A first rate school that believes in innovation and challenging the status quo in research. I was a graduate student over there a long while back. I went there with very little idea about what graduate school entailed, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun they made learning, for me. The focus of the school is practise and it will give you the ability to think in terms of possibilities rather than present realities. I did very well at Michigan Tech because I had some great professors, who were dedicated to giving students the bedrock they need for envisioning innovation and novelty. The snow can be cruel, if you are an international student, like I was, from a tropical country, but if you take it in your stride then as they say : Snow builds character, and there is always Mont Ripley near by where you can engage in skiing. The school has quite a successful ice hockey team that usually wins. The ice hockey stadium is well maintained and the ambience is great when the home fans get behind the team. The placements are great and it has one of the biggest job fairs in the mid west. As a university where the forte and focus is science this is one of the best places to be at if you are a budding engineer who wants to learn something useful rather than what is deemed necessary. The town is friendly, and although remote with a weather that may be inhospitable for some, the people are helpful and ultimately people make places. I had a good time , especially at the downtoner and dog house pubs, when I went out with friends or alone, and I highly recommend MTU for your future growth. Four years here and you will grow from an enthusiast to an engineer capable of building something substantial. Can't speak for some of the other department , but my mechanical engineering department was insanely good, notwithstanding some professors who are slackers, but you get some lazy academics who are just focused on research rather than teaching, at every institution. All in all this is a top class university for science and engineering, and I don't care what rankings say, just in terms of the quality of engineers produced it is right up there. Rankings are hogwash and it maybe top thirty for mechanical and right up there for couple of the other disciplines, but in terms of efficacy and return on investment it is up there with the best engineering schools. So, get your snow gear ready, and your minds ready for some white , white houghton winters if you are headed to MTU, and best of luck with your studies.