Aerospace Engineering Transfer; Georgia Tech (out state) vs. University of Maryland CP (in state)

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, all. I am a transfer student from a community college. My major is Aerospace Engineering. I am accepted to both GT and UMCP for Aerospace Engineering program

I already attended the orientation at College Park and met the advisor. My schedule is all set for the next two years. Hopefully, I will graduate with BS on May 2018. By Fall 2016, I will be 56 credits away from BSAE (its because I am taking two courses this summer and ALL my credits from CC got transferred). I am also considering to do a minor in physics (I am 9 credits/ 3 courses away) and its the same price. At UMCP, I am paying in state tuition, which is about 9800 a year.

I have not attended the orientation at GT (will go on July 24, because I received late decision). I am still not sure If I will be able to graduate in 4 semesters. However, I already have 62 credits eligible for transfer (they require 132). Inside the remaining 70 credits to be taken, there are 6 credits on social sciences electives which I can take over the summer. Their tuition is about 30k per year for out of state students. I might end up with about 40k of loans by the time I graduate from here.

Does GT worth the extra 20k per year and/or the risk to stayed up in college for an extra semester or two?
I dont have any debts so far (some saving instead), and I dont mind waiting tables on weekends. If they dont differ a lot (like… I can get the same job, starting salary, starting position, same chance to get into MIT for MS and Phd, etc…), I should not make my BSAE even harder. Some people told me so, but I personally like to push my self.

For AE undergrads, I saw that GT is number two while UMCP is 9. For Return of Investment, GT still win over UMCP but not that much (plus, considering I am in-state at UMCP). But after all, statistics doesnt say it all, does it?

Thanks!!!

2

I don’t see why GT would be worth $20,000 per year more ($40,000 over two years, $55,000 if you need an extra semester compared to UMCP), particularly if you must take loans for extra amount.

3

Not worth it…not worth the debt…and NOT worth the risk of having to do an extra semester or two.

4

Maryland is no slouch in AE. According to all the publications I have seen, UMCP is considered one of the top 10 AE programs in the nation. Northrop Grumman (headquartered less than 30 miles away from the College Park campus) loves UMCP and hires many graduates annually…as do other major aerospace companies. I don’t see how GT is worth the extra $50k over the 2/2.5 years. Save the money and go to UMCP.