Barrett vs U of A Honors for Engineering

<p>I know these threads exist in the respective university forums, but due to the strong rivalry I thought a post in the general forums would yield better results.</p>

<p>I plan on studying aeronautical and electrical engineering, and have been accepted to Barrett as well as U of A (Oddly rejected from honors college but i hope to get in after my first semester if I go). Financially, the costs and merit scholarships are almost identical, and I have visited both campuses and found them to be good (although Tucson seems rather run down). I've got friends I would love to maintain who are going to U of A, and I've heard that your engineering undergrad school is irrelevant as long as you do well.</p>

<p>How much of a difference is there between the engineering programs and grad school potential?</p>

<p>Are there more engineering internships in one or the other?</p>

<p>Barrett is definitely a more respectable honors college than UofA. I find it interesting that you were rejected from the UofA honors college because it is not nearly as prestigious as Barrett. That being said, I would for sure go to Barrett! You can always maintain your friendships through social networks or by driving down to Tucson one weekend and staying with them. </p>

<p>Respectfully let me provide some additional perspectives, leaving aside finances as you state they are similar, you have a good problem to have. I’m not big on honors, to be honest I dont think it buys you much, My DS11 is honors at UofA and for $500 pa its quite good, smaller classes and all but I question the added merit for attending honors with the addl work, as an employer it makes no difference to me whether you do honors or not and I certainly don’t make a distinction which school honors you do, for grad school again GPA is key and which school can you develop relations with profs to write excellent letters for you, I think both UofA and ASU could do this just fine. The comment that Barrett is better is I think rather misguided, UofA dont promote the honors college, never have, ASU otoh really promote Barrett and its x2 the addl cost, no biggy but again I dont see as much value as others do, yes the dining hall is nice, so are the dorms, but Uof Arbol Honors is arguably newer and nicer so to is likins!.</p>

<p>I believe the Eng depts are similar at each ASU is downtown on Mill which is nice, UofA is on campus and both produce good grads, my DS11 son roomed with an Eng undergrad and the program pushed him to the limit to get through this far, at ASU friends DS11 room-mate dropped out and went to cc because he could not keep up, Eng undergrad is really tough where-ever you go.</p>

<p>Socially ASU is closer to home, Tucson is pretty crappy in many areas, but it grows on you, if you are social I think Tucson has the edge, if you want to be close to home to come home most weekends, yes ASU might be your better bet.</p>