I find your approach very strange. Whether you are applying for ME or PhD program, I would expect your criteria to be the subject area coverage, the expertise o

I find your approach very strange. Whether you are applying for ME or PhD program, I would expect your criteria to be the subject area coverage, the expertise of the teaching and research faculty. You would need to research the professors, their teaching and research focus and then based on that information contact them about applying to their school/program. Why do you care about the other students. Every person is studying/researching for their specific reasons which are unlikely to align with yours.