<p>I will be a college freshman starting Fall 2011, and I will be studying Chemical Engineering. I have narrowed my college search down to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Colorado School of Mines. I am from Colorado, and Mines is widely considered to be the best engineering education in the state. However, Minnesota has the third ranked Chem E department in the nation.</p>
<p>I love that Mines is close to home; leaving would certainly be challenging. But I know Minnesota could offer me many things that Mines could not, being the fourth biggest school in the nation. I visited Minnesota last week and loved the campus; everyone was friendly, and it seemed like there are plenty of opportunities for undergraduate engineering students to get involved in research. I have also visited Mines twice, and like it a lot there as well, though I am honestly not sure if there are as many research opportunities for undergrads.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any other interesting insights about either or both of these schools that could be helpful? They are certainly extremely different, but I think I could get a great education at either. Thanks!</p>
<p>Very weird coincidence - these are my top two choices as well.</p>
<p>For industry connections in mining and oil/gas, Mines is almost unbeatable. They draw just about every big name in energy as well as most of the largest engineering consulting firms. I’m not sure where you see yourself going in ChE, but Mines has a rock-solid (ha!) reputation.</p>
<p>With that said, Minnesota is a very respected ChE program - more prestigious than Mines from an academic standpoint for sure. I’m sure the program is also well-recruited, though I’d guess it tends to lean more towards chemicals and manufacturing in the midwest vs. oil and gas out west.</p>
<p>If you aren’t sure you want engineering, Minnesota is much stronger in just about all other fields. Mines is a small, probably more personal school while Minnesota is one of the largest and most varied universities in the country. Mines is completely dominated by tech majors and is about 75% male. Minnesota has every major imaginable and certainly has a more balanced ratio.</p>
<p>Both environments could be great. It’s up to you to think about which you’d prefer.</p>
<p>I definitely confident I want engineering/science, so either would be a good choce in that regard. I know Mines has one of the best petroleum engineering programs in the country, and I imagine that field is similar to chemical engineering. The thing is, I really don’t know where I want to go within ChE. I loved AP Chemistry in high school, so I decided ChE was the degree I want to pursue. But you can do so much with it–Mines has a Chemical and Biochemical Engineering degree too, and there are so many other specialties you can get into within ChE. I’m hoping to have a chance to explore those the next few years before I start specializing in upper division classes.</p>
<p>Which direction are you leaning towards? Do you want to do ChE too? You should definitely let me know where you end up going.</p>
<p>ChemE at Minnesota is one of the top 3/5 programs in the country. Many large national companies recruit here for it. The campus life and student body seem very different between these 2 schools. Since both have such strong programs maybe you should visit and see what’s best for you.</p>
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Right now, I’m favoring Minnesota slightly. I generally prefer larger schools, the ratio is definitely better, and the savings would be pretty significant for me (I’m OOS at both and the Minnesota scholarship package is very generous). Also, I’m interested in a statistics minor or at least some stats courses and Minnesota is stronger for that.</p>
<p>I’m evenly divided between the main disciplines: civil/geological, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. At Mines, I’d consider petroleum.</p>
<p>The main reason I like Mines is because I’m very interested in the energy industry and it’s a great school in that area.</p>
<p>Mines is definitely one of the best in the nation for petroleum/energy, but you are right, Minnesota’s strength is in the fact that is has more breadth than Mines; being a large school, then can offer things that Mines simply cannot. I guess I am lucky, I am in state for Mines, and the price between the two is almost identical for me. And the ratio… so so so so true, haha.</p>
<p>Not an answer, just a comment that Minn and Mines are 2,3 after Texas. I’m going for ChemE as well.
Hook 'em!</p>
<p>I applied to both as a transfer student (entering fall 2011) but I chose UMinn because all of my friends who went to state schools (UMich & Georgia Tech) said they had an amazing school because of their research and diverse student body (diverse in majors and interests).</p>