Hello! I’m in the Class of 2017 and am looking more into schools in Florida and Texas? But in addition for overall best engineering schools, is there certain schools in these states that have the best electrical engineering program? Thanks!
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Hello! I am a Junior and was wondering what a low GPA would be for college of engineering for schools like Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. I have a little under 3.6 un-weighted GPA and a 4.2 weighted GPA.
30 ACT
I live in Indiana, and I’d say that finances aren’t necessarily the biggest concern, but is something we’re watching out for.
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You need to ask your parents how much they’ll pay. Don’t guess…ask them.
With Purdue instate, there’s no reason to pay OOS for UF or UTexas…and unless your parents are very affluent, they probably would say “no” to paying more for schools that would not be better in eng’g than UF or UT.
UT and Texas A&M are going to be the best engineering schools in Texas.
But you need to know that IN state kids with much higher stats than yours are nervous about admissions into the engineering programs for those schools.
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Well…Florida can be a bit complicated…
The best program is at UF, then it’s USF/UCF, then the other state universities, such as FSU/UNF/FIU/FAU…
As a rule, most of the OOS merit scholarships are competitive (not automatic).
UF is $28K a year in OOS tuition and they use holistic admissions(you can research the UF forum for details). To be “affordable”, you will need one of the competitive OOS merit scholarships ($16K or $20K a year). This may be a reach.
You’re much more likely to get an OOS tuition waiver (at FSU, for example) and or merit awards at any of the other schools. In many cases, this could lower your cost to less than your in-state options (like Purdue). In-state tuition (when you have the OOS waiver) is a bit over $6K a year in Florida (before considering travel!).
For private schools, you would want to take a look at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach and Florida Institute of Technology. Cost would be the concern (as it is at any private college) so run the NPC’s for both schools.
Purdue is a great in-state option, so you’ll need to carefully consider any of these Florida options. The application charge is only $30 for any Florida public university, so you could apply to 1 or 2 and then consider how much merit would be awarded. Both UCF (Orlando) and USF (Tampa) are on rolling admissions, so you could apply early in the Fall, and have your results (and merit info) by November.
Good Luck!
Another excellent in-state option, assuming they are generous with aid, is Rose Hulman.
In Florida, only UF is good enough to justify leaving the state, and that’s assuming cost is not a concern.
Texas has Rice, TAMU and UT-Austin, all of which are exceptional in Engineering.
But as a resident of Indiana, Purdue should be your benchmark. It has truly outstanding Engineering programs across all disciplines, and at a very reasonable price.
@mom2collegekids @carachel2 @Gator88NE @Alexandre
Thanks for your help guys!
The main reason I am looking at some OOS schools is because I understand Purdue is hard to get in esp. for engineering, and though I do know that the schools you guys have mentioned are just as competitive, I like to spread my chances throughout.
I am definitely going to take all of your advice and look into the schools you guys mentioned.
And yes, I’ll make sure to have a talk with my family about the finances soon!
Thanks Again!
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This is a direct quote from the engineering admissions info session at Texas A&M:
-admissions to engineering is expected to get much more competitive
-they expect 15,000 to apply for less than 5,000 spots
- a few thousand will be admitted to “bridge” programs at Blinn Jr college
So let’s pretend you are one of the admitted… Even then you are not guaranteed the major of your choice. A 3.5 in first year engineering classes is the expected GPA that “might” help make you competitive to be accepted to the major of your choice.
UT engineering turned away many many tippy top students this past year.
These are state schools who are obligated to fill most of their seats with in-state applicants.
You may already know all of that… I just wanted you to understand these are both competitive programs also.
RocketsandMoons, Purdue is not that selective. That’s the beauty. A top 10 Engineering program that is moderately selective. Let me put it another way, if you don’t get into Purdue Engineering as an in-state student, chances are, you will not get into any of the good engineering programs in FL or TX.
While Purdue’s a great school, and should be one of, if not the top, option for any in-state engineering students, there is nothing wrong with applying to more than one school, in fact, that’s expected. Pick a safety, a few matches and maybe a reach or two…
@carachel2 @Gator88NE @Alexandre
Thanks for the valuable information and advice!
I have a question, since I live in-state for Purdue would that give me a better chance than an OOS student who may be slightly more qualified than me? I am a bit confused on how admissions work and you guys seem to know this well.
Also, Carachel2 is my chances at both of those schools very slim for engineering? What if I have have rising trend in grades and got a higher ACT (I know it’s not much extra help, but I just want to know if I have at least a shot of making it because like Gator88NE said, I want to pick a variety of schools even some that are reach schools).
And sorry for making this so long, but Alexandre, I saw that you said Purdue is moderately selective (yay!) and was just wandering if you know or not if Purdue has a separate engineering application. I looked through the website and will probably ask someone later at my campus visit, but I couldn’t find it in the web so I was wondering if you know because I heard schools without separate engineering admissions usually have less selectivity.
Thanks!
oh, and another question for @carachel2 that I found when browsing CC, if I have all the required coursework and required scores for auto admit to Texas A&M, would that give me auto admit to their engineering program?
There is no longer any auto admit for the engineering program at A&M. This is new for the entering class of 2017. Admission is by holistic review only. And then once you are admitted, after the first year you need a high GPA in order to be admitted j to the engineering major of your choice.
I’m not saying don’t apply. I’m saying it’s important to understand that admissions to both UT and A&M will be very competitive.
A coworker went to Rose Hulman because he was not accepted into engineering at Purdue. In state.
IUPUI is more reliable than Purdue for admissions and with those stats Bradley may be less expensive, or at least competitive. Thinking Toledo would be as well.
In fact, take a look at Texas Tech and New Mexico Tech, if warmer winters are a thing. Thinking both of these, OOS, will beat Purdue in state on cost and IMO don’t give up much if anything on quality.
DD is headed to UAH in the fall, but that’s Alabama not Florida.
Do your very best to get in, and STAY in (which is the hard part) Purdue engineering.
Purdue is a wonderful school and a great collegiate experience. A Purdue engineering degree will open many doors. You are blessed that it is an in-state option.
Also look at UF (yay!), but I agree that you are more likely to get a better financial deal from FSU. ETA: if you have good ACT scores look at UCF closely too.
Depending on your GPA/test scores, definitely look at UA (Alabama) and UAH. That way you have some solid OOS options with scholarship opportunities. We loved UA and I loved UAH. If possible visit both schools, but especially UA. It’s worth the trip!
Texas has a couple of great options but lots of demand, too. I wouldn’t roll the dice there but that’s just me.
ETA: Do you think it’s possible to nudge your ACT up 2 points?
Daughter was very put off by large classes (300+) and a lot of sections taught by TA’s.
I work with a LOT of Purdue trained engineers. There isn’t anything really wrong with it, but I don’t think the quality of the end engineering product is much different from U New Mexico, for example. In terms of raw net value for engineering, I’m not seeing it, but I’m pretty cold blooded about ROI.
^^I wouldn’t go to Purdue from OOS, but in-state it would be a great option imho.
Purdue is a large school. But so is UF, UCF, UT-Austin, TAMU, etc.
We’re in state. DD found ABET engineering options in every surrounding state for less than Purdue in-state.
I think even Miami netted out about the same, and Rose came frighteningly close in spite of the nominal 30k difference in tuition. I think Bradley was essentially the same once the fees were summed up. She had a 33ACT/3.85 ish, fwiw.
That’s interesting @50N40W (the cost factor)! I hope she enjoys UAH - it seems like a nice place to be.
What about SD School of Mines? This is reputed to be the best value of any of these engineering schools, under $20K tuition. Good reputation as well. Just another option to put in the Hopper…
If the OP is in-state for Indiana, Purdue will be the best bet as it is a great school. The only drawback, if the OP is a heterosexual male, is that the male/female ratio is 57/43. I have been told my Purdue grads and students that women are scarce on campus.
UF will be much more expensive at $28,000 per year OOS, but both USF and UCF are much cheaper ($17,500 and $22,500). USF and UCF do offer generous OOS merit aid, so it is possible to get that number lower. Based on the OP stats, there might be considerable aid at USF as follows. The Green & Gold scholarship (29+ ACT and 4.0+ GPA) would drop tuition to under $6,000 a year.
http://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshman/admissions-scholarships/nonflorida.aspx
UCF has similar aid but they don’t seem to be as up-front about it. Both USF and UCF have solid engineering programs, and they have opposite gender issue as Purdue with male/female ratios of 45/55. Other than UF, the other public engineering programs in Florida are below the level of USF/UCF.