University of Minnesota Twin Cities vs. University of Colorado Boulder

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I really need help deciding on a college before the deadline to commit on May 1st. I've narrowed down my choices to University of Minnesota Twin Cities and University of Colorado Boulder. I want to major in chemical engineering. </p>

<p>UMN:
-out of state
-27k per year
-ranked #4 for ChemE
-would be something new and different from what everyone else is doing
-very cold</p>

<p>CU:
-in state
-24k per year
-ranked #19 for ChemE
-a lot of my high school classmates are going there
-close to skiing</p>

<p>I also am considering Colorado School of Mines but it is more expensive than both (28k) and I'm really not sure if having only STEM students at a college is a good fit.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help!</p>

2

<p>Have you visited Minnesota? It’s a decent school, but a winter in Minnesota is VERY different from a winter in Colorado. </p>

3

<p>I’ve visited and liked the feel of the campus but it wasn’t unbearably cold when I went (in March)</p>

4

<p>Did you get the gold national scholarship at UMN? If you did like I did the price would be closer to 25K a year. It depends what you want. The social scene at both is great but academically the edge has to go to the UMN, but in your case CU is in-state and if knowing people is a big issue for you then that may be a better fit. The price difference is minimal and as an engineer it won’t matter. So really it looks like whether you want to stay in state and be more comfortable with your surroundings or want to be in a new environment. </p>

5

<p>the only scholarship I’ve received for umn is the presidential scholarship for 5k per year </p>

6

<p>Actually just found out I got upgraded to the gold national scholarship so umn would be about 25k</p>

7

<p>Any last minute advice before I officially make my decision?</p>

8

<p>I’d pick UMN. It’s in the middle of a vibrant city with more Fortune 500 companies than Chicago (and wayyy more than Boulder), it’s got a river, parks, and lakes, a thriving downtown, museums and zoos, public transportation, a great music scene… and it’s nationally known for the major you’ve chosen.
You’ll discover a new city, a new area of the country. College is a great time for this, when you don’t have the pressures of work and can organize your time any way you want.
Will it be cold from November to March? Sure. You’ll buy proper clothes and will do like all people in the Midwest. :slight_smile: </p>

9

<p>UM-Twin Cities does have a powerful Ch-E department, but is it so much better than CU Boulder to be worth the higher cost. Everything I hear about the City of Boulder indicates that it’s a great place to be a student. By the way, don’t expect to run into high school classmates every day at Boulder. We’re talking about a huge campus.</p>

10

<p>Boulder. Much better climate. More fun.</p>

11

<p>I hope you chose Boulder. I can’t tell you the number of friends we have who left MN to come to Colorado and love it here so much more. They said October to March was torture. And honestly, if you are doing graduate work in chem. engineering- you can pay the big bucks and go to a more “elite” school then. There are plenty of Chem-E jobs all along the Front Range. CU doesn’t have to be just a “party” school. It is what you make it- and there are many dedicated students there- plus the opportunity to get outdoors year round.</p>

12

<p>It’s true that Minnesota winters are HORRIBLE! but the people are extremely nice(Minnesota nice). When it comes to
chemical engineering Minnesota has an awesome department. </p>