<p>Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum. As of now I have a little over a month to decide where I will be going the next 4 years of my life. I am finding it extremely difficult to make a decision right now. I got into the Engineering program at Michigan and Virginia Tech. I know the program at Michigan is ranked higher compared to Tech, but the problem is Virginia Tech is a lot cheaper since I live in Virginia.</p>
<p>So here is the real question. Is the extra $121,000 for Michigan worth the difference between the Engineering program at Michigan vs. Tech? My parents refuse to send me out of state so I will have to take our student loans to go to Michigan.
Thanks for your time</p>
<p>Will all the 121k be loans ? Michigan is the better school of the two but not worth 121k in loans. You will probably be 40 years old when you finish paying all of it including interest. Go with Virginia Tech.</p>
<p>You (the student) can’t take out $120,000 worth of loans without someone else co-signing (like your parents).</p>
<p>Don’t do that to you or your parents. You would be setting up you and your family for a financial mess. If your parents are smart, they would refuse to co-sign.</p>
<p>Also, there is no way in **** that a U Mich degree is worth that much more than a Va Tech degree, especially in engineering.</p>
<p>I agree. Between these two schools and an engineering major, pick the least expensive option (ESP since you are talking mega bucks!). Both schools are extremely good in engineering.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech for sure! The engineering opportunities are never ending at VPI. </p>
<p>For example, I’m looking in to Ocean Engineering. For your senior year, you design and work on an entire ship. Lots of companies recruit at VT, and the Engineering program is bar none in my opinion. They offer a great minor in Green Engineering as well, which makes you more marketable and compliments any field. </p>
<p>$121,000 in debt is a lot of cash when you have the best Engineering program in the country in your home state. However, you only go to college once, so follow your heart. Get a good paying job or do something amazing, and that $121K doesnt really matter. I also recommend the the Corps of Cadets at VT!</p>
<p>A multitude of career speakers have all reiterated one thing: your choice of college only matters for your first job. So, I’d imagine the average first job for a Michigan grad pays slightly higher than for a VT grad. However, after your first job, your career depends soley on your SKILLS and not your education. Therefore, I would pick VT. You’ll get a fantastic education, and, in the long run, you’ll receive a better value.</p>
<p>Engineers from VT are offered great jobs after graduation. Take the 121K for a down payment on a house, you’ll need it if you end up in the DMV area. :)</p>
<p>It is unfortunate if you did not have this money discussion BEFORE you applied to an OOS school like Michigan. Did your parents tell you months ago that they had no intention of financing Michigan? We have excellent schools in Virginia and my kids are engineers out of UVa and Virginia Tech. No problem getting good internships and jobs. There would have been no way our family would have paid a premium to go to Michigan, despite how wonderful it is. Some families are willing to pay more for an OOS or dream school, others are not. Your parents seem to fall into the category of parents, like us, who cannot justify the added expense when you have excellent lower priced options available to you. Go Hokies!</p>