UIUC vs UM vs Purdue

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm an international student intending to study aeronautical engineering that got admitted to UIUC, Purdue, and am waiting on U-Mich. </p>

<p>To my knowledge these schools all are on par with each other in my field of interest, so I wish to learn more about each school's culture to see which school would be a better "fit"</p>

<p>Would anyone be so kind as to share what the life, culture, food, etc is like at any of these schools?</p>

<p>Many thanks</p>

2

<p>I would say Purdue. It is one of the best schools in US and the world for aeronautical(better than UIUC and U-Mich). All three schools i think are similar in other aspects like size(45,000+), weather(though Michigan weather is harsher), dorms, clubs and activities etc. I am not very sure about the greek life though. Money wise too they are more or less the same and it is equally hard to get merit aid at all three as an international. Reputation wise I think U-Mich has a slight edge. But all in all I would choose Purdue( I too got accepted there BTW and will most likely attend).</p>

3

<p>^^^^^^Michigan is ranked higher for Aeronautical Engineering than the other two schools both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Michigan is the strongest overall of the three schools and Ann Arbor is more pleasant than UC or WL. </p>

<p><a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/aerospace-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/aerospace-rankings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>but when it comes to the top 10, does that one or two difference in ranking make that much of a difference?</p>

5

<p>My comment was in response to this remark:</p>

<p>“I would say Purdue. It is one of the best schools in US and the world for aeronautical(better than UIUC and U-Mich)”</p>

<p>All three schools are very strong for engineering. Ann Arbor and overall school quality are what should drive you to attend Michigan if you get accepted, assuming costs are comparable.</p>

6

<p>The only field where Purdue has an advantage over UM/UIUC is if you want to be a pilot. Purdue offers a highly competitive major in Aviation Technology:
<a href=“School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University”>https://tech.purdue.edu/departments/aviation-technology&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>In your chosen major, all three are excellent with Michigan and Purdue having a slight edge over UIUC. As universities overall, however, Michigan is stronger than UIUC which in turn is stronger than Purdue. Also, as a place to live, Ann Arbor is nicer than Urbana Champaign which in turn is nicer than West Lafayette. Unless cost is a concern, Michigan is your best bet.</p>

8

<p>^ Ohhhh, is that what they mean when they say, “That’s the Michigan difference”? :wink: </p>

9

<p>We are getting a new president UCB. He was a dean in one the of the STEM departments (Biology?) at Berkeley before moving to Brown to become the provost. </p>

10

<p>Mind explaining why as overall Michigan>Illinois>Purdue? </p>