Each family can and will make their own chart for what criteria matter to THEM including average test scores
if they wish . I never said anything at all about the quality of the education at Maryland versus Purdue, and agree its about the same for mechanical engineering.
I personally like the midwest much better than the northeast, and thats valid for me
and my kids. I sent one to the deep south and one to the midwest on purpose, I like those regions better
after living in New Jersey for 21 years. I don’t know OP , but he can make his own criteria, and many people use selectivity, and pick say Stanford, or in this case Maryland, over Purdue, for that reason alone. Since the programs are pretty similar, according to you, I see no problem with my analysis, other than a bonehead wanting to pick on it.
Oh well, bone heads maybe are bone headed, is that correct Mr Bonehead?