<p>Hello there,</p>
<p>I graduated from high school (homeschool) this may and have been considering 3 different universities: UNM, NMSU, and New Mexico Tech. I know I can get into all of these universities (2060 on the SAT, and 800 on Math and Science GED tests, and all others are above 700), so that's not an issue. It should be stated, from the outset, that I will only be going to one of these universities for the first 2 or 3 semesters. After this, I intend to transfer to a more elite university (I'm shooting for MIT). The reasons I want to go to one of these universities before transferring to a more prestigious place are, firstly, because this will somewhat reduce the cost of getting an undergrad degree, and secondly, it will give me more time to make myself a worthy candidate for an elite school (e.g., getting that SAT score up :P).</p>
<p>I'm going to be pursuing training related to nanotechnology (probably a degree either in biotech or materials engineering, since very few schools offer undergrad degrees in nanotech). Thus, the courses I take are going to be very focused on science, engineering, and math. </p>
<p>So, having said that, here's the big question. Which school -- the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, or New Mexico Tech -- do you think would be a better fit for me?</p>
<p>There are some other issues that need to be considered in determining the fit. Below are different aspects of these schools that can be scored (say, in a scale of 1-5).</p>
<p>*1. Academic rigor. *</p>
<p>Which university (UNM, NMSU, NM Tech) is the most overall academically rigorous? The more challenging the courses, the better. </p>
<p>2. Science and Engineering Research Opportunities.</p>
<p>Which of these schools would have the most research opportunities when it comes to science and engineering? Which school is the place where most science/engineering research occurs in general? For example, UNM is located near the Sandia National Laboratories, but NMSU has been "ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as a RU/H (Research University with high research activity) institution." And how does NM Tech compare to these schools in terms of the amount of research activity going on?</p>
<p>*3. Science and technology environment. *</p>
<p>NM Tech is a tech school, so obviously it's going to be the institution most focused on science and technology. But how do UNM and NMSU compare to each other when it comes to the degree of focus on science and technology? Is one more focused on science courses, for example, than the other?</p>
<p>*4. Surrounding environment. *</p>
<p>NM Tech is in Socorro, which is basically a really small town, with precious little to do outside of the campus (as far I have read). NMSU is in Las Cruces, which would have a lot more activity going on outside of campus. The more things there are to do in the surrounding city, the better. In this respect, I suppose UNM would score the highest (since it's located in Albuquerque), but how far behind would NMSU and NM Tech score?</p>
<p>5. Overall college life.</p>
<p>The basics: how is the food, what are the students and the professors like, how are the dorms, etc. A pretty broad question, I know.</p>
<p>This has been a kinda detailed question, and most of you in the NM area probably only have experience with one of these universities, so I don't actually expect someone to come along and make a nice scoring of each one based on my criteria. I'm just looking for some feedback on what your experience has been with regards to the above considerations, and what you think would be the best fit overall for me. Thanks!</p>