<p>How good is BME at Columbia for an undergrad program? Specifically, what would be advantageous about me doing it there, as opposed to Umich or Case Western?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/eng/brief/engrank_brief.php[/url]”>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/eng/brief/engrank_brief.php</a></p>
<p>Every ranking site is heavily opinionated and nothing is perfect but USNEWS and WORLD REPORT is trusted and used by MANY people. The list is also famous for being unbiased. </p>
<p>Columbia is ranked number #23 while UMAA is ranked #6. Case-Western is a distant #40.</p>
<p>Columbia isn’t elite for engineering while UMAA is. However, Columbia is still Ivy league and very famous; you will not go wrong either way.</p>
<p>What surprises me is that Harvard is ranked higher than Columbia for engineering. It is also interesting to note that Georgia tech, purdue, and USC are in the top ten rankings.</p>
<p>I have a strong feeling that despite the actual engineering program itself; the reputation playes a strong role. For example, even though UT and Cornell are ranked #12 on USNEWS, Cornell is more repuatable and will land you more job opportunities.</p>
<p>However, even though UMAA is better than Cornell in rankings, they are both equal in every sense - job opportunity, program rigor. UMAA is actually not that much better than Cornell.</p>
<p>Same with Columbia: even though UMAA kicks Columbia’s ass in rankings and may truly have a better program; it will not matter as far as future job placement goes. However, it would be to your advantage to pick Columbia if you like THE CITY.</p>
<p>Case Western is a good school. It is nowhere near as reputable as Columbia or UMAA. The program is good but not elite as the above two. Please don’t go to Ohio and pick Case-western over Columbia and UMAA.</p>
<p>Unless of course, Case-western is willing to offer you a full ride scholarship and your not financially well off yourself at the current moment - then, it would make sense to pick case-western.</p>
<p>It is interesting to not that Ohio state is ranked higher than Case western for engineering.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact; scrap something together and get your ass to UMAA.</p>
<p>I would personally choose UMAA if I was you. I think it will give you a better education than Columbia and obviously more than Case-Western. </p>
<p>Also, I have a feeling that the social scene at UMAA is going to be absolutely fantastic.</p>