WAIT! Don't rule out Apple products just yet. As a computer engineering major, I've found macOS and Linux (any Unix or Unix-like OS for that matter) very useful. CAD performs well in Unix environments, better than in Windows, and has more programming/development resources available, both built in to the OS and in their user communities. For what you are describing, a Macbook Pro 15" will definitely meet your needs due to having graphics hardware targeting CAD and rendering. Though PTC Creo isn't available on Mac, your school probably uses Citrix Receiver like mine for the distribution of licensed software, so the OS doesn't matter; all school licensed apps will be running in the cloud in a browser type format. You could even use a Chromebook if you really wanted to, but it's far from optimal. You really don't need an overly powerful machine: programming in Java/Python/MATLAB can be done on an old Pentium G4, so there isn't a reason to get the fastest quad core processor on the market. But if your "entertainment" is gaming, you'll definitely benefit from a discrete GPU. If you're really really narrowing yourself to just winDOS (in my opinion, one of the most poorly written operating systems), I would recommend something along the lines of a Surface Book with discrete graphics.
A more general guideline for you usage would be:
A dual core processor (probably an i5 or i7, though between the two for dual cores, there isn't much of a difference)
8-16 GB of RAM (Any more is overkill, any less is too little)
256GB - 1TB of Storage, Preferably an SSD (modern SSD's are more reliable and durable than mechanical HDD's and are much snappier in daily use)
Discrete Graphics, Preferably an Nvidia Geforce GTX 960M, GT 940MX, AMD Radeon Pro 450, 455, 460, 550, 555, or 560 (they must have GDDR5 memory, anything other than these are on par or worse than Intel Graphics, and you'd be saving some money by sticking to the integrated one)
1080p display or higher, though in my opinion, in a laptop, the difference between 2880x1800 and 4k is pretty much moot: the 4k display just consumes more power.
If you plan on going integrated graphics only, only buy a laptop with an Intel Iris or Iris Pro graphics. Anything else won't last more than a generation and are terrible at CAD and gaming.
That's just my two cents.
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