UVA vs. Carnegie Mellon for Engineering

<p>I simply am having an insane time trying to decide between UVA and Carnegie Mellon. I did not get a chance to go visit Pittsburgh and don't know what it is like. However, from what I have heard I think I would like it. The only thing is UVA is offering me a reallly nice fianancial aid packet and it is instate tuition which comes out to almost nothing while Carnegie requires work-study and loans. Is it worth to be the larger price to go to Carnegie? How big is the difference between their e-programs will it be harder to find a job if I choose one over the other? I am thinking of going into Chemical Engineering although I applied to both schools Engineering undecided. I am also worried academic rigor. I have 5 days left before I have to postmark my desicion...any advice?</p>

<p>depends if you want hard-core engineering or liberal-arts engineering?</p>

<p>I think I would want something liberal...</p>

<p>Because of your liberal arts program preference, the chemE major (probably equal at both) and the financial aid situation, I would vote for UVa.</p>

<p>Thanks...I have heard from some people that the UVA program isn't as good but I don't know how reliable sources they are.</p>

<p>You would be outside of your skull if you decided to puruse UVA engineering over CMU.</p>

<p>
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You would be outside of your skull if you decided to puruse UVA engineering over CMU.

[/quote]

When you factor in price and other things, the difference in ranking is really marginal.</p>

<p>There're plenty reasons to consider both. UVA (in this case) is noticably cheaper, may be a better fit and offer a nicer campus, etc. Job prospects aren't too different, and if you're going to graduate school, where you went for undergraduate matters even less.
CMU has somewhat better rankings and perhaps a more rigorous program, different campus feel being in a city, etc.
Visit both and see where you fit in more. Then of course factor in how much money rankings and the respective fits are to you.</p>

<p>Do you know anything about what the atmosphere is like at these schools?</p>

<p>I go to UVA (Comp. Sci. & Math double major) so if you have any questions feel free to ask, whether here or through pm. In addition, I'm sure youc an find many others on both [url=<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35%5DCMU%5B/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35]CMU[/url&lt;/a&gt;] and [url=<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=50%5DUVA%5B/url"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/forumdisplay.php?f=50]UVA[/url&lt;/a&gt;] forums who would also be glad to help.</p>

<p>the liberal arts department at CMU is not stellar, however, it is vastly looked over. they have a pretty wide course selection and whatnot. also, the fine arts department at CMU is spectacular (theater of course but also music)</p>

<p>i really dislike uva so i wont comment because i know im biased that way (i dont go to cmu btw)</p>