<p>If you're strongly considering engineering, I'd suggest the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school overall isn't as strong as the ones on your list and I don't know much about its history/econ programs (though they're ranked #22 and #28 respectively), but its engineering programs are generally very strong (including computer science/engineering, that program is ranked #5 in the nation). </p>
<p>I think you'd have a very good chance at UIUC; a 35 ACT in state is an automatic admit, and even out of state you'd most likely get in. And if you're trying to limit the essays/recs you need for your apps they only require two really easy/generic essays and no recs.</p>
<p>"The computer science (CS) program at the University of Michigan is available to students in both the Colleges of Engineering and of Literature, Science, and Arts. The program requires students to have a solid foundation in computer software, hardware, and theory, but also gives a student ample opportunity to take advanced electives in areas of computer science such as databases, architecture, networks, artificial intelligence, and graphics, or in emerging interdisciplinary areas such as electronic commerce, web information systems, and computer game design."</p>
<p>Jags, can you tell me where you got the Michigan numbers from? I just looked at the Michigan CoE website and saw that Michigan doesn't have 2005-2006 statistics on student employment. Michigan only has 2004-2005 stats. Your UVa stats are for the 2005-2006 year. I know there isn't a huge difference from year to year, but I'd say that given job market, I'd say average starting salaries probably improved by 3%-5%. </p>
<p>Secondly, even the 2004-2005 CS starting salaries for Michigan students were higher than you stated. According to the Michigan website, Michigan CS majors start at $60,500, not 57,800. The $57,800 number you got was for Computer Engineers, not Computer Science majors. UVa's CE's starting salaries were also roughly $58,000.</p>
<p>But like I said, starting salary averages for Engineers aren't that different from university from university. The main difference between a top 5 or 6 Engineering program like Michigan and a good but not great Engineering program like UVa isn't going to be starting salaries. The main difference will come in the form of access to top faculty, cutting-edge research, world-class facility and a very highly developped curriculum.</p>
<p>sure, i actually was looking for the michigan website one, but i never had time to search through the website - it didn't come up initially when you would search the website for it. the numbers appear to be the same as what you have.</p>