PEQXC2012

Cornell isn't urban at all.

UCBChemEGrad

Berkeley: #1 undergrad civil engineering; SF Bay Area.

slik nik

Rice has a pretty reputable civil engineering program. We are 10 min away from downtown Houston, the 4th largest city of America. We were also ranked #1 for Best Quality of Life and #8 for Happiest Students by Princeton Review.

Other schools that fit your criteria: Michigan, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Duke, Georgia Tech (Atlanta), and Washington University in St. Louis

PapaSmurf

Are Northwestern and Rice laid back?

PapaSmurf

I'm strongly considering applying to northwestern, but my only concern is that it might be too academically intense. It's not that I'm lazy, it's just I don't know if it's worth going to school near Chicago if I'll never get the opportunity to explore the city. I've read on other threads that most nu students (especially engineers) spend all their time studying, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to keep up with the workload at a very competetive school, and I'll just end up wasting the huge tuition costs. I'm from Michigan btw so i could just go to u of m if I was only concerned with academics...

UCBChemEGrad

^ Engineering is tough but rewarding.

If you're serious about working as an engineer you don't need to go to a top program for employment opportunities.

I graduated from a nearly top-ranked program...worked my ass off but still had ample time for fun. The large university environment created lots of diversions and I still look back on the communal stress with my college friends as some of the best years of my life.

If you're in-state for Michigan (which has some of the best engineering programs in the nation), that would definitely be my top choice unless you can get an out-of-state private option that's cheaper. Don't spend a ton of money for a top engineering program if you're gonna work as an engineer...employers will not reward you for it and you will not see a great return on your investment.

I'd apply to Rice and USC...they're pretty generous with financial aid if you have strong academic stats. Also apply to your in-state options (Michigan and MSU).

Note: All engineering will be academically intense...find a place that you'll enjoy for other attributes (with cost also a top consideration).

Good luck.

PapaSmurf

Yeah, thanks for the advice. I've already been accepted to MSU and I'm waiting to hear back from Michigan. I'll probably apply to USC...I just wish it wasn't so far away, lol

Sam Lee

I agree......

Georgiatwins

Consider Georgia Tech-excellent engineering programs across the curriculum, plus the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts- which includes 5 separate programs ending with doctoral degrees. The campus is in the city of Atlanta-literally across the street for HQ for Coca-Cola and Turner Broadcasting.

Our D is completing a transient semester there this fall, since she has begun to consider architecture - loves the hustle and bustle of the campus ane the students.