There are many good schools in USA. However, schools system is called College, which can be divided into university (private $$$$$ and public$$$), state university $$. The top 100 ranking is for universities only.
City College $ is for students, who don’t have much money to afford to study at university, or didn’t get admitted for the first place. But, for your case, as you are foreign student in States, tuition probably will cost you the same amount, even for going to City College (may be a bit cheaper). Most of the students decide transferring to University or State University when they feel ready and have met university’s requirement. You don’t have to decide what to study for the first two years, but you do have to concentrate on taking general courses and some of the engineering courses to meet requirement. However, there are students transferring from city college, state u, and university to university.
Most of the universities are looking for GPA 3.5 or better, and your toefl score (more than 550 or higher), state university will be GPA3.0, toefl 520(not sure) City college 社區大學 is looking for your high school transcribes and toefl too. You do need application for all colleges mentioned above.
I don’t think that you need to study at City College, but you do have to have your toefl score. I can help you to apply here if you wish. Let me know how I can assist for your status.
Judie Wu
judiewu@umich.edu