Top-Notch Schools for Engineering Talent

Studying science in college can mean cutting-edge research, and it can put you on the fast track to graduate school. But picking the right place takes more than donning a lab coat and goggles for the official tour. You'll want to ask about opportunities for undergraduate research-and figure out the often quirky culture of your fellow scientists. Profiles by Emily Brandon.

Schools:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Clarkson University
SUNY—Environmental Science and Forestry