<p>Plus, engineering at Cornell shows strong loyalty to their undergraduates. (As does Princeton). At a place where most students are undergrads, it is much easier to get research, help etc. I met with a professor for an hour at Cornell (after I got in, before I decided) and he was incredibly helpful and down-to-earth. (Had Harvard and Princeton degrees).</p>
<p>I also think they are continually pouring money into the program. Duffield Hall houses one of, if not the, best nanotechnology programs in the world. (Was built in 2004) They also have a great mix of theory and hard sciences (Theory Center and Particle Accelerator). I am a prospective physics major who turned down U of Chicago because of the lack of engineering. I do wish I would have looked into Columbia and Duke, though. Not because I would have definitely gone there instead, but because it may have given me more options. </p>
<p>Good Luck! Definitely apply to Cornell though, you will be happy you did, even if you go elsewhere!</p>