<p>I'm looking to apply for one additional public university to apply for (just one, trying to limit the essays and recs I need), so I'm wondering which of the following has the best programs in Computer Science/Engineering, Economics and history:</p>
<p>UVA
University of Michigan
William & Mary
UNC - CH
University of Wisconsin</p>
<p>Since its practically my job, I'm gonna have to STRONGLY suggest William and Mary, especially for History. Its definately up there with the top departments in the nation. I don't think the Econ and Computer Science Programs are too shabby either, but there is no engineering school.</p>
<p>i would say michigan is best for computer science, engineering, and econ. but going to uva or unc wont be much of a step down. for if you dont live in any of these states, i would suggest michigan, but you may have the best chance of getting into wisconsin and low chances at unc and uva OOS</p>
<p>Woah, I just noticed that William & Mary uses the common app. Guess I'll go with that one in addition to another public school.</p>
<p>Add Purdue to your list, they rank VERY high in your suggested majors and have no essays to write for applying.</p>
<p>Wisconsin has top 15, 10, and in some cases top 5 departments in those majors.</p>
<p>Berkeley is a public school...</p>
<p>I'm already applying to Berkeley.</p>
<p>It's too bad W&M doesn't have an engineering school. They are hands down one of the best universities for history in the nation. Not only are the professors great (I sat in on a few classes, self-selected), but just walking around campus would be bliss for a history major, I'd imagine.</p>
<p>And too bad Williamsburg is stifling.</p>
<p>UVa has an overall better student vibe, but wasn't terribly impressed by the pretentiousness of the administration, including professors. They have excellent programs in all of the fields you listed, though I'm gonna venture to say W&M history tops all.</p>
<p>UNC is honestly kinda overrated if you ask me. If you can get in there (and it's HARD for OOS), you can get into a better school...I mean, it's a great, great school. But just can't compare to some of the other top tier public schools in the nation (except in certain fields, like communications), and is ironically way more selective than most.</p>
<p>Don't know much about UMich or UWisconsin, except that UWisconsin is the least selective by far on your list (though I'm not suggesting it's not academically on par with the rest; I can't say there).</p>
<p>You seem like a smart kid, so I'm sure you know most of the schools you listed are crazy tough to get into OOS, so good luck!</p>
<p>uva and w&m have great great history programs (as do all the schools on your list), but i think the advantages of going to uva or w&m is that you'll actually be going to a "historic" school - which is great if you want to specialize in american history. It's not everyday you get to trounce around Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's old stomping grounds. Interesting fact - UVa is one of only 5 schools that owns an original declaration of independance - on display at request at the special collections library.</p>
<p>At UVa (as I'm sure at most every school) if you choose to go into engineering you'll be very limited in the amount of history and econ classes you can take, so I would check that out if I were you. But UVa's computer science is pretty strong, arguably one of its best engineering programs (along with systems). </p>
<p>Econ at UVa is also pretty strong, and has its fair share of big name professors at the school. </p>
<p>All and all, I think you can receive a great education at all of the schools you listed (although not at w&m if engineering is your primary focus), but if you are sincerely interested in history, I strongly recommend looking more into w&m and UVa.</p>
<p>You may wanna try looking at University of Maryland College Park for Economics.</p>
<p>Jags, W&M is "historic", but its history department is actually very limited to Colonial History. If one is interested in Modern History, European History or Asian History, W&M is rather limited. UVa has a great history department, but the university is not more "historic" than Michigan or UNC, both of which are older.</p>
<p>Ray, there is a big difference between Engineering and History. W&M and UNC do not have Engineering schools. UVA's Engineering school is ok, but not great. Michigan and Wisconsin have strong Engineering programs. I'd say all 5 schools you are considering are good in Economics and History, with the edge going to Michigan in those two fields. Overall, I'd say Michigan would be your best overall choice.</p>
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I'm already applying to Berkeley.
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<p>Good man, good man...</p>
<p>^^I concur with my bretheren. You must apply to the best of the publics.</p>
<p>alexandre,</p>
<p>saying w&m's history department is "limited" to colonial history is like saying Hopkin's engineering program is "limited" to biomedical. Sure colonial history at w&m is its strongest point, but it has a great history program overall - as most schools do. I simply meant that w&m may have more of an appeal to the OP if he was interested in us history, or even something that is physically old.</p>
<p>When I refer to UVa being historic, I mean it as a sense that it truly is a national landmark - in the very least when it comes to architecture. Something I wouldn't say for michigan nor unc. Theres a reason why virginia is a world heritage site and unc and michigan arn't. Also, just because michigan is 2 years older than uva (mind you it wasn't even in ann arbor then, it was in detroit. the current umich as we know it has been in ann arbor since 1837) doesn't make it more historic than uva. Just because unc is 30 years older than UVa doesn't make it more historic. Regardless, when I mentioned history, I stated if the OP is interested in American History, then he should maybe consider uva and w&m above the other 3 for the reasons i listed.</p>
<p>Also, I whole heartedly agree that if the OP is truly interested in engineering UVa and w&m arn't the no. 1 places to go, unless of course he's interested in systems engineering and going into the business world - then i would recommend UVa. michigan doesn't offer systems.</p>
<p>When you said "historic", I thought you meant that they played a larger role in contributing to the academic world. Yes, from an architectural point of view, UVa is indeed historic. </p>
<p>But it doesn't change my original statement. Overall, I give a slight edge to Michigan given what the OP wishes to study. UVa and Wisconsin would also be great though.</p>
<p>too each his own. personally i don't think michigan, wisconsin, uva, berkeley, unc, or w&m are really that much better than the other to have a clear cut choice in saying one is stronger than the other - minus engineering of course. But the op said he didn't like w&m and he thought uva was too stuck up. he probably he would prefer michigan over uva.</p>
<p>It is precisely because Michigan is better in Engineering that I give it the slight edge. Otherwise, I agree that at the undergraduate level, from a purely academic stand point, they are all pretty even.</p>
<p>of course, although i think the op should decide whether he wants to do econ/history OR comp science/engineering. Its most probably impossible - or at least extremely difficult to do 2 majors in 2 different schools of a university.</p>
<p>I actually have many friends who doubled in Engineering and Economics. It usually takes an extra semester, but it is possible. And the OP doesn't have to decide now. If he attends Michigan, UVA or Wisconsin, he can decide once at the university because all three schools are solid accross the disciplines.</p>