed at UIUC is their job-placement was amazing, is that generally true at UMich as well? And am I crazy for thinking about turning down UIUC engineering for a more expensive UMich education? Any help is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I would definetely go with UIUC, especially with the cost difference. </p>
<p>A huge thing about UIUC that you would probably like is the Technology and Management Minor. It is a joint between the Business and Engineering schools where engineering majors take business classes and business majors take some engineers courses.</p>
<p>Honestly, the quality of education you get will be almost identical, so why pay more for Michigan and deal with the ridiculous extra driving time? I guess the campus feeling is a legitimate concern, but the quality of education is not. Both have great engineering and great business.</p>
<p>Also, I have never heard of anyone having problems with switching from one engineering major to another. It is only people from outside the CoE that try to transfer in from some random department that have trouble.</p>
<p>Senior-have you decided? I know that no one can make these choices for us, but am interested in input. S was just accepted to UofM yesterday after pretty much writing it off. We live in Ann Arbor, so it is (too?) close to home. We visited UIUC earlier this week and felt a really good fit. The biggest difference is the focus and support for study abroad, which is absolutely in the plan. UIUC offers major financial incentives, and seems to make it easy for a computer science major to fit in. Additionally the German study abroad options (my son’s language of choice) are at universities known to have outstanding computer science programs too.</p>
<p>Contrasting that with UofM, he is admitted to LSA Computer Science (though could officially get his CS degree through engineering through a dual degree program). Study abroad would be at normal tuition, at more limited locations, and possibly delay graduation for a year in order to fit all requirements in. </p>
<p>All of this makes us wonder if UIUC is just a better fit for his plans, and worth an extra $40k (or less if S has to go an extra year at UofM). Thoughts?</p>
<p>$15000 more per year? No way for me. I did not even apply to UM because I know if I get admitted to both schools I would to go UIUC (I am instate IL).</p>
<p>ryegye: yes, I have decided; Turns out that I’m not going to either. Nothing against the schools, but I just never liked cold weather :). But, I am pretty sure I would have gone with UMich, even though I just got into some honors program at UofI that makes the cost even less. If Umich were the same price or cheaper, I would have definitely gone with that with no hesitation. But I was looking into mechanical or aerospace engineering and business, where Umich is the better school. In your case, I think UofI is better for Computer science. I guess it’s a tough decision, but I’d still go with UMich, although if your son likes UofI better and you don’t mind paying extra he should go there.</p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure yet, but it will be between Stanford, Rice, and Berkeley (I really didn’t expect to get admitted to any after some earlier denials). I’m leaning towards Stanford now, but I’m waiting to visit before I decide anything. I basically eliminated UI and UMich because weather is very important, and the only significant disadvantage IMO of picking Berkeley over either midwestern school for engineering is the disproportionately high asian population there and cost (which luckily isn’t a factor for my family).</p>
<p>^No, not at all. I have some really good asian friends, and I only dislike one asian guy out of the twenty or so I know (and I don’t dislike him because he’s asian). Anyways, in college I am looking for a lot of diversity and a good balance of ethnic groups that is somewhat similar to the rest of the U.S. But, 40+% of Cal students are Asian, and something like 30% are white. Even asians complain about how many asians there are at Cal. And I would feel the same way if it were Mexicans or blacks or whatever.</p>
<p>the weather isnt that bad here at U of I, the only time it is really cold is the end of the first semester, and the beginning of the 2nd, about 1 month each. after that its all good. plus the bus system here is awesome, so if you live in a dorm, you pretty much dont have to walk to class unless you miss the bus, but at busy times bus come every <8 minutes</p>
<p>changing majors within engineering isnt hard, i know a few people who have done it. and there is a special business minor as well for engineering students, aside from the regular business minor which is also available. the only thing you cant go into is bioengineering, but that doesnt really apply to you</p>