Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi

Located right beneath the hotel where Obama stayed during his visit to Turkey, Yildiz Tech has a great location right in the heart of the city. Probably one of the many reasons to attend this school. You are studying literally minutes away from Bosphorus by walk, and from the night-​life of our renowned Taksim by public transportation. The campus is small and lovely, as it hosts historical Ottoman buildings once belonged to royal family of Ottoman Empire. The area between Faculty of Architecture and Rectorate is highly recommended for just sit and relax, up by the mini-​fountain and the garden. Warm overall atmosphere with a select student population, YTU generally attracts the brightest students graduating in the top 5−10% of their high schools. Very few people are cliquey, and socially awkward. Compared to other technology universities in Turkey such as İTÜ and METU, students here try to balance their social life with heavy study load more, during the undergrad studies. Graduate level research is an area that needs more focus IMHO. Even though a dedicated engineering school, YTU also has great architecture, arts and econ programs. The school has a very good alumni profile within Turkish and multinational conglomerates. The National Energy Center, which is funded by National Research Council, is in the other campus. Internationalization has been the primary concern of the administration, as it now has many exchange and double degree programs in the US, UK, Europe and Asia, available for staff, researchers and students. You can see at least one or two Fulbright alumni, growing in numbers rapidly, in each and every department.
Food is not the best, but the quality/​price ratio is not that bad at all. All this campus needs is better cafeterias with more comfortable seating options, and there you have an enjoyable — quality education with good career prospects and lifelong friendships!
PS: I might be slightly biased as a YTU graduate.