I have chosen a college. [was: I still haven't...]

[Alan Bolte]

I'm gonna need to be mailing the damned school in the next few days, and I don't even know who I'm mailing. My choices are the University of Illinois at Urbana, Lehigh University (north of Philly) and Carnegie-Mellon University (Pittsburgh). I keep meaning to make some sort of in-depth comparison between the three, but I'm not even sure what factors to consider. At this rate, I'll be chosing based on architecture. Illinois is rated highest for materials science, but the others have good programs too, and are good overall engineering schools. Do I want to go to a big school that's mostly Illinois residents? Is there any negative to going to a smaller private school? Arrgh, I've been trying to figure this out for the past year and I still feel like I know nothing.
I dunno, maybe this ought to be in the rant thread. I just thought I'd put this here for comment by anyone familiar with the process who might feel like pulling my ass out of the fire.

[muse]

Have you visited any of these colleges to get a feel of how they're like? If you haven't, do so before time runs out. A visit and short tour will let you get an idea of the vibe & atmosphere, and for me that really helped in making my final decision.

[Alan Bolte]

Well, it's the last day for me to decide the issue. I certainly waited for the last minute, didn't I? Figured I'd let you guys have some input before I drew straws.

Let's consider the following:
Price: not really a big issue, difference wise
First-year Curriculum: Surprising differences here. On the one hand, they all have pretty much the same set-up for comp+lit classes, social science requirements. On the other hand, Lehigh gives you a fairly balanced first year, CMU focuses on math, with a little physics and no chem until second year. UIUC has a chem forus, with little physics. It's not entirely clear how their engineering classes differ. I know CMU has you take two classes, each in one of the engineering classes. So I'd be taking a beginning MSE course, and maybe a Mech E course. Somewhat hands-on. Lehigh has one class that 'provides practical engineering experience' and an 'introduction to various disciplines'. UIUC will give me a materials lecture and demo lab, with a little hands-on work. UIUC waits for second year for engineering programming basics, the others do it first.
Co-op: I don't know for certain that I'd be doing this, but it is a good opportunity. Lehigh offers a number of options, including a "rigorous" 4-year program. CMU offers a 4.5 year program, or a 5-year progam that can get you an M.S. along with your co-op experience and money. Illinois has a wierd sort of alternating-semesters schedule, also 4 years. Lehigh has one set MSE program but offers minors in ChemE, PolyE, and manufacturing E, while CMU and UIUC require you to specialize in one of around 7 areas withing MSE.
CMU (Pittsburgh) is 3 hrs from home, UIUC is 5, and lehigh is 7-8.
CMU gets the most acclaim from friends and other people I talk to, and is more selective than the others.

I'm leaning just a little bit towards CMU, but I'm worried that having visited there recently might have had an impact on me. On the other hand, the grounds aren't all that pretty, so I guess the influence probably isn't high.

[Alan Bolte]

Well, that's that. CMU it is.

[Xenophobe3691]

Well, that's that. CMU it is.

lol, congratulations, and good luck. As an Engineering student myself, I'll tell you that you're gonna need it (And I'm only a sophmore, too )