If you are a student aiming for a career in engineering, the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago is a school worth considering.

This private university, located near Brighton Park (Bronzeville) on Chicago's South Side, has strengths in engineering, science, architecture, and computer science, playing a central role in higher education for engineering in the Chicago area.

IIT was established in 1940, and the design of its campus buildings holds historical significance.

The architectural master Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a graduate of the German Bauhaus school, served as the head of the architecture department at IIT and personally designed the campus master plan and key buildings.

One of IIT's flagship programs is the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

This law school under IIT offers specialized educational programs in intellectual property, technology law, and international law.

It also operates a dual degree program that combines engineering and law, producing competitive graduates in the field of legal issues related to the technology industry.

Graduate programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering, and biotechnology emphasize practical education linked to the Chicago industry.

IIT has a relatively high percentage of international students. Students from various countries, including Asia, the Middle East, and South America, fill the campus, with a significant number from Korea and China.

This creates an environment where students can interact with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds and develop a global perspective.

There is also a Korean student organization that allows for networking within the Korean community. IIT is located on the South Side of Chicago, which is somewhat distant from the densely populated Korean area in the northern part of the city.

It can be accessed via the CTA Green Line and buses. The school has its own dormitories, so many students live on campus.

It takes about 30 minutes to reach downtown Chicago via the CTA, making it convenient for students who are also pursuing internships in the city.

However, to be honest about this school, it differs somewhat from the image of a prestigious American university that one might have in Korea.

That doesn't mean it's a bad school. The engineering, computer science, and architecture programs receive quite good evaluations.

Especially since it is located in downtown Chicago, it offers good access to internship and job opportunities. The high percentage of international students also makes it easier for them to adapt.

However, its brand power in the U.S. is much lower than that of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Northwestern University.

In the job market, you can hardly expect a reaction like, "Wow, you graduated from IIT!" haha.

To evaluate it objectively, it is a "strong mid-tier private university" in terms of practical education in STEM fields.

Tuition is expensive, as is typical for private universities, but the school's name value is more ordinary than expected, leading to frequent discussions about its cost-effectiveness.

In conclusion, if you receive a lot of scholarships or aim for a specific engineering or computer major, it can be a good choice.