Can anyone compare engineering experiences at some of the better ranked Big Ten engineering schools?

Depends on which school is the “normal” way. If the “normal” way is a school where staying in the major needs C grades and a 2.0 GPA, then there is no difference between that and an FYE school like Michigan or Pittsburgh, but there is a difference compared to FYE schools where some majors have higher grade or GPA thresholds or competitive admission. If the “normal” way is a school like Wisconsin that has high grade or GPA progression requirements, then the comparable FYE schools would be those where similar high grade or GPA requirements exist to enter majors.