First Review Of Applications For First Round Interviews May 4th, 2012: Fill & Download for Free

Original question:All that can be done in trying to answer your question is to go off of what we know and to make an educated guess.Your suggestion that Trump fired Comey void of any ulterior motives is possible but it is not probable.TL;DR, I do not think that Trump fired Comey regarding Comey breaking the “long standing tradition of not interfering in politics” - Since when has Trump ever cared about “tradition”?I think Trump fired Comey because Trump is trying to interfere and/or end the investigation into Russia.To be completely honest, Trump has shown time and time again that he does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. It is foolish in my opinion to give it to him.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<I. So far, Trump has fired the following significant people:Sally Yates was fired on January 30th, 2017.Preet Bharara was fired on March 10th, 2017.James Comey was fired on May 9th, 2017.All three of the people listed above (Bharara, Yates and Comey) were some of the most powerful people that would have been the best watch dogs for potential corruption in the White House.Events that led up to the firing of Yates:Sally Yates - Acting Attorney GeneralYates was fired after she refused to enforce Trump’s travel ban (that the courts later found unconstitutional) and instructed the DOJ to do the same.Here is Yates’s statement regarding the travel ban:Acting attorney general orders DOJ not to defend Trump's travel banTrump’s administration said that Yates:“betrayed” TrumpIs “weak” on bordersIs “weak” on immigrationHere is the statement from the White House, firing Yates:Donald Trump firing Sally Yates isn’t the big story. How he did it is.Yates was fired four days after warning the White House about Flynn (when she refused to enforce Trump’s travel ban)18 days after Yates warned the White House, Flynn resigned (pushed by Trump) - after an article, written by the Washington Post, said Flynn had lied about what he discussed with KislyakEvents leading up to the firing of Bharara:Preet Bharara - U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New YorkTrump had told Bharara that his job was safe during a meeting a Trump tower[November 30th, 2016]Trump opts to keep Preet Bharara as U.S. attorney for ManhattanBharara got numerous calls from Trump after Trump’s inauguration, which made him uncomfortable because Bharara felt that Trump was trying to cultivate a relationship with him22 hours after one of the calls from Trump, Bharara was firedBharara Said Calls from Trump Made Him Feel UncomfortableBharara was investigating the following when Trump fired him:Tom Price, a member of Trump’s cabinet (head of the Department of Health and Human Services) for his stock tradesFired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Said to Have Been Investigating HHS Secretary Tom PriceFox News for failing to disclose settlements to shareholders that were made to female employees who had accused Roger Ailes (a political advisor for Trump) of sexual harassmentU.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Says He Was Fired After Refusing to QuitTrump’s wiretapping accusations where him claimed that Obama had wiretapped himDonald Trump has now fired three of the people investigating himDeutsche Bank (a German bank that has loaned Trump at least $300 million) and its possible Russian money launderingTrump’s Personal Lawyer Boasted That He Got Preet Bharara FiredEvents leading up to Comey’s firing:James Comey - FBI DirectorTrump fired Comey in the midst of FBI investigations into Russia, which make the reactions that are blaming Trump for possibly trying to influence the investigations into Russia rationalHours before Comey was fired [on May 9th, 2017], Federal prosecutors had issued grand jury subpoenas to associates of Flynn (former National Security Advisor), seeking business recordsThese subpoenas were signs that the FBI is taking legal actions regarding the probe into RussiaA day before Comey was fired, Yates, former acting Attorney General, told a Senate panel that she had warned the White House on three separate occasions that Flynn might be compromised - the number of times Yates warned the White House was not previously known[Yates’s testimony occurred on May 8th, 2017]Former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, testified along with Yates to the Senate Panel the day before Comey was firedClapper said that Trump and his administration could be helping Russia by continuing to deny and/or obstruct Russia’s involvement>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<II. Those originally involved with Trump’s decision to fire Comey:Trump said he fired Comey based on suggestions from Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general and Jeff Sessions, the attorney general - both wrote Trump letters outlining their thoughts the day before Comey was fired[May 8th, 2017]This is only the second time the Head of the FBI has been firedThis is the first time the Head of the FBI has been fired as an investigation into the White House is happeningExert from Rosenstein’s letter:"cannot defend the Director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken."Exert from Sessions’s letter:"It is essential that this Department of Justice clearly reaffirm its commitment to longstanding principles that ensure the integrity and fairness of federal investigations and prosecutions. The Director of the FBI must be someone who follows faithfully the rules and principles of the Department of Justice and who sets the right example for our law enforcement officials and others in the Department,"FBI Director James Comey has been fired>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<III. Sessions’s reason for firing Comey & his involvement in the firing:It is inappropriate that Sessions was involved in firing Comey for the following reasons:Comey is head of the current investigations occurring at the FBI regarding Trump, Trump’s administration and the possible ties/collusion that may have taken place during Trump’s campaignSessions recused himself from investigations into Russia when information came to light regarding his undisclosed meetings with a Russian ambassador[Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation on March 2nd, 2017]Both Session and Rosenstein wrote that the treatment of Clinton and the investigation into her emails was a reason Comey should be fired.The treatment of the Clinton investigation is a absurd reason to cite in firing Comey because:And let's not forget Sessions praise of Comey regarding how he handled his investigation into Clinton:Trump’s letter to Comey in which Comey was fired never referenced the investigation of Clinton:The above termination letter Trump wrote to Comey only specifically mentions the Russia investigations and claims where Trump alleges he is not under investigation, showing Trump’s mind was clearly on Russia when he fired ComeyTrump sent a trusted security guard to hand deliver a termination letter to Comey…who wasn’t there.Comey learned of his firing by seeing it on T.V. in L.A., as he was speaking at a FBI recruiting event>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<IV. Leaks from the White House regarding Comey:Top aides at the White House said Trump was getting more and more enraged about the Russia probe“He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe”Another White House top advisor told Politico that Comey’s firing shocked them as well, “"Nobody really knew. Our phones all buzzed and people said, What?"Behind Comey’s firing: An enraged Trump, fuming about RussiaOther leaks from the White House have said the Trump and Sessions pressured the FBI to prioritize leaks of classified information over the probe into RussiaBehind the scenes of James Comey's epic firing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<V. Why Trump’s firing of Comey is questionable:According to Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent who led the U.S.S. Cole investigation, this is why:“An FBI director can kill any investigation. It does not look good when the White House fires an FBI director who is investigating the White House. It is a tenured job to insulate the director from politics.”Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<VI. Known people that are/were under investigation by the FBI that are/were in Trump’s inner circle regarding his campaign and/or presidency:Michael Flynn:former national security advisor to Trumpdid not properly disclose payments from Russiatalked to a Russian Ambassador about sanctions Obama placed on Russia[Flynn started to be investigated for his work as a foreign agent on November 30th, 2016. Flynn officially told the Trump administration that he was under federal investigation on January 4th, 2017. Trump did not ask Flynn to resign until February 13th, 2017.]Michael Flynn Resigns as National Security AdviserTrump Team Knew Flynn Was Under Investigation Before He Came to White HousePaul Manafort:Trump's former campaign chairmanManafort has been tied to foreign dictators and oligarchs for decadesPreviously worked for Viktor Yanukovych (pro-Russian former prime minister of Ukraine who is responsible for murdering his people in the streets after going back on a promise to join the EU)Manafort is also being investigated for his work to push Russian interests in the U.S. “for years”There are ledgers from an anti-corruption center in Kiev that show undisclosed payments to Manafort from Yanukovych's pro-Russia Party from 2007–2012A Putin alley, Oleg Deripaska, paid Manafort $10 million from 2006–2009 to lobby on behalf of RussiaDeripaska sued Manafort for “disappearing” with $19 million that was intended to be used as investments in 2014Lawyers from Ukraine have been trying to get Manafort to provide information on his role regarding protesters in Ukraine being killed by police and have gotten no responsePaul Manafort is now at the center of the Trump-Russia investigation — here's what you need to know about himHacked text messages allegedly sent by Paul Manafort's daughter discuss 'blood money' and killings, and a Ukrainian lawyer wants him to explainManafort is currently being investigated by the FBI for his ties to Russia as well as intercepted phone calls between Manafort and Russians who are under surveillanceIntercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates[The investigations into Manafort’s ties to Russia began in August of 2016; he resigned on August 19th, 2016 as Trump’s campaign manager shortly after this information came to light]The definitive Trump-Russia timeline of eventsWhat we know about U.S. investigations into Russia and possible ties to Trump's campaignRoger Stone:tweeted about Wikileaks and Hillary before the next release of emails would happentold NBC News in October he had "back channel communications" with the DNC hackers. Also tweeted about a DNC hackerIn fact, Stone also talked with a Russian hacker over private twitter messagesRoger Stone Admits Contact-with Guccifer 2.0 During CampaignStone’s alleged communications with Guccifer and Julian Assange (WikiLeaks Founder) is currently being investigated by the FBI[News that Stone was being investigated by the FBI regarding Russia was first reported on March 21st, 2017]Roger Stone, the ‘Trickster’ on Trump’s Side, Is Under F.B.I. ScrutinyMeet Roger Stone: One of Donald Trump's most loyal supporters who is now being investigated by FBICarter Page:Former foreign policy adviserhad business connections to Russia.The FBI received a FISA warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) in the summer of 2016 to surveil Page:“The government’s application for the surveillance order targeting Page included a lengthy declaration that laid out investigators’ basis for believing that Page was an agent of the Russian government and knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of Moscow.”The context in which FISA warrants are issued:In Christopher Steele’s infamous dossier, he alleged that Page meet with an alley of Putin in July of 2016:According to a so-called “dirty dossier” a former MI5 official compiled into Trump’s connections with Russia, Page allegedly met with Igor Sechin, chief executive of Rosneft and a close ally of Putin’s, in July 2016. The Washington Post suggests that this meeting, if it happened, might have interested the FBI, not least because Sechin is subject to U.S. sanctions.What to know about Carter Page, the former Trump adviser under FBI surveillance for months[The exact start of the FBI investigation into Page is hard to pin point, but an estimate would be when the date that the FISA warrant for surveilling Page was issued - which happened in the summer of 2016]Jared Kushner:Kushner’s meeting with Sergey Gorkov (CEO of Russia's state-owned Vnesheconombank) is allegedly being investigated by Mueller and his teamApparently, Gorkov offered Kushner financing from Russian banks if the sanctions against Russia were liftedThere's a theme emerging in Mueller's Russia probe that could prove damning for TrumpKushner’s meeting with Gorkov happened right after his meeting with Sergey Kislyak, ambassador to RussiaKushner allegedly sought creating a “backchannel” so that Trump’s transition team could communicate with Russia'This is serious': Jared Kushner reportedly tried to set up a secret Trump-Russia back channelKislyak allegedly set up the meeting with Kushner and GorkovSenate Committee to Question Jared Kushner Over Meetings With Russians[The investigation into Kushner was originally reported on May 25th, 2017]Donald Trump:Robert Mueller, the special counsel named by the Justice Department to investigate the Russia matter, is now examining whether Trump or others sought to obstruct the probe, a person familiar with Mueller's inquiry said on Thursday.[The investigation into Trump was first reported on June 14th, 2017]Trump acknowledges he is under investigation in Russia probeVII. Chart that shows known connections between Trump’s team and Russia (this does not depict investigations or illegal actions, just ties):Trump campaign’s Russia ties: Who’s involved>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<VIII. Update #1:[First reported on May 10th, 2017, day after Comey was fired {May 9th, 2017}]The New York Times reported that Comey asked the DOJ for more resources a couple of days before being fired:Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in resources for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to four congressional officials, including Senator Richard J. Durbin.Mr. Comey made his appeal to Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who also wrote the Justice Department’s memo that was used to justify the firing of Mr. Comey this week, the officials said.“I’m told that as soon as Rosenstein arrived, there was a request for additional resources for the investigation and that a few days afterwards, he was sacked,” said Mr. Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois. “I think the Comey operation was breathing down the neck of the Trump campaign and their operatives, and this was an effort to slow down the investigation.”Days Before Firing, Comey Asked for More Resources for Russia Inquiry>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<IX. Update #2:[First reported on May 10th, 2017]According to the New York Times, Roger Stone is said to have been an influencer in Trump’s decision to fire Comey.Why is that relevant? Because Stone is under investigation by the FBI regarding the Russia probe:Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime informal adviser to Mr. Trump who has been under F.B.I. scrutiny as part of the Russia inquiry, was among those who urged the president to fire Mr. Comey, people briefed on the discussions said.Mr. Trump denied on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he had spoken to Mr. Stone about the F.B.I. director, and Mr. Stone declined to describe his interactions with the president in an interview.But two longtime Trump associates with knowledge of the matter said the two had recently discussed their dissatisfaction with Mr. Comey and his inquiry.Whatever the specifics, Mr. Stone ultimately reflected the president’s view of Mr. Comey. As Mr. Stone put it shortly after the dismissal became public on Tuesday, “There was a sense in the White House, I believe, that enough was enough when it came to this guy.”‘Enough Was Enough’: How Festering Anger at Comey Ended in His Firing>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<X. Update #3:[Letter was written on May 10th, 2017]Comey wrote a farewell letter to his FBI colleagues:READ: James Comey's farewell letter to friends and agents>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XI. Update #4:[Allegations that Rosenstein threatened to resign were first reported on May 11th, 2017]First reported by The Washington Post, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein threatened to resign after being thrown under the bus by Trump regarding the firing of Comey:Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who wrote a three-page memorandum detailing the reasons behind his recommendation for Comey's dismissal on Monday, was painted as the main arbiter of the decision.Trump had asserted that he acted based on Rosenstein's and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recommendations.Trump's deputy attorney general reportedly threatened to resign after being painted as the mastermind behind Comey's firingInside Trump’s anger and impatience — and his sudden decision to fire Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XII. Update #5:[McCabe’s testimony took place on May 11th, 2017]Acting FBI Director, Andrew McCabe, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee and said the following according to the New York Times:Mr. McCabe rejected the White House’s assertion that Mr. Comey had lost the backing of rank-and-file F.B.I. agents, a pointed rebuke of what had been one of the president’s main defenses for the move…Mr. McCabe also said that the Justice Department’s investigation into whether any Trump associates colluded with Russia in the presidential election was “highly significant,” another direct contradiction of the White House.A day earlier, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, trying to parry accusations that Mr. Comey’s firing was related to the Russia inquiry, called it “probably one of the smallest things that they’ve got going on their plate” at the F.B.I.Latest Developments on Comey: Acting F.B.I. Chief Contradicts White House>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIII. Update #6:[These reasons from the White House were given from the day Comey was fired until Trump had has interview with Lester Holt: May 9th - May 11th]So far, here is a list of reasons the White House has given for firing Comey:Comey’s handling of the investigation into Clinton’s emailsComey had “lost the public’s trust”Comey had lost the confidence of those working at the FBITrump took the advice of Deputy Attorney General RosensteinComey was a “showboater” & a “grandstander”Leaks continued coming out of the FBIComey had to correct his statements regarding Huma Abedin and how her emails were synced onto her husband’s computerThe FBI is in chaos>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIV. Update #7:[Interview with Lester Holt took place on May 11th, 2017]Lester Holt interviews Trump, Trump contradicts his administration:President Trump on Thursday said he was thinking of “this Russia thing with Trump” when he decided to fire FBI Director James B. Comey, who had been leading the counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.Recounting his decision to dismiss Comey, Trump told NBC News, “In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, ‘You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.’”Trump’s account flatly contradicts the White House’s initial account of how the president arrived at his decision, undercutting public denials by his aides that the move was influenced in any way by his growing fury with the ongoing Russia probe.Initially, Trump aides had said the president fired Comey simply at the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, who wrote a memorandum detailing what he considered to be Comey’s flawed handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state.Officials insisted that Trump’s decision was not shaped in any way by his growing fury with the Russia controversy.Trump has publicly called the ongoing probes by the FBI, as well as the Senate and House, “a total hoax” and “a taxpayer charade.”But Trump made clear in Thursday’s interview that Russia indeed was on his mind.…Said Sessions and Rosenstein’s recommendations did not prompt his decision.“I was going to fire Comey,” Trump told Holt. “Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation.”Trump Said He Was Thinking of the Russian Controversy When He Decided to Fire Comey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XV. Update #8:[on May 12th, 2017, Trump suggests he has tapes of conversations he had with Comey]Trump tweeted this, three days after firing Comey:James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017Trump’s intentions in tweeting this seem to stem from efforts to discourage Comey from revealing personal conversations he had with Trump:President Trump suggested on Twitter Friday morning there might be recordings of his private conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired earlier this week, in an apparent attempt to caution Comey against "leaking to the press."Since this tweet, Trump and the White House have refused to answer whether or not these “tapes” exist:At the White House briefing in the afternoon, press secretary Sean Spicer refused multiple times to confirm or deny whether there is a secret recording device in the Oval Office."I've talked to the president, and the president has nothing further to add on that," Spicer said, adding his oft-used statement that "the tweet speaks for itself."Trump Tweet Suggests His Conversations With Comey Might Have Been Recorded>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVI. Update #9:[The existence of Comey’s memos were first reported on May 16th, 2017 {a week after Trump fired Comey}, and the New York Times published some of Comey’s memos later that day]Comey’s Memos:Comey had his friend release memos that reflect conversations he had with Trump 3 days after Trump tweeted about having “tapes”.Friend confirms he leaked Comey memo to NYT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVII. Update #10:[Mueller was appointed as Special Counsel on May 17th, 2017 {the day after the New York Times published some of Comey's memos}]Robert S. Mueller III, former head of the FBI, appointed as special counsel by Rod Rosenstein:The Justice Department appointed Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel on Wednesday to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officialsThe decision by the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, came after a cascade of damaging developments for Mr. Trump in recent days, including:his abrupt dismissal of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comeythe subsequent disclosure that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn.Mr. Rosenstein said in a statement that he concluded that “it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authorities and appoint a special counsel to assume responsibility for this matter.”As a special counsel, Mr. Mueller can choose whether to consult with or inform the Justice Department about his investigation.He is authorized to investigate:“any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump,”as well as other matters that “may arise directly from the investigation.”He is empowered to press criminal charges, and he can request additional resources subject to the review of an assistant attorney general.Mr. Trump was notified only after Mr. Rosenstein signed the order, when the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, walked into the Oval Office around 5:35 p.m. to tell him.Mr. Trump reacted calmly but defiantly, according to two people familiar with the situation, saying he wanted to “fight back.”He quickly summoned his top advisers, most of whom recommended that he adopt a conciliatory stance.But his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who had pushed Mr. Trump to fire Mr. Comey, urged the president to counterattack, according to two senior administration officials.Robert Mueller, Former F.B.I. Director, Is Named Special Counsel for Russia Investigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XVIII. Update #11:[Reported by the New York Times on May 19th {happened on May 10th, 2017}]Trump tells Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, and Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak in the Oval Office that firing Comey means the “pressure is off”:President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved “great pressure” on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting.“I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”Mr. Trump added, “I’m not under investigation.”The conversation, during a May 10 meeting — the day after he fired Mr. Comey — reinforces the notion that the president dismissed him primarily because of the bureau’s investigation into possible collusion between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russian operatives.Mr. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing.The White House document that contained Mr. Trump’s comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting.Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XIX. Update #12:[Comey’s testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee after he was fired took place on June 8th, 2017]Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee about his memos:Comey’s intentions were:to push Trump to release the tapes that Trump threatened may exist (they would collaborate Comey’s memos)to cause a special counsel to be appointed:"I've seen the tweet about tapes. Lordy, I hope there are tapes," Comey said Thursday when discussing a February 14 meeting at the White House…"It never occurred to me before the president's tweet," he said. "I'm not being facetious. I hope there are, and I'll consent to the release of them ... All I can do is hope. The president knows if he taped me, and if he did, my feelings aren't hurt. Release all the tapes. I'm good with it."Comey calls for release of memos, any recordings of White House conversations"I asked a friend of mine to share the content of a memo with the reporter, I didn’t do it myself for a variety of reasons, but I asked him to because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel," Comey said.Comey: I Leaked My Memos in Hopes of a Special CounselKey aspects revealed during Comey’s testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee:1. Believes he was fired because of the Russia probe:“It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation,” Comey said.“I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted.”During an earlier round of questioning, Comey acknowledged that he did not know for sure but pointed out that he was taking Trump “at his word.”After Comey was fired, Trump’s White House claimed the dismissal was due to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, based on the recommendation of top Justice Department officials and needed because the FBI was in disarray.But in an interview with NBC News that week, Trump threw those reasons aside, saying he had the Russia probe in his mind when firing Comey.2. Comey documented conversations he had with Trump because Comey believed Trump would lie about them later on:Comey had served for more than three years as FBI director under President Barack Obama.During that time, he and Obama privately talked twice, but Comey never took notes on those interactions.However, during his brief time leading the FBI during the Trump administration, Comey said he had nine interactions with Trump and began taking detailed notes after their first meeting in January.Comey said his reason was simple: He was worried Trump would lie about their meetings.“I was honestly concerned he might lie about the nature of our meeting,” Comey said.3. The White House and Trump ‘defamed’ him:At the opening of the hearing, Comey immediately pushed back against statements by the White House and President Trump suggesting that the he was fired because of poor morale or turmoil at the FBI.Comey said he was “increasingly concerned” about the shifting explanations the White House offered for his firing, but in particular he lashed out at suggestions of the FBI being in a state of chaos.“The administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organization was in disarray, that it was poorly led,” Comey said. “Those were lies, plain and simple.”During his NBC News interview not long after firing Comey, Trump said that “the FBI has been in turmoil.”“You know that. I know that,” Trump said. “Everybody knows that. You take a look at the FBI a year ago, it was in virtual turmoil, less than a year ago. It hasn’t recovered from that.”4. Comey wanted “to get a special counsel appointed”, which is why he worked with a friend to get his memos released:After Comey was fired, news articles began to appear with details of his discussions with Trump, and in some cases the stories cited notes the former FBI director kept of those interactions.On Thursday, Comey admitted he helped arrange at least one of these reports, alluding to a New York Times story published on May 16 discussing Comey’s recollection that Trump asked him to abandon the investigation into Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser.Comey said, in response to questioning, that he was prompted to leak the memo after Trump tweeted on May 12 a suggestion that recordings may exist of their meetings.“As a private citizen, I felt free to share that,” Comey said. “I thought it was very important to get it out.”In an extraordinary admission, Comey said his decision to release the memo was aimed at getting a special prosecutor appointed.5. Comey mentioned Sessions, saying that he didn’t feel comfortable confiding in Sessions as well as alluding to more information about Sessions not yet known:In a cryptic note, Comey mentioned in his prepared statement and his testimony Thursday that the FBI expected Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia-related investigation.This turned out to be correct, as Sessions would later do just that, but Comey would not specifically say why he thought the attorney general would recuse himself.The now-fired FBI director wrote that he decided not to tell Sessions about Trump’s request that he hoped he would let go of the Flynn investigation, because he and the bureau leadership felt “it made little sense to report it to Attorney General Sessions, who we expected would likely recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related investigations.”When asked about this Thursday by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Comey suggested that there were reasons Sessions could not remain involved in the probe but that those reasons involved classified information.James Comey’s Testimony6. Trump didn’t ask about other FBI investigations, including Russia’s attempts to interfere with the election, which is concerning and shows indifference from Trump:Full text: James Comey testimony transcript on Trump and Russia>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XX. Update #13:[First reported on June 8th, 2017]Deutsche Bank, a bank in Germany that has loaned Trump millions, denied requests from members of Congress to turn over any information regarding its business with Trump:Deutsche Bank AG said it can’t comply with a request to hand over information related to its relationship with Donald Trump and trades from the bank’s Moscow operation as political opponents seek to probe the U.S. President’s links with Russia.Democrats demanded in March that Representative Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the committee, hold a hearing to explore the bank’s conduct in the Russian mirror-trading scandal, as part of an effort to ensure that the Justice Department investigation wasn’t influenced by the lender’s relationship with Trump.“President Trump’s conflict of interest with Deutsche Bank...may undermine the independence and impartiality of the Department’s ongoing investigation and diminish the likelihood that Deutsche Bank and its senior leadership will be brought to justice,” the lawmakers wrote in March.The mirror-trading scheme allowed some of the bank’s wealthy clients in Moscow to convert rubles into western currency through the simultaneous purchase and sale of publicly traded shares, investigators have found.While Deutsche Bank has reached settlements on the Russia deals with several financial watchdogs, it has yet to conclude the probe that is being conducted by the DOJ.Deutsche Bank’s lending to Trump before he was elected amounted to more than $300 million, including loans for the Doral golf resort in Florida, a Washington, D.C., hotel and a Chicago tower, according to a Bloomberg analysis.Deutsche Bank Won’t Disclose Trump Dealings Citing Privacy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXI. Update #14:[First reported on June 13th, 2017]Trump considered firing Mueller:Last month’s appointment of Robert S. Mueller III as a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia enraged President Trump.behind the scenes, the president soon began entertaining the idea of firing Mr. Mueller even as his staff tried to discourage him from something they believed would turn a bad situation into a catastropheA longtime friend, Christopher Ruddy, surfaced the president’s thinking in a television interview Monday night, setting off a frenzied day of speculation that he would go through with it.But people close to Mr. Trump say he is so volatile they cannot be sure that he will not change his mind about Mr. Mueller…Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who appointed Mr. Mueller, sought to assure a Senate committee on Tuesday that he would not permit Mr. Mueller to be dismissed without legitimate reason, though Mr. Trump could order him to roll back rules that protect the special counsel or fire him if he will not comply.“As long as I’m in this position, he’s not going to be fired without good cause,” Mr. Rosenstein said. “I’m not going to follow any orders unless I believe those are lawful and appropriate orders,” he added, emphasizing that the attorney general “actually does not know what we’re investigating.”He said, “Director Mueller is going to have the full independence he needs to conduct that investigation appropriately.”In his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee later in the day, Attorney General Jeff Sessions refused to answer what he said was a hypothetical question of whether he would support Mr. Mueller.The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.Angered by reports in Breitbart News and other conservative news outlets that Mr. Mueller was close to Mr. Comey, Mr. Trump in recent days has repeatedly brought up the political and legal implications of firing someone he now views as incapable of an impartial investigation.He has told his staff, his visitors and his outside advisers that he was increasingly convinced that Mr. Mueller, like Mr. Comey, his successor as director of the F.B.I., was part of a “witch hunt” by partisans who wanted to see him weakened or forced from office.But while the president is deeply suspicious of Mr. Mueller, his anger is reserved for Mr. Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia inquiry, and especially for Mr. Comey.Mr. Trump was especially outraged by Mr. Comey’s admission last week that he had leaked a memo with details of his interactions with the president in hopes of spurring the appointment of a special counsel.Trump Stews, Staff Steps in, Robert Mueller is Safe for Now>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXII. Update #15:[First reported on June 14th, 2017]Trump is officially being investigated by the special counsel regarding possible obstruction of justice:The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.The move by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump’s conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on:Russian meddling during the presidential campaignwhether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said.The obstruction-of-justice investigation of the president began days after Comey was fired on May 9Mueller’s office has taken up that work, and the preliminary interviews scheduled with intelligence officials indicate that his team is actively pursuing potential witnesses inside and outside the government.Investigators will also look for any statements the president may have made publicly and privately to people outside the government about his reasons for firing Comey and his concerns about the Russia probe and other related investigationsSpecial Counsel is Investigating Trump for Possible Obstruction of Justice>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIII. Update #16:[First reported on June 15th, 2017]Mueller is looking at possible money laundering involving Trump associates:A former senior official said Mr. Mueller’s investigation was looking at money laundering by Trump associates.The suspicion is that any cooperation with Russian officials would most likely have been in exchange for some kind of financial payoff, and that there would have been an effort to hide the payments, probably by routing them through offshore banking centers.Mueller Seeks to Talk to Intelligence Officials Hinting at Inquiry into Trump>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIV. Update #17:[First allegations of this occurred on May 22nd, 2017 - document that recorded this was revealed on June 16th, 2017]Trump asked the NSA chief to announce publicly that he wasn’t under investigation:A recent National Security Agency memo documents a phone call…:Donald Trump pressures agency chief Admiral Mike Rogers to state publicly that there is no evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia, say reports.The memo was written by Rick Ledgett, the former deputy director of the NSA, sources familiar with the memo told The Wall Street Journal.The memo said Trump questioned the American intelligence community findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.Memo says Trump pressed NSA chief to absolve him>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXV. Update #18:[Reported on June 15th, 2017]Mike Pence hires a lawyer:U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has hired a lawyer known for defending government officials in high-profile investigations to help him with probes into whether there were ties between the election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia…Pence hired Richard Cullen, chairman of law firm McGuireWoods, to help him respond to inquiries from special counsel Robert Mueller…Pence had been looking at hiring his own counsel for several weeks, and made his decision earlier this week after interviewing several candidates…Pence hires his own lawyer for Russia probes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVI. Update #19:[Originally reported on June 16th, 2017]Trump aides were instructed to save all documentation related to the current investigations regarding the Russian probe:Aides and volunteers on Donald Trump’s presidential transition were instructed Thursday to save any records related to “several pending investigations into potential attempts by Russia interests to influence the 2016 election”…In the memo from a transition lawyer, campaign officials were told to preserve all documents related to:the Russian FederationUkrainea number of campaign advisers and officials, including:former campaign manager Paul Manafortadvisers Carter PageRick GatesRoger Stoneformer national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn.“In order to assist these investigations, the Presidential Transition Team and its current and former personnel have a responsibility to ensure that, to the extent potentially relevant documents exist, they are properly preserved,” the memo stated.The request…also told aides and volunteers on the transition to save all foreign travel records.The records included:“emailsvoicemailstext messagesinstant messagessocial media postsWord or WordPerfect documentsspreadsheetsdatabasestelephone logsaudio recordingsvideosphotographs or imagesinformation contained on:desktopslaptopstablet computerssmartphonesor other portable devicescalendar recordsdiary data.”The memo warned that “failure to follow these protocols could result in criminal or civil penalties, and could form the basis of legal claims, legal presumptions, or jury instructions relating to spoliation of evidence.”Trump transition officials ordered to save Russia documents>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVII. Update #20:[A subpoena was approved by the House Committee on May 31st, 2017 over information Cohen may have regarding Russia as well as asking him to testify before the House Intelligence Committee. On June 16th, Cohen hired his own lawyer.]Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, hires attorney regarding Russia probe:President Donald Trump's longtime attorney and adviser Michael Cohen has hired a lawyer to represent him in the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election…News of the hire comes two weeks after Cohen was subpoenaed by the House intelligence committee as part of the committee's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Cohen told CNN earlier this week that he is "committed to complying with the subpoena."He has also agreed to testify before the committee…He declined to say whether he is fielding additional investigative inquiries…Cohen served as executive vice president and special counsel at the Trump Organization during Trump's presidential campaign and did not hold a formal title in the campaign.he was a prominent TV surrogate for Trump during the campaign and led the National Diversity Coalition in support of it.Longtime Trump attorney hires lawyer in Russia probe>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXVIII. Update #21:[Trump’s tweet on June 16th, 2017 seems to be about Rosenstein {possibly in regards to rumors that he is considering recusing himself from the investigation into Russia}]Trump’s cryptic tweet that seems to be aimed at Rosenstein:After 7 months of investigations & committee hearings about my "collusion with the Russians," nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2017Because of this tweet, among other concerns, Rosenstein is allegedly considering recusing himself from the Russia Investigation:The president’s attack renewed concerns that Trump could move to oust Mueller from the investigation, which would require Rosenstein’s assent under Justice Department rules.Rosenstein told Congress on Wednesday he would not fire Mueller without the legally required “good cause,” potentially setting up a situation where Trump could fire Rosenstein for refusing to fire the special counsel.Richard Nixon attempted a similar purge of the Watergate special prosecutor’s office in 1973 that was dubbed the Saturday Night Massacre; it ultimately hastened his downfall.News of the obstruction investigation now raises questions about whether Rosenstein will have to recuse himself from the Russia investigation because of his direct involvement in Comey’s firing—a decision ABC reported he is mulling over.If he does step aside, ultimate oversight of Mueller’s probe would fall to Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand, the Justice Department’s third-in-command.Rosenstein recently discussed his potential recusal, indicating his decision would depend on how the probe unfolded.“He’s going to make the appropriate decisions, and if anything that I did winds up being relevant to his investigation then, as Director Mueller and I discussed, if there’s a need from me to recuse, I will.”While Rosenstein does not exert day-to-day control over Mueller’s probe, he established its parameters and has the ultimate say on any prosecutions that spring from it.Under Justice Department rules, he would also have to notify Congress in writing if he constrains Mueller in any significant way.Rosenstein’s central role in the drama could make him a key witness in an investigation he now oversees, placing him in a troubling ethical spot.Analysis | Did Trump just lay the groundwork to fire the special counsel?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXIX. Update #22:Ways Trump could hypothetically fire Mueller:Chain of command at the DOJ:Here is a quick analysis on how Trump could possibly fire Mueller:Goldsmith’s analysis points to an argument that Trump could simply say that the mandates of those regulations violate his constitutional powers and fire Mueller directly. (An assessment from Marty Lederman at the Just Security blog rejects this idea outright.)Such a move would be challenged, understandably, but if it were somehow upheld by the courts, Mueller would be out.If it weren’t, or if Trump didn’t take this unusual step? We continue.Another question is whether Sessions tries to find some loophole allowing himself to no longer be bound by the recusal he announced in March.He didn’t consider himself bound by that recusal when drafting a letter to Trump advocating Comey’s firing, even though he was actively investigating the Russian meddling, but it’s harder to see how he could simply re-inject himself in the special counsel decision.That said, there doesn’t appear to be anything preventing him from doing so — with the exception of political repercussions that would almost certainly include impeachment.Let’s assume that we go through the normal process. As in the first diagram, the firing of Mueller falls to Rosenstein.It’s highly unlikely that Rosenstein would agree with Trump that Mueller needs to be removed, for reasons we’ll get to in a second.If he didn’t agree, he could reject Trump’s request — and risk being fired.Or he could follow the tradition established in 1973 when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than comply with President Richard Nixon’s demand that the special investigator looking at Watergate be fired.If, on the other hand, Rosenstein (or any of the other people in the chain of command that follows below) decided to comply with Trump, they would have one of two options for doing so, according to Goldsmith.Either they’d have to throw out the regulations binding the firing of Mueller (see Goldsmith’s post for a lot of detail on this)or they’d have to establish cause for firing him.If either of those things is done, Mueller is fired.But the former would be exceptional and, given the bounds of the possible causes for firing special counsel — “misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause, including violation of Departmental policies” — it’s unlikely that a viable case for firing Mueller could be made in good faith at this point.If a cause can’t be found by Rosenstein, it’s hard to see how he could continue in that position.With Rosenstein and Sessions out of the picture, the decision falls to Rachel Brand, who faces the same decisions as Rosenstein.If she ends up leaving the picture, it falls to Dana Boente, acting assistant attorney general for national security.If he demurs or won’t dump the regulations/can’t find cause, we keep going.In 1973, the third person in line was the solicitor general, Robert Bork, who agreed with Nixon’s decision.It’s not clear if the acting solicitor general, Jeffrey B. Wall, would be part of this line of succession.If any other Justice officials are confirmed in the period between our writing this and Trump’s decision to fire Mueller, those officials could be slotted in here.At this point, Goldsmith writes, an executive order signed by Trump in March comes into play.It outlines the order of succession in the Department of Justice, running through three U.S. attorneys as next-in-line to leadership.As acting heads of the department, they’d be faced with the same choice as Rosenstein.If each of them demurred, it’s not really clear what would happenthis might prompt Trump to appeal to the option in step one, ignoring the regulations entirely.What’s outlined above is simply the process by which Mueller could legally be removed from his position. What’s not considered (beyond that aside for Sessions) are the political repercussions…Trump’s explicitly removing the person leading an outside inquiry would almost certainly significantly heighten the political pressure he faces.Analysis | How Trump could fire the special counsel (if he were foolish enough to try)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXX. Update #23:[The executive orders referred to below were first reported on June 16th, 2017]Trump may change the rules of succession at the DOJ:An abstract, in-case-of-emergency-break-glass executive order drafted by the Trump administration in March may become real-world applicable as the president, raging publicly at his Justice Department, mulls firing special counsel Robert Mueller.Since taking office, the Trump administration has twice rewritten an executive order that outlines the order of succession at the Justice Department —once after President Donald Trump fired the acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to defend his travel ban, and then again two months later.The executive order outlines a list of who would be elevated to the position of acting attorney general if the person up the food chain recuses himself, resigns, gets fired, or is no longer in a position to serve.In the past, former Justice Department officials and legal experts said, the order of succession is no more than an academic exercise — a chain of command applicable only in the event of an attack or crisis when government officials are killed and it is not clear who should be in charge.But Trump and the Russia investigation that is tightening around him have changed the game.Trump threatens to break the glass on DOJ succession plan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXXI. Update #24:[Tweeted on June 22nd, 2017]Trump tweeted that he did not have tapes of his conversations with Comey a day before the House Intelligence Committee’s deadline for the White House to hand over recordings (if they existed) of conversations between Trump and Comey (the House Intelligence Committee sought alleged recordings due to Trump’s tweet about them, which I discussed earlier in Update #8):...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2017This shows that Trump continues to prove that he has no regard for transparency or truth. Trump also seems to be implicating himself:But if few people believed that Mr. Trump actually possessed recordings, his motives in warning Mr. Comey that he might have taped him remain a mystery, particularly since it set off a chain of events that accelerated, rather than slowed, the investigation into Mr. Trump and Russia.…the possibility that the conversations were taped without his knowledge, even by the F.B.I. or intelligence agencies, which eavesdrop and intercept calls. Asked whether Mr. Trump believed he was currently under surveillance in the Oval Office, the deputy press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said, “Not that I’m aware of.”The decision to confirm there were no recordings was made by last weekend, when Mr. Trump and his family made their first getaway to Camp David, according to people briefed on the discussions. The White House counsel’s office reviewed the language in the tweet, these people said, and Mr. Trump’s personal legal team was aware of it. The wording did not change significantly over the past few days.But by giving the president some room to claim he might have been referring to someone other than himself doing the taping, his wording could diminish the possibility that his original tweet could have been interpreted as pressure on Mr. Comey before his testimony to the Senate.Yet when shorn of their extraneous details, the tweets essentially confirmed that Mr. Trump had been leveling a baseless threat when he wrote on May 12, “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”…Some legal experts have said the president’s threat could be used in an obstruction of justice case against him, since it could be interpreted as putting pressure on Mr. Comey not to share details of their conversations about the F.B.I.’s Russia investigation…“If the president had no tapes, why did he suggest otherwise?” said Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. “Did he seek to mislead the public? Was he trying to intimidate or silence James Comey?”…Ms. Sanders said that Mr. Trump had promised to answer that question by the end of the week, and that he had delivered on that promise…The episode was yet another example of Mr. Trump’s predilection for sowing confusion and uncertainty. It also, at least temporarily, threw the news media off the trail of the Russia investigation…At times, he has told reporters that he was taping an interview or a phone call, but then declined to produce one. Other times, according to former aides, Mr. Trump was believed to have taped calls or conversations in his office at Trump Tower. That made it harder to discern the truth when the president raised the prospect that he had recorded Mr. Comey.Trump Says He Did Not Tape Comey Conversations>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<XXXII. Update #25:[Occurred on June 30th, 2017]One of the reasons the White House originally gave regarding Comey’s firing was that “Comey had lost the confidence of those working at the FBI” (I covered this is Update #6).At the FBI, Family Day showed that the accusation above from the White House is faulty. Family Day at the FBI:…is for FBI employees, friends and families to visit the US intelligence service and take part in activities including SWAT demonstrations.During Family Day, FBI employees showed up donning “#ComeyIsMyHomey” t-shirts:These t-shirts reflect support towards Comey from many FBI employees - that contradicts what the White House tried to claim as basis for firing him:Many within the bureau were alarmed at Mr Trump’s dismissal of Mr Comey. Bobby Chacon, a former FBI agent, said the decision was like a “punch in the stomach to agents”…Other former agents said the way Mr Comey was fired was an “outrage” and said that the Trump administration’s approach “besmirches the reputation of the FBI”.FBI employees wearing 'Comey is my homey' t-shirts in support for sacked boss>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<So, regarding the outline above, this is what I think:If Trump wanted to fire Comey regarding Comey’s handling of Clinton’s email investigation, he should have done this months ago.Trump firing Comey, who is investigating potential ties between Trump, Trump’s officials and Russian interference, looks like the obstruction of an investigation since Comey could end up being a threat to Trump’s presidency.In conclusion, I think Trump fired Comey based on an effort to cover up possible evidence regarding the probe into Russia.Given all the updates I’ve added since I first wrote this answer, I think my conclusion has become more valid.

Q. Which engineering school is better, University of Maryland's A. James Clark School, or Rice University's George R. Brown School?I have read and hear conflicting opinions as the which undergraduate program is better. More specifically, how do the schools compare in Mechanical Engineering?A2A: I am not an engineer and this topic should be addressed by mechanical engineers on Quora. I will take a stab at it in the meantime. It has been awhile since I was an undergraduate at Rice. I try to be involved by being an alumnus interviewer.There are so many different rankings for engineering programs that have no consistency. Many mostly deal with graduate engineering schools. Among those, Rice’s small size is a disadvantage. Rice chooses to do certain things very well. Its commitment to undergraduate education makes the George R. Brown School a good program. Class size is smaller, easier to interact with professors and plenty of opportunities to participate in research.Students are of high caliber, hard working and hard playing. There is more camaraderie than competition. Almost everyone lives on campus and is active in intramural sports/clubs, organizations. Students are assigned to colleges/dorms with affiliation lasting through to graduation. There is close collaboration in doing difficult homework, exam preparation. In addition to the College Master, whose family lives in the building/or attached housing, many faculty members are assigned to the colleges and take their lunch meals there. In upper level classes, there may just be 2–3 students. Certain classes we get to choose when to meet, bring the donuts and the professors the coffees, even in the evenings. Rice is perennially ranked #1 in student satisfaction/quality of life. Rice’s location in Houston (4th largest city in the US) is advantageous, de facto the Energy capital of the world. (There are more than 70 foreign consulates in Houston). Close interaction with NASA LBJ Space Center is a plus. Plenty of companies recruit on campus. There is a strong alumni network with available mentoring.Rice’s other strength is the preponderance of double/triple majors and national reputation. This should help in applying for graduate schools. Non-major electives are strong across the board. The life sciences and biomedical engineering departments are well regarded, often there are collaboration between Rice and other institutions in the adjacent world’s largest Texas Medical Center (Baylor College of Medicine, UT Houston McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Dental Branch, #1 ranking MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Texas Heart Institute to name a few). It is tougher to get into Rice then to graduate from Rice.What I have included here a listing of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Houston, valuable for internship and employment.Selectivity of Rice.Princeton ranking of colleges. USN ranking of Rice and University of Maryland. Links to both mechanical engineering departments.Next is the most helpful list - 50 highest ranking undergraduate engineering schools. Maryland edges Rice by two places. I have attached the whole list further down.Then there is a comparison by Smart Class head to head of the two schools, followed by info of each. The costs may look disproportionate. But Rice does offer a lot of financial aid.Finally, there is a USN top 10 ranking of Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Programs. Unfortunately, neither school made the list.I would consider Rice over Maryland if accepted and offered adequate financial aid. Undergraduates at Rice are not short changed. Rice students do not have to declare a major until the end of sophomore year, and it is easy to change or add major. With the option of taking 4 classes Pass/Fail, you can sample the curriculum without damaging your GPA. With a strong Honor Code, some courses offer take home exams (open or closed book) to not waste class time. There are also self-paced courses. For some courses, you schedule your final in the two weeks before the end of the semester so that you can best strategize exam preparation. If you change your major, Rice’s other departments are world class. The upstart Jones School of Business has steadily climbed in ranking. Baker Center for Public Policy has become a major think tank. The college experience will be pleasant. And Houston is a great town to explore. Students can ride the mass transit system for free. This campus is among the most beautiful, and is located in an upscale part of town. The Rice Village is a nearby shopping center with high end and low end shops. Next to Rice University is the huge Texas Medical Center, as well as the Houston Museum District. Galveston beach is only 45 minutes away.For graduate school, a larger department maybe more alluring. UT Austin/ Texas A&M and U Houston are not too far away. But many graduates go farther afield to Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech etc.University of Maryland does look like a very good school. For me, it is just too big and there is less clout.Again, I am not an engineer and I know very little about the University of Maryland.All the Best!Texas Medical CenterRice ranked No. 1 for happiest students and lots of race/class interactionB.J. ALMOND AUGUST 29, 2016POSTED IN: FEATURED STORIESThe happiest students in the country are at Rice University, according to the Princeton Review’s 2017 edition of “The Best 381 Colleges.” The new college guide ranks Rice No. 1 for happiest students and for lots of race/class interaction. Rice is also No. 9 for best quality of life.The rankings are based on surveys of 143,000 students at 381 top colleges. Students responded to 84 questions about academics, administration, the student body and themselves. The guide published the top 20 schools in 60 categories. In addition to three top-10 rankings, Rice is No. 20 for best health services, and a photo of the campus appears on the cover of the publication.“We’re especially gratified by our two No. 1 rankings in the Princeton Review for student happiness and interaction among students of different racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as our top-10 ranking for overall student quality of life,” Rice President David Lebron said. “These reflect two of our most important commitments: the general welfare and positive engagement of our students, and building a diverse and inclusive community. We take this expression of satisfaction from our students not as a laurel to rest upon, but an encouragement to constantly aspire to do even better.”Fifty best dining experienceThe guide’s profile of Rice notes that the crossover between personal and academic life made possible by the residential college system “helps make life at Rice well-balanced.” One student said, “The environment is very inclusive,” and another said, “There is no racial majority here on campus, and I’ve met students of varied political affiliations, religions, socio-economic status and sexual orientations.” The guide reports that Rice students are “generous with their praise for professors.” Although students have a wide range of activities and interests, “what they all have in common is their satisfaction with life at Rice,” the Princeton Review wrote.For more information on the rankings, visit princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges.- See more at: Rice ranked No. 1 for happiest students and lots of race/class interactionPrinceton tops list of 2017 U.S. News Best Colleges RankingsRice University Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Maryland Mechanical Engineering50 Best Bachelors in Engineering Degrees for 2017#21RICE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 83.17ANNUAL TUITION: $43,918PROGRAM WEBSITELocated in Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, Rice is a comprehensive research university fostering diversity and an intellectual environment that produces the next generation of leaders and advances tomorrow’s thinking. The nine departments of the School of Engineering offer programs toward seven Bachelor of Science and nine Bachelor of Arts degrees and several engineering-related minors.More than sixty percent of Rice undergraduate engineers have a meaningful research experience before graduation. They also own all the intellectual property they create while students at Rice. The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership helps students become inspiring leaders, exceptional team members, effective communicators and bold entrepreneurs. The Rice Center for Career Development not only assists students in finding jobs after graduation, they also help undergraduates secure summer-long internships that are a vital part of the Rice experience.One of the unique features of Rice is its residential colleges. Before matriculating, undergraduates become a member of one of eleven residential colleges, which have their own dining halls, public rooms, and dorms on campus; most of the first-year students and about 75 percent of all undergraduates reside at their associated colleges. Because each student is randomly assigned to one of the colleges, and maintains membership in the same college throughout the undergraduate years, the colleges are enriched by the diversity of their students’ backgrounds, academic interests and experiences, talents, and goals.19UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND—COLLEGE PARKCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 84.49ANNUAL TUITION: $32,045PROGRAM WEBSITEThe A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland is comprised of seven departments and offers nine undergraduate degrees. A common core curriculum outlines the first year for most students no matter their major. The challenging set of courses emphasizes teamwork. Students also have numerous opportunities for research and design projects. The degree programs put special emphasis on technology entrepreneurship and offer many international and collaborative possibilities.The A. James Clark School of Engineering also provides undergraduate students outstanding resources for their academic pursuits—innovative research opportunities, world-renowned faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. Students are also a part of the University of Maryland community, which offers its own array of resources and opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun on and around its idyllic campus in College Park, MD. As a Clark School Engineer, students will have the opportunity to build a foundation of skills and knowledge that will benefit the world in a very special and unique way, while themselves having a special and unique experience as a Terrapin.The 25 Healthiest Colleges in the U.S., 201214. Rice UniversityStudents at Rice definitely won't go hungry. There are dining halls in every residential college that serve three meals per day, and students' meal plans are unlimited. And according to The Princeton Review, Rice University has the happiest students in the U.S.A. This may be thanks to its comprehensive wellbeing resource site or the many fitness events organized by the recreation department. Photo Courtesy of Rice UniversityHoustonNASA LBJ Space Center (land donated by Rice University)Rice Tree Campus USARice Residential CollegeMaryland Color GuardTop 50 colleges with the hardest-working studentsIt’s no secret that college students work hard. But where do students work the hardest?School analytics site Niche recently compiled a list of schools with the hardest-working students. The top 50 colleges were chosen from 1,311 schools based on their Niche Academics Grade, which involves the school’s acceptance and graduation rates, and student survey responses about workload and study habits, according to Niche.Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology tops the list at No. 1. Check out the rest to see if your school made the cut!50. University of Virginia49. Emory University48. Colgate University47. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor46. University of California at Los Angeles45. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute44. Rhode Island School of Design43. Colorado CollegeThomas Jefferson University (Photo: Maarten Danial/Flickr)42. Thomas Jefferson University41. Pomona College40. Amherst College39. United States Naval Academy38. Claremont McKenna College37. Georgetown University36. Vassar College35. Colorado School of Mines34. Case Western Reserve University33. Wellesley CollegeDuke students walk by Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University in Durham, N.C. (Photo: Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg)32. Duke University31. Dartmouth College30. Wake Forest University29. University of Pennsylvania28. Oberlin College27. Northwestern University26. Grinnell College25. Harvard University24. Williams College23. Swarthmore College22. United States Military Academy at West Point21. Brown University20. Georgia Institute of Technology19. University of California at Berkeley18. Cornell University17. Harvey Mudd College16. Carleton College15. University of Notre Dame13. (TIE) Stanford University13. (TIE) Middlebury College12. Washington University in St. LouisJohns Hopkins (Photo: AP/Patrick Semansky)11. Johns Hopkins University10. College of William & Mary9. Vanderbilt University8. Columbia University7. Bowdoin College6. Princeton University5. Yale University4. Carnegie Mellon University3. Rice University2. University of Chicago1. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBrooke Metz is a student at Wake Forest University and a USA TODAY College web producer.Residential CollegeA regular in the college world seriesResidential College (Dorm)Jim Henson Maryland alumnusLast Updated: January 1, 2017The United States’ global competitiveness has become a national priority, and with it, efforts to increase the number of U.S. students seeking degrees in engineering and computer science. The need is so important that Congress passed the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act, authorizing $43.3 billion in federal spending in science, engineering, mathematics and technology research and education programs.Engineers use mathematics, the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, as well as business and communications skills to solve important, real-world problems in society. Engineers and scientists must be critical thinkers, and entrepreneurs and innovators who understand the social and business implications of their work. They need to be able to communicate their ideas coherently, and work effectively in teams. Above all, they must be willing and able to provide leadership in solving society’s big problems.Our world is powered by engineers. Engineers create the newest products, services, and ideas to improve human health, safety, and happiness. Engineers provide solutions to opportunities and challenges that affect everyone. From the environment, energy, new product design, to national security, engineers have an active role in virtually every area of human life.Engineering salaries vary depending on the level of education, focus of career, and the region of the world, but year after year, engineering tops the list of majors with the highest average starting salary. It is well worth the time and effort to become an engineer. The most current numbers on starting median salaries for engineers is $55,000 to $70,000, with the potential to earn two to three times these amounts with experience, success, and further education.RELATED ENGINEERING RANKINGSEngineering involves the creative application of tools from math and science to solve problems that confront humanity today. While these problems present technological challenges, each exists within a cultural, economic, historical, and ethical context, and thus an undergraduate education in engineering must provide students with a broad academic foundation.Twenty-first century engineering is at the epicenter of an explosion in new knowledge. Revolutionary discoveries in science, engineering, medicine, mathematics, and the social sciences have not only changed the way we interact with the world around us, but have also blurred the boundaries between academic disciplines. Engineering is the catalyst for bringing disciplines together and pushing forward the amazing advances made possible by those collaborations. The breadth of an engineer’s education as well as the interdisciplinary nature of engineering disciplines has led some to call an engineering education the new liberal arts.The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits college engineering programs nationwide using criteria and standards developed and accepted by U.S. engineering communities. There are several disciplines within engineering—different starting points for solving engineering problems. More than twenty-five major specialties are recognized in the fields of engineering and engineering technology. Some of the more popular areas of study include Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, and Systems.Whether you’re an undergraduate who likes the idea of research or who is thinking about graduate school, collaborating on projects will prepare you for a productive future in research, your workplace, and your community. The experience will position you to meet the needs of society and provide technical leadership, no matter where your path leads. Because research is such an integral part of engineering, and because schools with graduate programs tend to have more research center, labs, and institutes, we’ve limited our top fifty list to those schools with graduate programs.What Are the Best Engineering Degree Programs?To help prospective engineering student explore programs and schools, we have compiled the following list of the top fifty undergraduate engineering programs. Because we know that a degree is an investment of sorts, we have factored into our rankings the cost of getting an engineering degree and the salary prospects for graduates of the various schools. By combining data points from U.S. News and World Report, http://Payscale.org, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and information provided by schools, we’ve created a list of fifty schools that will get an aspiring engineering off to a successful start.BEST BACHELORS IN ENGINEERING PROGRAMS1UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS—URBANA-CHAMPAIGNCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 100.00ANNUAL TUITION: $31,320PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the University of Illinois’s main campus in Urbana, undergraduates can choose from among fifteen top-ranked engineering majors in 12 of the university’s engineering departments. In addition to the variety of engineering programs, the university offers an Engineering First-Year Experience, an interdisciplinary program designed to enhance the learning experience of every first-year student in Engineering at Illinois. The goal of this experience is to support the aspirations of beginning engineering students by laying a solid foundation for their collegiate career.With the breadth and depth of knowledge among the university’s engineering research faculty, students can find experts in several fields who are willing to provide them with research opportunities. Over fifty percent of undergraduates do research in the 60+ laboratories, research centers, and institutes at the university. The research experience builds valuable skills while allowing students to do world-changing things even before graduation.The more than seventy engineering societies and a vibrant university community provide engineering students ample opportunities to grow professionally and socially. The exceptional career services, the extensive Illini network, and the top-ranked education give graduates of engineering programs at the University of Illinois high regard in the professional and graduate spheres.2PURDUE UNIVERSITY—WEST LAFAYETTECOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 98.87ANNUAL TUITION: $28,804PROGRAM WEBSITEPurdue, Indiana’s land grant university, offers sixteen different undergraduate engineering majors, covering areas such as Construction Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Biological Engineering. Students who know they will want to pursue a graduate degree may also find the BS/MS or BS/MBA options intriguing.At Purdue’s main campus in West Lafayette, engineering undergraduates have available to them some of the nation’s leading experts who together envision a more inclusive, socially connected, and scholarly engineering education that puts students first. To that end, Purdue is proud of its many programs, including Women in Engineering, Engineering Leadership, and Global Engineering.The entry point for all engineering students at Purdue is its First-Year Engineering Program. In this program students ease into college life, get grounded in the fundamentals, and discover their passion for engineering. Beginning students get academic and personal support from professional academic advisors, faculty, and student advisors. They also enroll in a common first-year curriculum that helps them further distinguish the engineering disciplines, identify which engineering major is right for them, and learn where they might work if they pursue a degree in an engineering field.3GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 98.46ANNUAL TUITION: $32,404PROGRAM WEBSITEGeorgia Tech is home to a prestigious College of Engineering with eight schools that offer eleven undergraduate engineering majors. All of Georgia Tech’s engineering undergraduate programs well prepare students for careers or graduate studies by providing a solid foundation in engineering principles. Students gain both knowledge and practical experience by collaborating across disciplines and apply their skills to real-world problems. All of the college’s undergraduate programs have consistently ranked in the top six of their respective areas in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings.In addition to the experience of college life on Georgia Tech’s vibrant campus in Atlanta, engineering students can find social, academic, and professional enrichment through any of the dozen engineering clubs and organizations. The College of Engineering also boasts the nation’s largest and most diverse engineering college, awarding more engineering degrees to women and underrepresented minority students than any other school in the country.4UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA—TWIN CITIESCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 96.84ANNUAL TUITION: $22,210PROGRAM WEBSITEThe University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering offers students a rigorous, world-class education tailored to their interests and goals. Undergraduates in the college are able to choose from a wide range of programs and learn from some of the world’s leading experts in their fields. In the college’s twelve departments there are eighteen majors, twelve of which are in various engineering disciplines.Researchers in the college are on the cutting edge of finding ways to address some of the world’s most pressing problems. The partnership the college has with the school of medicine and with companies regionally and globally gives students unparalleled opportunities to match their skills with industry needs.On one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses in Minneapolis, the university provides its students a well-rounded college experience. There are over 1000 student groups at the university and 75 in the College of Science and Engineering. The First-Year Experience course connects freshmen to learning, research, and career opportunities to help them succeed. The course also includes fun, project-based work in small teams.5TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY—COLLEGE STATIONCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 95.59ANNUAL TUITION: $28,768PROGRAM WEBSITEEngineering has been a part of Texas A&M University since its founding in 1876. The college’s mission is to cultivate engineers who are well founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.The College of Engineering is now the largest college at the university and offers nearly twenty undergraduate majors in its fourteen departments. It is also one of the largest engineering schools in the country, ranking second in undergraduate enrollment. The forty student organizations within the college coupled with the lively college atmosphere on one of the state of Texas’s largest universities enhances the college experience for engineering undergraduates.The quality of research activities at Texas A&M is highlighted by the direct impact of research on technology. In addition the college boasts a high volume of peer reviewed research funding from highly competitive sources and a high volume of publications in influential refereed journals. These things along with with the number of patents and the volume of widely used textbooks help consistently put the engineering programs in numerous national rankings.6UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—BERKELEYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 95.14ANNUAL TUITION: $40,191PROGRAM WEBSITEBerkeley Engineering at the University of California is regularly rated one of the top schools of engineering in the world. Its emphasis on creativity and imagination, together with its commitment to work toward ways of changing society, make Berkeley Engineering a great place for students to pursue goals for themselves and the world. The spirit of collaboration and entrepreneurship marks the whole undergraduate experience for students of engineering.With over 3000 undergraduate students pursuing one of the school’s eleven majors and residing on the vibrant campus in Berkeley, the School of Engineering has ample opportunity for social, professional, and collegial interactions. And with over fifty centers and institutes of research, location near the tech-forward Silicon Valley, and key relationships with industry partners, the school has a strong stature among leading intellectuals. Undergraduates can find ways to participate in the school’s award-winning research by way of several fellowship and apprenticeship programs.7UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS—AUSTINCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 93.00ANNUAL TUITION: $34,676PROGRAM WEBSITEThe flagship campus of the University of Texas system boasts one of the country’s premier engineering schools in its Cockrell School of Engineering. Undergraduates at Cockrell not only learn from some of the world’s leading experts, but they also learn alongside these leaders. Participation in innovative, hands-on projects is a hallmark of the undergraduate experience.In addition to being a part of a world-class instructional environment, engineering students at Cockrell have access to eighty engineering-specific student groups, First-Year Interest Groups, and the Engineering Career Assistance Center. These resources provide students both social and professional enrichment to help them grow and flourish as engineers. Not only that, but students at the University of Texas at Austin live in one of the country’s most attractive cities. Austin is home to an ever-increasing number of thriving startup companies and continues to be one of the fastest-growing, most innovative cities in the country.8VIRGINIA TECHCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 92.88ANNUAL TUITION: $29,371PROGRAM WEBSITEAll first-year engineering students at Virginia Tech begin their undergraduate life in the Department of Engineering Education. After completing specific core course requirements, students can declare for one of the fourteen engineering majors in the College of Engineering at the university. These early shared courses give all of Virginia Tech’s engineering undergraduates an understanding of the engineering profession, including the skills, capacity for problem solving, and abilities for graphic and design processes needed to address current global issues. The renowned faculty apply research to teaching practices and practice research-based innovations in the classroom to provide the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary for students to become successful engineers and learners.Located in Blacksburg nestled on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains in southwest Virginia, Virginia Tech is a special place. The idyllic surroundings enhance an already lively and exciting campus life. For engineering undergraduates, the possibilities for social, academic, and professional relationships are numerous. Along with a wide variety of labs and creative workspaces, the College of Engineering’s Ware Lab is a facility dedicated solely to undergraduate student design projects, providing a unique learning environment for engineering students from various majors.9UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN—MADISONCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 91.18ANNUAL TUITION: $32,738PROGRAM WEBSITEThe flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin system is located in the state’s capital city of Madison. With over 40,000 students from 50 states and over 120 countries, the Badgers are diverse, active, and energetic. Considered one of the best public universities in the nation, the University of Wisconsin is high on the list for many prospective students. Add in a top-rated College of Engineering and it is no surprise that Wisconsin is a popular school for future engineers.The world-class faculty and the outstanding curriculum at the College of Engineering provide undergraduates the technological tools, resources, and knowledge that will help them develop solutions to problems in fields ranging from medicine to energy to manufacturing. Not only do students benefit from classroom and lab experiences, but they can also enrich their social life by taking advantage of opportunities such as international study, field research, internships, laboratory experience, entrepreneurial opportunities, and more. Additionally, the opportunities to work directly with faculty members and participate in the over fifty registered engineering organizations enhance the educational experience of engineering undergraduates.10PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY—UNIVERSITY PARKCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 88.61ANNUAL TUITION: $32,382PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Penn State University system is a well-respected network of public research universities. At its main campus in University Park, the College of Engineering offers one of the most vibrant educational programs in the country. It has breadth, depth, technical diversity, and innovative research that directly impacts the quality of life of global citizens. It is comprised of a responsive community of intellectuals that is focused on serving the technical profession and society. And it is located on one of the most extraordinary college campuses in the world. The Nittany Lion spirit is strong and diverse.The College of Engineering embraces multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary education and research in its twelve departments and schools. With over 30 research centers and laboratories, Penn State’s engineering programs are some of the nation’s leading academies of learning, discovery, and application. The College of Engineering offers fourteen majors to its over 7000 students, while the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences offers five further engineering majors focused on the environment and energy.11UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 88.20ANNUAL TUITION: $34,791PROGRAM WEBSITESeattle and the Puget Sound region are a hub of creativity and innovation in aerospace, biotechnology, global health, clean technology, and information and communications technology. The College of Engineering at the University of Washington is an active and leading institution in these vital fields. It is an engine of economic growth, ranked third in the nation for the number of startups launched each year.The university is the top-ranked public university for federal research and training funding and the ten engineering departments are consistently rated some of the highest in the country in their respective fields. Because of the university’s influence in the economy, technology, and research, undergraduate engineering students at the University of Washington are afforded an unmatched educational experience. They have opportunities to work on interesting projects with global impact, tackle real-world problems through design projects, and much more as they open doors to an extraordinary future.The university has a wide variety of programs to support engineering students. First- and second-year undergraduates can live in the Engineering Community, a residence hall that extends learning beyond the classroom. The Engineering Academic Center provides support, tutoring, workshops, and study groups.12IOWA STATE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 87.83ANNUAL TUITION: $21,483PROGRAM WEBSITEIowa State University’s College of Engineering offers a dozen different engineering majors as well as five minors for undergraduate students in its eight departments. Engineering students at Iowa State get to work with professors whose research shapes the future, participate in research labs with the latest technology on revolutionizing projects, and get hands-on experience by collaborating with students from over one hundred countries.ISU engineering students can also enhance their educational experience by participating in one of the college’s top-rated learning communities. Every engineering major has a learning community that takes a large campus and makes it small. Students can also join more than sixty engineering student organizations or participate in one of the College of Engineering’s more than thirty study abroad programs. The possibilities are numerous and the experiences are priceless. The excellent and well-rounded engineering programs at ISU lead to over 95% of graduates landing jobs within six months of graduation.13CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 86.57ANNUAL TUITION: $47,577PROGRAM WEBSITEOn 124 acres in the beautiful environs of Pasadena, California, sits a world-renowned and pioneering research and education institution dedicated to advancing science and engineering. Cal Tech is home to an array of award-winning faculty members, including 35 Nobel Prize winners. Its investigations into the most challenging, fundamental problems in science and technology in a singularly collegial, interdisciplinary atmosphere have helped Cal Tech to develop a well-deserved reputation. All the while, it educates some of the world’s most outstanding students to become creative members of society.Boasting one of the lowest student to teacher ratios and a rigorous curriculum with access to varied learning opportunities and hands-on research, Cal Tech is a prime destination for prospective engineering students. The Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers six majors and two minors for undergraduate students interested in a career or a graduate degree in engineering. As well, the Division of Biological Engineering offers an undergraduate major in Bioengineering, and the Division of Chemical and Chemical Engineering offers an undergraduate major in Chemical Engineering with the option of four different concentrated tracks.14MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 86.44ANNUAL TUITION: $48,452PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is consistently one of the top ranked universities in the world. Its School of Engineering is no different among engineering programs. Founded in 1861, MIT has a proud history of influencing the world through technological leadership and research innovation. MIT is one of the world’s preeminent research universities. The largest of MIT’s five schools, the School of Engineering educates about sixty percent of MIT’s undergraduates. Over a third of MIT’s faculty are in the School of Engineering and they account for more than half of the sponsored research at MIT.The School of Engineering is home to eight academic departments and one division, as well as twenty laboratories and research centers. Undergraduate students in engineering fields have access to some of the world’s leading experts who are conducting some of the most cutting edge research. Students learn from and work with these award-winning leaders by choosing from over thirteen engineering majors and many more minors.15OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY—COLUMBUSCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 85.94ANNUAL TUITION: $28,229PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Columbus campus of Ohio State University is one of the largest university campuses in the nation. It is also home to one of the best colleges of engineering. Students enrolled in the College of Engineering at Ohio State move beyond the traditional lecture/lab approach and take part in experiential learning that provides both team-building skills and technological abilities. The nationally recognized First-Year Engineering Program fosters an appreciation of lifelong learning in general and engineering in particular. In addition to the academic and professional opportunities afforded the nearly 8000 undergraduate engineering students, OSU is known for its vibrant and active campus life.The College of Engineering currently offers fourteen major programs in eleven departments that span the breadth of careers within the profession. Students have the opportunity to follow their own investigational instincts through undergraduate research. Leading experts on the faculty work with the student to sculpt the student’s topic of interest into a feasible research project.More than 40 research centers and laboratories provide students with access to state-of-the-art facilities for research and teaching. The Global Option in Engineering is an exciting program for undergraduate students in any engineering major. These students combine internationally themed courses, experiences with global dimensions, and culture or language training to enhance their global competencies and better prepare them for the practice of engineering in a global environment.16UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN—ANN ARBORCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 85.73ANNUAL TUITION: $43,476PROGRAM WEBSITEAnn Arbor, Michigan is a vibrant, culturally rich community, in no small part to being the home of the flagship campus of the University of Michigan system. It is in many ways the quintessential college town. As the university is nestled in the heart of this city of 100,000 people, so the School of Engineering is the heart of the university’s North Campus, a hub of creativity, where engineering, art, music, and design students coexist and thrive.Michigan Engineering offers seventeen undergraduate programs of study that lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition, there are a variety of programs that help students explore their specific interests, several options for minors, and many other educational opportunities. For example, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program enables students to work one-on-one or as part of a small group of students on research projects conducted by faculty and research scientists all across campus.The College of Engineering offers hundreds of labs and opportunities to students looking to create their own projects or assist award-winning professors with groundbreaking research. And as one of the nation’s premier public research universities, the University of Michigan offers countless opportunities for undergraduates to enrich their college experience socially, academically, civically, and more.17NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY—RALEIGHCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 85.01ANNUAL TUITION: $26,399PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering at North Carolina State is the largest of any college at the university. Eighteen Engineering degrees are offered through nine academic departments in the College of Engineering and three departments in other colleges. The Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering Institute and Operations Research also offer engineering degrees.Through its state-of-the-art facilities, advanced computer resources, and world-class faculty, the College of Engineering integrates education and research, giving its undergraduate students opportunities to solve real-world problems in classroom, field, and laboratory settings. It also offers degree opportunities on the internet through its Engineering Online program. The Engineering First Year Program is home to first-year engineering students, providing important information that ensures a successful college career.NC State is located in Raleigh, NC, part of what’s known as the Research Triangle, comprised of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and anchored by NC State, the University of North Carolina, and Duke University. The proximity to so many world- and industry-leading research projects and the partnerships with other institutions gives NC State undergraduate students an advantage unavailable to many.18STANFORD UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 84.84ANNUAL TUITION: $47,940PROGRAM WEBSITEEngineering undergraduates at Stanford University have an unlimited number of possibilities, with a high number of degree options, research possibilities, and educational experiences. Within the School of Engineering’s departments, students can choose from among nine degree programs. The School of Engineering itself offers interdisciplinary programs leading to the B.S. degree in engineering with seven different specializations. Students may also elect a B.S. in an Individually Designed Major in Engineering. The Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) in the School of Engineering is available to students who complete both the requirements for a B.S. degree in engineering and the requirements for a major or program ordinarily leading to the B.A. degree. A degree in Petroleum Engineering is offered by the Department of Energy Resource Engineering in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences.In addition to the plethora of degree options for the undergraduate engineering students at Stanford, qualified students have the opportunity to do independent study and research at an advanced level with a faculty mentor in order to receive a Bachelor of Science with honors. The school’s institutes and programs bring together students and faculty to work together to solve big problems in human-centered ways, to conduct interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach to promote an environmentally sound and sustainable world, and much more.Other opportunities range from service learning programs to internships to study tours. These opportunities enhance engineering education by providing students with an opportunity to learn about technology and engineering globally, to build professional networks, and to gain real world experience in a culturally diverse and international environment.19UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND—COLLEGE PARKCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 84.49ANNUAL TUITION: $32,045PROGRAM WEBSITEThe A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland is comprised of seven departments and offers nine undergraduate degrees. A common core curriculum outlines the first year for most students no matter their major. The challenging set of courses emphasizes teamwork. Students also have numerous opportunities for research and design projects. The degree programs put special emphasis on technology entrepreneurship and offer many international and collaborative possibilities.The A. James Clark School of Engineering also provides undergraduate students outstanding resources for their academic pursuits—innovative research opportunities, world-renowned faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. Students are also a part of the University of Maryland community, which offers its own array of resources and opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun on and around its idyllic campus in College Park, MD. As a Clark School Engineer, students will have the opportunity to build a foundation of skills and knowledge that will benefit the world in a very special and unique way, while themselves having a special and unique experience as a Terrapin.20UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—LOS ANGELESCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 83.34ANNUAL TUITION: $39,518PROGRAM WEBSITEIn the heart of one of the country’s largest metropolitan cities and a part of one of the nation’s premier public university systems, UCLA is a leading institution in a variety of fields and disciplines. Its Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science is a national leader in technological innovation, interdisciplinary research, and engineering education. Within the school’s seven departments, it offers nine majors that prepare undergraduate students to meet the challenges of the 21st century.The Samueli School curriculum offers a hands-on, multidisciplinary education to prepare students to take on the challenges of their times and to make impact in ways that they cannot yet imagine. Its proximity to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the UCLA Anderson School of Management allows UCLA Engineering to excel in the growing field of biomedical and bioengineering research, as well as entrepreneurship.The talented and diverse faculty members at UCLA Engineering are among the top engineering educators and researchers in the world. They lead in fields including energy, sustainability, healthcare, communications, transportation, infrastructure, and information technology. Undergraduates at UCLA have the benefit of all that Los Angeles has to offer as well as the world renowned education the School of Engineering affords them.21RICE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 83.17ANNUAL TUITION: $43,918PROGRAM WEBSITELocated in Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, Rice is a comprehensive research university fostering diversity and an intellectual environment that produces the next generation of leaders and advances tomorrow’s thinking. The nine departments of the School of Engineering offer programs toward seven Bachelor of Science and nine Bachelor of Arts degrees and several engineering-related minors.More than sixty percent of Rice undergraduate engineers have a meaningful research experience before graduation. They also own all the intellectual property they create while students at Rice. The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership helps students become inspiring leaders, exceptional team members, effective communicators and bold entrepreneurs. The Rice Center for Career Development not only assists students in finding jobs after graduation, they also help undergraduates secure summer-long internships that are a vital part of the Rice experience.One of the unique features of Rice is its residential colleges. Before matriculating, undergraduates become a member of one of eleven residential colleges, which have their own dining halls, public rooms, and dorms on campus; most of the first-year students and about 75 percent of all undergraduates reside at their associated colleges. Because each student is randomly assigned to one of the colleges, and maintains membership in the same college throughout the undergraduate years, the colleges are enriched by the diversity of their students’ backgrounds, academic interests and experiences, talents, and goals.22ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY—TEMPECOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 82.95ANNUAL TUITION: $25,458PROGRAM WEBSITEArizona State’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering has a variety of resources to help undergraduate students succeed along their path to becoming engineers. From the very first semester, Fulton students integrate problem-based learning opportunities in their program courses. The Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative is a signature program at ASU, allowing undergraduates to work with faculty in pursuing their own research passion. Undergraduates might also take part in the Engineering Projects in Community Service program and design, build, and deploy systems to solve engineering-based problems for not-for-profit and nonprofit organizations. There is also the new Startup Center!, which offers signature entrepreneurship and innovation courses, workshops, expert mentoring, new venture competitions, and more.With two dozen undergraduate majors available, undergraduates at Fulton Schools are able to find the right avenue for pursuing their engineering passions. Fulton Engineering student support services include a thriving residential community, a dedicated Tutoring Center and a dedicated Engineering Career Center hosting workshops, biannual career fairs and more. ASU is located in Tempe, a part of the greater Phoenix area, giving students access to all that a big city has to offer for social and professional development needs.23PRINCETON UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 81.30ANNUAL TUITION: $45,320PROGRAM WEBSITEPrinceton University is one of the world’s premier research universities. At its School of Engineering and Applied Science engineering students learn the fundamental principles of engineering sciences and apply that knowledge to engineering design and practice through advanced courses and independent work. Ample opportunities for study in the life sciences, social sciences, and humanities complete a well-rounded undergraduate education that prepares students for a wide range of careers.Each engineering undergraduate at Princeton pursues an academic program in one of the six engineering departments that reflects his or her aspirations and interests within a general framework of requirements. Students benefit from participation in any of several engineering student organizations, stellar academic advising, and exceptional study abroad programs. But most importantly, Princeton engineering undergraduates learn from and participate with some of the world’s leading experts in their fields.Located in Princeton, NJ, the university’s proximity to New York City and Philadelphia gives students the cultural offerings of two major metropolitan centers that can be reached within one hour by train or car. Being near large cities also benefits engineering students looking for internships during their degree program or jobs upon graduation. But students can also find ample opportunities for social and professional enrichment on the Princeton campus, especially in the activities of their residential colleges.24UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 79.14ANNUAL TUITION: $28,666PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida is home to one of the largest and most dynamic engineering programs in the nation. Its nine departments offer fifteen undergraduate degree programs and its twenty centers and institutes help produce leaders and problem-solvers who take a multidisciplinary approach to innovative and human-centered solutions. Add to these stellar academic attributes life on one of the country’s liveliest and most exciting university campuses and it is no wonder Florida is an ever popular pick for aspiring engineers.The College of Engineering is approaching 9000 students and is in the top one percent for enrollment of women across all degree types. In addition to the diversity of the student body, the college has five times the U.S. average of startups launched and two times the U.S. average of inventions produced per research dollar invested. These numbers are due in part to the exceptional engineering faculty and in part to the college’s emphasis on innovation and discovery.25CORNELL UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 75.81ANNUAL TUITION: $50,953PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY offers one of the broadest curricula in the world with fourteen majors, including the option for students to create their own program, as well as nineteen minors and dozens of concentrations. Cornell engineering students are empowered by an atmosphere of discovery, learning from and working with faculty members who are pushing the limits of engineering. Faculty and students also break the intellectual barriers to finding solutions at the national research centers on campus many of which were established and are led by engineering faculty members. Cornell is home to more than one hundred interdisciplinary centers, institutes, laboratories, and programs that support research and enhance education.With nearly 3200 undergraduate students, the College of Engineering is one of the largest schools at Cornell. Its makeup is diverse and growing. The distinct personal, academic, and professional backgrounds of Cornell’s academic community gives depth and breadth to the interdisciplinary approach that is intrinsic to the university and unparalleled at other institutions. With eleven departments, the depth and breadth of academics at Cornell Engineering translates into unique undergraduate opportunities for focused study and interdisciplinary collaboration.26HARVARD UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 75.17ANNUAL TUITION: $47,074PROGRAM WEBSITEHarvard University has been for some time one of the top research universities in the world. Its attributes as an institution need little mentioning. For those prospective engineering undergraduates, knowing more about Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences might help as they explore potential educational opportunities.The School takes a broad-minded approach to education, designing courses and programs to cater to students at multiple levels and fully incorporating laboratory research. There are eight primary research interests in the School offering, six of which offer curriculum for a bachelor degree. Undergraduates can pursue one of seven Bachelor of Arts degrees or one of four Bachelor of Science degrees.Much coursework and several individual research opportunities allow undergraduates to work with professors on extraordinary projects. Dedicated undergraduate research facilities and Active Learning Labs also provide opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning. The School’s student organizations, research centers, initiatives, and institutes provide further opportunity to develop socially, academically, and professionally.27UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—SAN DIEGOCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 74.63ANNUAL TUITION: $41,387PROGRAM WEBSITEJust outside of sunny San Diego, La Jolla, CA, is home to the University of California–San Diego. UCSD is one of six UC schools to make our top 50 list. The Jacobs School of Engineering offers nearly twenty undergraduate majors leading to a bachelor’s degree. Its six award-winning departments provide close to 7000 undergraduate students with a breadth and depth unparalleled for undergraduate programs.Jacobs is set apart by its entrepreneurial culture and integrative engineering approach. The education model at Jacobs focuses on deep and broad engineering fundamentals, enhanced by real-world design and research, often in partnership with industry. Through their Team Internship Program and GlobalTeams in Engineering Service program, for example, they encourage students to develop their communications and leadership skills while working in the kind of multi-disciplinary team environment experienced by real-world engineers.Students have many options for development and social and professional interaction. The many exciting and active research centers provide opportunities for hands-on learning. And, being located at the hub of San Diego’s thriving information technology, biotechnology, clean technology, and nanotechnology sectors, the Jacobs School proactively seeks corporate partners to collaborate with them and their students in research, education, and innovation.28CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 74.45ANNUAL TUITION: $52,040PROGRAM WEBSITECarnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA is home to a world-class College of Engineering. With an eye toward the future, the curriculum at the College focuses on educating engineers to be properly equipped for successful careers in today’s global economy. It includes intensive classroom, laboratory, and hands-on learning. The work is challenging and the curriculum customizable.General engineering courses are required in the first year, giving students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a discipline before choosing a major. Many of the courses are project-based, including the “Introduction to Engineering” classes taken in the first year. Students are able to learn and practice under the supervision of our world-class faculty, who stress creativity and independent thinking, while requiring the student to define a problem, to design in the presence of technical and socioeconomic constraints, to make judgments among alternative solutions, and to explore innovative alternatives to more conventional solutions.The college offers a five-year joint bachelor’s and master’s degree in all five of the traditional majors, and an accelerated master’s program in Engineering & Technology Innovation Management. The College of Engineering also offers a unique joint degree with the Tepper School of Business where students can earn a BSE and an MBA in five years.29UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO—BOULDERCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 73.54ANNUAL TUITION: $35,079PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado in Boulder offers fourteen undergraduate degree programs. From Aerospace Engineering to Technology, Arts and Media, Colorado’s over 4000 engineering undergraduates have the opportunity for a world-class education on one of the most vibrant campuses in the country.The College of Engineering and Applied Science prides itself on their pioneering new approach to engineering education that places the student’s needs first and is integrative, collaborative, and inclusive. Students in the College are well prepared for entering careers in an increasingly global workforce.The many signature programs available at Colorado enhance the educational and professional development of engineering students. These programs include the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, which provides hands-on design experience to undergraduate students in its unique, award-winning facility. The college’s First-Year Engineering Projects Course allows students to put engineering theory into practice early in their undergraduate careers. Students work together on developing a variety of projects that address a wide range of real-world issues. The BOLD (Broadening Opportunity through Leadership and Diversity) Center fosters success through academic resources, student leadership, mentorship, research and career development opportunities and a supportive community in order to break down the barriers that keep too many of today’s young talent from reaching their aspirations.30UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—DAVISCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 72.74ANNUAL TUITION: $40,728PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering at the University of California Davis provides an undergraduate engineering education based on strong fundamentals. It provides students the tools they need to prepare for careers and continue to grow and adapt in a quickly changing technical world. Its undergraduate students have many opportunities for hands-on engineering through research, design competitions, student clubs, internships and, of course, classroom projects, with access to a large, well-equipped student shop, a rare resource in engineering schools today.UC Davis offers the most comprehensive engineering program and the most ABET-accredited engineering majors among the six schools appearing in this list from the University of California system. The College of Engineering not only provides access to a well-rounded educational experience, it provides several student resources, facilities, and organizations to help engineering undergraduates succeed in school and beyond.The Engineering Fabrication Laboratory is the university’s primary manufacturing shop for the numerous student teams and research groups within the College of Engineering. The Engineering Student Startup Center is an on-campus space where UC Davis students can prototype ideas and collaborate on technology ventures. The space was designed as a creativity hub for learners and young entrepreneurs, and is equipped with resources to empower students at the earliest stages of their startup ideas. Dedicated computer labs and student centers for engineering students is just some of the small touches that make UC Davis an excellent choice for engineering undergraduates.31NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 72.32ANNUAL TUITION: $50,855PROGRAM WEBSITEAt Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, the McCormick School of Engineering has developed the concept of whole-brain engineering. This idea permeates the full environment at McCormick and runs its way through all of the bachelor’s programs. Over a dozen undergraduate majors deliver a balanced education through coursework, research, internships, and extracurricular activities.Three key areas characterize a McCormick experience: design, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Design connects the technical skills of engineering with the creativity needed to correctly frame and solve the problem. The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides course offerings, funding, and guidance to students looking to nurture and develop their innovative ideas. And with resources such as the Center for Leadership, McCormick students gain the skills and ability to rally support around an objective, manage team dynamics, and maximize collaboration.Northwestern’s proximity to Chicago gives its students access to cultural experiences and professional networks that enhance the school’s already stellar degree programs. McCormick also provides resources like personal and career development that further shape its students into engineers who impact the world.32JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 71.84ANNUAL TUITION: $50,410PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, an engineering education is based in a solid foundation of basic science, mathematics, and computing. Beginning freshman year, Hopkins students are immersed in the innovative application of engineering concepts, applying engineering knowledge and working across disciplines to solve society’s greatest challenges. Undergraduates work in collaboration with faculty who are recognized leaders in their fields. They conduct research, take part in internships, find jobs, study abroad, and are encouraged to pursue academic interests outside their major.The Hopkins Engineering community is small, tight-knit and collegial, with all the benefits that come with being part of the Johns Hopkins global research network. Since 1979, Johns Hopkins University has been ranked by the National Science Foundation as the nation’s leading academic institution in total research and development spending. With any of the eleven undergraduate engineering programs, students will learn from and work with leading and active experts in their fields. Whiting boasts a 9:1 student to faculty ratio. The intimacy paired with the world-class research makes Hopkins one of the best choices for undergraduates who desire a hands-on experience.33UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—SANTA BARBARACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 71.20ANNUAL TUITION: $40,704PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering at the University of California at Santa Barbara provides a small-school atmosphere at a major university. Its five undergraduate majors give the nearly 1500 students a chance to study with world renowned faculty in an intimate environment. The 10:1 faculty to student ratio allows students to get to know leading scholars while learning from and working with them.The mission of the College of Engineering is to provide its students a firm grounding in scientific and mathematical fundamentals; experience in analysis, synthesis, and design of engineering systems; and exposure to current engineering practice and cutting edge engineering research and technology. To that end, UCSB engineering undergraduates have opportunities for interaction in active student organizations, expansion in study abroad programs, and discovery in one of several undergraduate research programs.The beautiful and inspiring setting of Santa Barbara on the California coastline is merely the backdrop to a globally top-ranked educational and research experience with the College of Engineering at UCSB. Access to the Los Angeles metropolitan area to the south and the Bay Area further north, give UCSB Engineering students large job markets to enter.34DUKE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 70.17ANNUAL TUITION: $51,265PROGRAM WEBSITEStudents at Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering are active, well-rounded, and successful. They participate in meaningful research, study abroad, and become active in student organizations, many of which are specialized engineering groups. And Duke gives them a top-notch education, preparing them to take their activity and success to a wider world.Pratt School of Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in four major engineering disciplines: Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. While each engineering major offers options for specialized study, the general engineering degree requirements are the same for all majors.Duke itself is a world-renowned university located in Durham, NC, a part of the famous Research Triangle. Engineering students not only benefit from the vibrant campus life at Duke, but they also benefit from the fertile research atmosphere that fills the region. The Research Experience for Undergraduates program is unmatched and provides opportunities to gain valuable research skills that make students highly competitive for jobs, internships, and graduate school scholarships.35UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 69.00ANNUAL TUITION: $29,758PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh has seven departments offering thirteen engineering programs. Although some students enter the Swanson School of Engineering with a departmental major already in mind, all students are admitted to the First-Year Engineering Program as undecided engineering majors. This first year experience is crucial to the development of the student and the future engineer. The program offers a common set of core courses, allowing students to share experiences and thus build lasting friendships and professional networks. It also ensures a solid foundation in math and science and thus create better chances for future success.The Freshman Engineering Integrated Curriculum requires the work and cooperation between different engineering departments in addition to the School of Arts and Sciences. The faculty is particularly devoted to the students they teach and have an ongoing commitment to the success of this program. They also happen to be leaders in their fields.Several centers, institutes, and labs give students opportunities for hands-on research experiences. And the many student organizations enhance the educational experiences of students by providing social and professional interactions with peers and future colleagues.36UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 68.82ANNUAL TUITION: $30,025PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering, undergraduates can choose from among fourteen majors. All engineering students start with hands-on introductory design courses. The UA College of Engineering has a 91-percent first-year retention rate, far higher than the national average. They pair some of their best instructors with freshmen; provide hands-on, interactive learning; and offer a number of advising, tutoring, and mentoring services.A unique opportunity for underclassmen engineering students at Arizona is the Engineering Leadership Community. The ELC is a unique living-learning community that brings together first and second-year engineering undergraduate students, helping them to develop their skills as future members of the profession, while giving them a real sense of belonging to the College of Engineering. Students have the opportunity to form a cohort of peers who attend classes together, receive guidance from a faculty member, pursue social networking among the UA engineering community and explore engineering professions.In addition the College is home to several dozen engineering clubs and organizations, an Honors Program, and an Engineering Ambassadors program. Students can also further enhance their education through study abroad programs and excellent tutoring and study groups.37COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINESCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 67.65ANNUAL TUITION: $34,828PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the Colorado School of Mines, earth, energy, and environment are the focus for students of engineering and applied sciences. The six of the school’s departments offer engineering majors, while two offer engineering minors. Colorado School of Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and applied science. It has the highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado and among the highest of any public university in the U.S.The Colorado School of Mines has distinguished itself by developing a curriculum and research program geared towards responsible stewardship of the earth and its resources. In addition to strong education and research programs in traditional fields of science and engineering, the school is one of a very few institutions in the world having broad expertise in resource exploration, extraction, production, and utilization.The school has 180 student organizations on campus, eighteen intercollegiate athletic teams, and the largest section of the Society of Women Engineers. Modern research facilities including more than 40 specialized centers, a strong interdisciplinary teaching and research focus and low student-to-faculty ratio offer a personalized education and encourage students to investigate problems from real-world perspectives. The school’s’ reputation and high admission standards, as well as its alumni network in industry, government, and academic institutions, contribute to a high placement rate.38RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICKCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 66.19ANNUAL TUITION: $30,023PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the main campus of the State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, Rutgers University’s School of Engineering continues the 250-year tradition of success at one of the leading public research institutions in the country. For nearly 150 of those years, a Rutgers Engineering education has prepared students for rewarding and successful careers in an ever-changing world through rigorous coursework, supported by groundbreaking research opportunities and leadership development.Undergraduate students in the School of Engineering follow a common first year curriculum. In the latter half of the first year, students declare a major from the over eight majors on offer. Also, those students with a desire and an outstanding first-year experience may find their way to the Engineering Honors Academy. Through selective academic courses and living together in residential halls during a portion of their time as undergraduates, Academy scholars enjoy an environment that facilitates strong intellectual bonds and personal growth. The students are challenged with accelerated courses and have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious James J. Slade research program which culminates in a final presentation and an honors thesis.All Rutgers Engineering students benefit from top-notch facilities, advising, and student services. And with the excellent career and professional development services, Rutgers students are well-prepared to take on fulfilling and successful careers in industry, government, research, and academia.39COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 65.09ANNUAL TUITION: $55,056PROGRAM WEBSITEAt Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, students not only study science and mathematics and gain technical skills but also study literature, philosophy, art history, music theory, and major civilizations through the Core Curriculum in the humanities. The first and second years of the four-year undergraduate programs comprise approximately 66 semester credits exposing students to a cross-fertilization of ideas from different disciplines within the University.Columbia’s is one of the oldest and most distinguished engineering programs in the country. There are sixteen areas of study for engineering students, each of which affords students opportunities to learn from some of the most awarded faculty in the world. The advantageous location of the university provides research, internship, and entrepreneurship opportunities in New York City and other nearby metropolitan areas.Students are immersed in hand-on design programs from the very beginning of their programs. They participate in real research that has real world impact. The over 1400 undergraduate engineering students at Columbia are able to participate in several student organizations, take part in a variety of fellowships, and take advantage of all that Columbia and NYC have to offer.40UNIVERSITY OF UTAHCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 64.89ANNUAL TUITION: $27,039PROGRAM WEBSITEAt the University of Utah’s College of Engineering, undergraduate students can choose to focus their studies in one of seven departments, which offer eight majors and three minors. The university’s campus is located in Utah’s largest city, Salt Lake City. The pristine surroundings and the metropolitan environment offer an unparalleled variety of activity for university students.The College of Engineering had its origins in the State School of Mines, established in the 1890s. Dedicated to enhancing Utah’s mining industry, it was among the first engineering programs west of the Mississippi River. A strong tradition of educational and technical support for local industry continues to the present day. Today the College has nearly 3600 undergraduate students, awarding nearly 500 bachelor degrees a year.Within the college educational opportunities and resources that expand and enhance the core curriculum of each major abound. State of the art facilities, study abroad programs, an honors program, and a wide variety of student organizations are many of the things that help Utah stand out on the engineering landscape. In addition Utah’s engineering research opportunities and tutoring centers give students experiences and assistance for success at Utah and beyond.41UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 64.42ANNUAL TUITION: $45,066PROGRAM WEBSITEOne of the nation’s oldest public universities, the University of Virginia has been a leading research institution for nearly 200 years. The School of Engineering and Applied Science embodies the university’s successful ethos. Founded in 1836, the Engineering School is the third oldest engineering school in a public university in the U.S.Within the Engineering School undergraduate programs, courses in engineering, ethics, mathematics, the sciences, and the humanities are available to build a strong foundation for careers in engineering and other professions. The school’s abundant research opportunities complement the curriculum and educate undergraduates to become thoughtful leaders in technology and society. The distinguished faculty lead the nearly 2700 undergraduate students through instruction and collaboration in a variety of engineering disciplines, including cutting-edge research programs in computer and information science and engineering, bioengineering and nanotechnology, and energy and the environment. The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science is home to nine departments offering ten undergraduate programs.Located in what the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research named the “happiest city in America,” the University of Virginia provides its students a full academic and social life. Charlottesville is found in Central Virginia just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It offers stunning beauty, extraordinary culture, and an inexhaustible list of things to do.42AUBURN UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 64.34ANNUAL TUITION: $28,840PROGRAM WEBSITEAuburn University in Auburn, AL is home to the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. The university has been offering engineering courses since 1872, and at Ginn College today students can choose from among a dozen undergraduate majors. Ginn provides excellent academic, research, and outreach programs; computer and laboratory facilities that are second to none; and a world-class faculty. The college is recognized as a major contributor to the region’s economic development and industrial competitiveness, with national and global influence.The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is among the nation’s top 50 in research expenditures. Undergraduates get to participate in many of the school’s award-winning research programs, and the strong research environment brings cutting-edge ideas and practices into the classroom. Ginn research programs collaborate with government agencies, businesses, and foundations to identify research needs, expand established technologies, and develop new ones, and transfer knowledge and technology to industry.At Ginn undergraduate students als have the opportunity to join a variety of student organizations, participate in engineering global programs, and take part in one of the liveliest university campus environments in the country. Career connections and tutoring centers help Ginn undergraduates become successful engineers that impact the world.43UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 63.65ANNUAL TUITION: $51,464PROGRAM WEBSITEPenn Engineering offers two broad engineering-based degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) is the flagship program, preparing students for careers in professional engineering and related fields. Students can choose to concentrate in one of nine majors while pursuing the BSE. The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) provides students more breadth, and allows them to combine a technology-based degree with course work options in other disciplines. The BAS degree is designed primarily for students whose interests are not oriented toward professional engineering. Students pursuing a BAS can choose from among four majors or work with Penn’s award-winning faculty to create an individualized focus of study.The numerous academic resources include many active student organizations, a tutoring program, and an office of Research and Academic Services. Research opportunities abound in Penn’s various interdisciplinary research centers and institutes. The extraordinary faculty-to-student ratio provides great opportunities for undergraduate students to work in state-of-the-art research laboratories during the academic year and in the summer. The dedicated Science and Engineering Library provides ample resources for research and study. And Penn’s location in Philadelphia provides a wealth of activities and opportunities for internships and career-launching jobs.44CLEMSON UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 61.88ANNUAL TUITION: $32,796PROGRAM WEBSITEThe College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson University in Clemson, SC has as its mission to create future engineers and scientists who can be productive in a global economy. All first-year undergraduates in the college begin with General Engineering courses. After that the college offers a broad range of rigorous and stimulating baccalaureate programs which provide unexcelled educational opportunities. Students may choose from among thirteen focused majors. The innovative combination of engineering and science disciplines which comprises the College facilitates study and research in fields transcending the traditional disciplines. Students enjoy close interaction with a distinguished faculty committed to excellence in undergraduate education as well as in research.With so much research at the University, there are plenty of opportunities for undergraduates to experience hands-on learning. Many students join Creative Inquiry teams and conduct research while applying classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Creative Inquiry projects require several semesters of commitment and provide invaluable hands-on experience as the participants find, analyze, and evaluate information. Clemson also has several student services, cooperative education and internships, and the vibrancy of a major university campus.45UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA—IRVINECOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 61.39ANNUAL TUITION: $39,458PROGRAM WEBSITEThe Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California at Irvine offers undergraduate degrees in a wide range of traditional and emerging fields. All engineering programs at UCI combine science, engineering fundamentals, design principles and application, and a culminating design experience. Students are encouraged to participate in research and hands-on engineering design opportunities to develop the practical skills needed for graduate study or employment. Two-thirds of undergraduate students participate in faculty-led research projects by the time they graduate. The Samueli School currently offers twelve majors and two minors.Over 3200 engineering undergraduates call UCI home and find focus in one of Samueli School’s five academic departments: biomedical engineering; chemical engineering and materials science; civil and environmental engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; and mechanical and aerospace engineering. The school pursues research that is timely, socially responsible and cutting edge, and works in partnership with industry and state and federal agencies to promote the transfer of research to applications that benefit society.Located in Irvine, CA, in Orange County, the school is situated within the larger Los Angeles metropolitan area and is also within reach of San Diego. Access to these major cities gives UCI students plenty of opportunities to explore cultural activities and professional networks.46UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARECOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 60.81ANNUAL TUITION: $31,420PROGRAM WEBSITEThe University of Delaware in Newark, DE traces its historic roots back to 1743, making it one of the oldest universities in the U.S. Today is stands as a national leading research-intensive, technologically advanced institution. The College of Engineering is one of the university’s seven colleges and is home to seven academic departments and three degree programs devoted to building a community of problem-solvers focused on challenges associated with sustainability, energy, healthcare, and the environment. Within those degree programs, students can choose from among nine majors and eleven minors.Over 2300 undergraduates are following a course of study in the College of Engineering at Delaware. A select number of these exceptionally capable and well-motivated students are given the chance to see and have a part in what is happening at the frontiers of knowledge today through the Undergraduate Research Program. The Science and Engineering Scholars Program combines the resources of the University’s science and engineering colleges and research centers, the Undergraduate Research Program, and industrial and government sponsors to give the selected students in-depth research apprenticeships in all areas of science and engineering.Delaware provides students with all of the resources of a large university together with the charm and intimacy of a small school. Student organizations, offices of development and support, career services, educational support, and other resources help to assure a successful journey through the undergraduate years.47YALE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 60.52ANNUAL TUITION: $49,480PROGRAM WEBSITEYale University is a world-famous institution of higher education and research. It is consistently recognized as one of the most outstanding universities in the world. It is no surprise then that its School of Engineering and Applied Science is among the best in the country. Like any other outstanding college engineering program, Yale teaches students the principles of math and science, modern software tools, and how to design devices and systems. With most of its faculty being involved in cutting-edge research, many opportunities exist for students to participate. Unlike many students at many technically focused institutions, students in Yale Engineering take their non-engineering subjects in classes taught by renowned faculty and together with liberal arts majors whose focus is on social, political, economic, and other humanities areas.The student to faculty ratio is among the best in the country. Yale’s School of Engineering and Applied Science has approximately sixty professors and it graduates approximately sixty engineering majors each year. Students have the opportunity to work alongside their faculty mentors on the cutting-edge of contemporary research. Many faculty members involve undergraduates in their research.Student and professional organizations in the larger Yale community and specifically in the College of Engineering and Applied Science give Yale engineering students many and various opportunity for personal and social development. Yale’s location in New Haven, CT, with its ease of access to New York City, provides students with unlimited possibilities for cultural experiences, as well as career and professional networks.48VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 60.03ANNUAL TUITION: $45,610PROGRAM WEBSITEThe School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN offers a Bachelor of Engineering in six degree programs and a Bachelor of Science in two programs. The School of Engineering highly recommends students actively seek out opportunities in various areas of interest in order to gain valuable skills and knowledge in research fields. Research-active faculty members often allow undergraduate students to work in their labs as student workers, technicians, or assistants.In addition to exceptional curricula and research opportunities within the School itself, Vanderbilt Engineering is a part of the larger Vanderbilt University context. As a major research university, with a long heritage of excellent undergraduate education, Vanderbilt offers all that one expects from large institution. Student life is vibrant, with social and cultural activities abounding. Within the School of Engineering, several student organizations help undergraduates develop professionally and socially.Honors programs, internships, study abroad programs, and other activities in the school give undergraduates experiences and perspectives not available in the classroom or lab alone. Engineering Career Development assists students with their first steps into the job market. Vanderbilt undergraduates are well prepared to impact the world.49UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIACOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 58.91ANNUAL TUITION: $52,217PROGRAM WEBSITEThe University of Southern California in Los Angeles is one of the leading private research universities in the world. Nearly 2600 of its 19,000 undergraduates call the Viterbi School of Engineering home. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is innovative, elite, and internationally recognized for creating new models of education, research and commercialization that are firmly rooted in real world needs.Viterbi’s First Year Excellence program aims to support student success and to help ensure a smooth transition to USC and Viterbi through a variety of different programs and services. The Engineering Freshmen Academy is a course every Viterbi undergraduate must take. The course approaches engineering from a different perspective, providing a macro-level view of the engineering profession by addressing the ethical, societal, and political impact of engineering. Academy section is assigned “Academy Coaches,” upper division Viterbi students who serve as resources and mentors to first year students.Since USC is in the heart of Los Angeles, there is a world of opportunity for its students. Cultural events abound. Beaches and mountains are within reach. Leaders from a variety of industries call LA home. Viterbi graduates, then, are well prepared to face the diverse challenges of the world and make an impact toward their resolutions.50MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE CHOICE SCORE: 58.55ANNUAL TUITION: $39,090PROGRAM WEBSITEStudents in the College of Engineering at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI are involved in a thriving, research-active environment. There they can sharpen problem-solving skills, connect with resources, interact with fellow engineers and students from other majors, and become a well-rounded engineer. Beginning in the first year, MSU Engineering students are immersed in a combination of academic rigor and hands-on, design-intensive education.The College of Engineering offers ten Bachelor of Science majors, spanning from the traditional, widely-recognized engineering degree titles to more interdisciplinary programs that permit students to build a foundation in engineering and add in courses from other fields of study. Incoming students are strongly encouraged to consider joining the CoRe Experience, where students live in the same residence hall where early engineering courses are taught. The experience provides students with the opportunity to be a part of a living-learning community focused on the engineering grand challenges of tomorrow.MSU is a large research university with all the amenities and options one would expect from such an institution. The many research projects give undergraduates ample opportunity to gain considerable professional experience. The student resources and organizations within the College of Engineering give MSU Engineering students a tremendous academic, social, and professional boost. And the vibrancy of the university campus rounds out the undergraduate experience for College of Engineering students.