UMich vs Notre Dame vs Berkeley

College Search & Selection
1

<p>This year I am considering to major in mechanical or chemical engineering at
1. University of Michigan
2. University of Notre Dame
3. UC Berkeley</p>

<p>As a career, I am looking at engineering management (don't intend on sitting at a desk all day doing CAD or modeling). I need help choosing which of these schools to attend in terms of career opportunities (location and alumni networks), strength of program, prestige, surroundings, and fun.</p>

<p>UMich seems to rank well in all of these with the slight exception of prestige, the selectivity of UMich doesn't seem to be as high as the other two schools, and this is more of a pride matter to me (a lot of kids in my area get accepted to UMich). </p>

<p>Notre Dame seems to have a beautiful campus, high prestige, and AMAZING alumni network, but its pitfall is that it's not known as an engineering school and has a decent engineering program. But the smaller size of the school and new engineering building could mean more opportunities for research? How hard would it be to get a high paying engineering related job out of here?</p>

<p>UC Berkeley has the most prestige and selectivity of the three, and its location (next to silicon valley) seems to make up for any lack of alumni network it has. However, I am afraid that grade deflation and the supposed competitive environment will make me miserable here. I also live on the east coast, so I would have to factor in the difficulties of plane rides and getting my stuff down there. I'm also not very into Asian girls, so idk how the dating scene would be for me.</p>

<p>What do you think, and what would you choose?</p>

2

<p>Write back when you get the results of your applications. Until then, add some safeties.</p>

3

<p>Sorry I didn’t make that clear, I am already accepted to all of these universities</p>

4

<p>Cost differences? For me it would be between Berkeley and Michigan. Notre Dame’s engineering program is quite weak in comparison.</p>

<p>You read too much into the competitiveness of Berkeley. Chem E is in the small, prestigious College of Chemistry. The school is tough but student body is fairly collaborative. You go to school to learn and be challenged, not get a ticket punched. There’s a reason Berkeley’s program is top ranked. You learn from the best. There are a lot of Asians. </p>

5

<p>Thanks UCBChemEGrad. Are your opinions of Notre Dame still the same for engineering management since that has the business aspect to it? Also, how hard is it to switch into chemical engineering? I got in for mechanical engineering and only now do i realize that the two majors are in different schools.</p>

6

<p>I don’t understand engineering management for an undergrad degree. Employers are going to want you to show engineering acumen and have experience before managing engineers. </p>

<p>I would major in a more universal undergrad engineering discipline like mechanical, electrical or chemical engineering. Work for a few years and then go for an MBA. </p>

<p>Regarding switching to ChemE at Berkeley, I don’t think it’s a big issue if you get decent grades. Mechanical and chemical are very similar and have essentially the same lower division requirements. You won’t start the formal chemical engineering sequence until your sophomore year. </p>

7

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<p>Says who? </p>