<p>I’m looking for a school with a fairly rigorous ChBE or just ChE program (with decent biochem programs as well). I love chemistry, biology, physics, and math and would be majoring in one of them if not chemical engineering. Somewhere in the southeast or northeast would be best, as I live on the east coast, but I would not be discriminating against schools based on this so much. I’m looking for a nice campus, with plenty of facilities and opportunities for research and the like. Urban or suburban areas would be nice. </p>
<p>SAT scores 800 math, 750 crit, 790 writing. NMF semifinalist and involvement in science and community service ECs fairly heavily. </p>
<p>I’ve already been accepted to Georgia Tech (PSP semifinalist) and UA (with a full ride if I get National Merit Finalist in May). Really I’m torn between the two because GT’s engineering is so well renowned, and the chance for a PSP there is nice, but honestly I preferred UA’s campus, almost guaranteed full-ride, and new science and engineering buildings. Really, I’d like to know if going to UA over GT would have a negative effect for my future, based on rankings and possibly rigor of curriculum.</p>
<p>Also, if any other schools come to mind that might be a good place or fit, I would be much obliged to hear. Finance is a bit of a problem for me, so places with decent merit-based aid are nice. </p>
<p>Thank you very much in advance to anyone willing to give their input!</p>
<p>UA = Alabama, Arizona, or Arkansas or something else? If you’re set on ChemE, then try Minnesota and Delaware - both otherwise mid-ranked state schools (i.e. good chance of merit aid) but with bizarrely high rankings in ChemE.</p>
<p>You should look at Virginia Tech, University of Florida, and Auburn U.<br>
All three of these schools are great renowned engineering programs and you prob could get aid at them. All three have great campuses and give a very “college” feel, and i have no doubt you could get in!</p>
<p>Is today international joke day? Did you seriously say that Auburn has a renowned engineering school? It’s better than Alabama but shouldn’t be mention in the same sentence with Florida and VT.</p>
<p>Hmmm…@ vblick: I’ll have to somewhat agree with you on the Auburn University comment. When I went there, I took some engineering courses in chemE, polymerE and mechanics. Overall, the Polymer Engineering department was low quality in infrastructure, instruction and research. (I think they’re in the process of getting their act together though, or at least trying.) I don’t know much about the mechanical engineering side because I only took a beginners course. Now, I did take two chemE courses. I’d say the quality of instruction was average, but think about it this way (for the OP’s benefit): over half the chemE class (when I took it) made F average but passed with C. I remember when a ~60 average on a test was considered a B. The professors/administration seemed to care more about bringing in research money than providing quality education for its students.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think the chemE program itself at AU (Auburn) should take the full blame for this, because I think a lot of the problem lies in AU’s math and physics departments, which have TERRIBLY low quality professors who excessively curve grades in their courses. I remember one math professor I had who thought a D average in his class was decent/expected. This leads to poor academic preparation for students wishing to take engineering. I knew of several students who told me that when they got to their upper engineering courses, the professors were having to re-teach diffeq because the math professors weren’t doing their jobs.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this type of thing goes on at top engineering schools like VT. I wish I could compare Auburn to a school like VT, but even though I can’t, I’d imagine VT would be a better choice. I’m crossing my fingers at a chance to go to VT for graduate school a couple years down the road.</p>
<p>To the OP, from what I’ve gathered, GT’s a really good school for engineering, if you want to live in downtown Atlanta for 4-5 years. Congrats to all your accomplishments!</p>