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Depends on your needs. Matlab is a very powerful so if you are going to be programming optimization algorithms and GUIs for robotic hardware (what I do) then you will likely need something more powerful. On my MBP 2011 13" i7 ivy with 8GB DDR2, I was easily using 2.5-3GB RAM in running an optimization program plotting over 3 million points to generate the best path possible. If you are an UG student, you will likely be responsible for small-scale projects. Even one of the lowest end models available in the market can do this. In fact, MatLab cloud will be able to do this.

What helped me was the iPad and a rubber tip stylus and Notability, PDF Expert, and ScannerPro. I would download PDF's off blackboard or take a picture of the handout with ScannerPro and annotate them in Notability.

Between the 2 I'd recommend R; however, my preference has always been MatLab.

I have an old 2011 13" MBP which works great (and will work even better with Mavericks) and will do all necessary. For lectures, I will be using notability on my iPad for note-taking and evernote for audio recording. Here are some good apps: iPad: PDF Expert or Goodreader for note taking on PDF's. Evernote for typing notes and recording audio and syncing to laptop. Pages for on the go work processing, numbers for on the go excel, iStudiez Pro for being on top of school work Mac (I haven't used windows in the last 5 years or so): Evernote, iStudiez Pro, iWork or Office (I prefer iWork)

Hi dxc, did you end up applying to the other schools? What was your result? Any advice for fellow applicants?

It's nothing but personal preference. I use notability with an awesome stylus and sync everything to DropBox. At my apartment or anywhere else without iPad, I have all my documents available to me on iPhone or MBP or PC. If I'm out and need something on paper, I print it at the local FedEx office. Someone prefer paper (my wife included). Others prefer all electronic (myself included). The only thing I would say is that take good backups.

I think it's rather "what kind of questions should I ask?"

I took PP test 2 yesterday and scored horrible 161Q 146V. Took PP test 1 today and got 167Q 152V. Clearly, I need to improve on my verbal. The real exam is day after tomorrow so I don't know how much I can improve on it. For engineering, how bad is a 152V?