I'm a big fan of iPad. But when it comes to school, you must definitely want it to "Do-it-all", right? iPad can't replace laptop on that context. iPad is only suitable for a controlled work environment, or for personal usage case, you controlling how you run your environment. School works, lab works, you must need to install some software along the way. If you're in engineering, which I was, iPad is definitely out of the question. Unless you want to start acquiring iOS development skill and make the apps for you while you're at school.