<p>I am having a hard time deciding between these schools and I have to make a decision by May 1st so my parents suggested that I make posts to see what people know about the two schools and which one sounds more favorable. So, which one of these schools would you choose and why? Also, what do you know about these two schools?</p>
<p>THANK YOU!</p>
<p>I know not too much about the schools but I hear a lot more about virginia tech than clemson. I would go with VT (not to be confused with VD, which is something you should try to avoid).</p>
<p>what’s your major?</p>
<p>Are either in-state? What’s the cost difference?</p>
<p>I’m planning on majoring in either civil or environmental engineering
I live in Massachusetts so neither of the schools are in-state
Next year Virginia Tech will cost around $28,000 and Clemson will cost around $32-34,000</p>
<p>Academically I think VT would be the better engineering school. I don’t think that there are radical differences between the two schools otherwise but what other factors are important to you in making your decision?</p>
<p>well the truth is that I think that I would be happier at Clemson but Virginia Tech has a way better reputation for engineering and I would like to come back to the northeast after college so that’s why I’m torn between both schools.</p>
<p>VT does have the better reputation, but at the end of the day, a top student from Clemson will do better than an average student from VT. If you think you’ll be happier and will perform better as a result, then maybe Clemson is the place for you. But whether or not that’s the case is a personal decision.</p>
<p>I second all of that ^^</p>
<p>You have to go where you’ll have more energy, be more excited and motivated, and more attentive. </p>
<p>My youngest sister, who has a 4.5 GPA/Captain of 2 Varsity Sports/Class VP/NHS/National Merit Semifinalist, is basically going to Clemson over UVA (which is in-state for her).</p>
<p>BTW, check out Princeton Review’s Ranking’s and Lists 2009 (which come from STUDENT surveys):</p>
<p>Clemson University</p>
<h1>1 Happiest Students</h1>
<h1>1 Jock Schools</h1>
<h1>2 Town-Gown Relations are Great</h1>
<h1>6 Best Quality of Life</h1>
<h1>7 Best Athletic Facilities</h1>
<h1>7 Students Pack the Stadiums</h1>
<h1>8 Best Career/Job Placement Services</h1>
<h1>8 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports</h1>
<h1>20 School Runs Like Butter</h1>
<p>VT</p>
<h1>3 Best Campus Food</h1>
<h1>11 Class Discussions Rare</h1>
<h1>19 Students Pack the Stadiums</h1>
<p>^
One of Tech’s superlatives is a negative, and another one is in a category that Clemson BEATS it in. So yeah, while the food IS good (I’ve eaten there), who cares if you’re depressed (and fat as a result!)?</p>
<p>As a fellow Massachusetts resident who came down south for college, I’ve heard some things about Clemson being really intolerant of liberal views and a bit on the obnoxious frat-boy side. You may like that aspect of it, but I’ve been told by a southerner-without ever even considering the school-that my more liberal views would fit in HORRIBLY at Clemson. But you could be a completely different person than I, and be fine with that too. I’ve heard great things about VT from other northerners who went there from MA. Whatever you choose, good luck next year!</p>
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<p>The problem is that it’s a “the grass is greener” argument - how do you know which school will result in better performance? An average student at VT will be better off than an average student at Clemson. So if you’re going to go to Clemson, you have to be relatively certain that you’ll perform substantially better than you would at VT. </p>
<p>And how do you know that will be the case before your first day at college? You don’t. It’s a risk. Usually the lower risk option is the better school or the cheaper school.</p>
<p>And for someone to turn down UVA to go to Clemson - hopefully she either has a full scholarship to Clemson because otherwise I can’t see that bet paying off. VT to Clemson is one thing, but UVA is a substantially better school than Clemson.</p>
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<p>Those Princeton Review rankings are a joke. A school will win “#1 drunkest students” one year then win “#1 least drunk students” the next year. It’s all about who they poll from that school that year.</p>
<p>Honestly - put no faith in those rankings, whatsoever.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice everyone, I’m actually more on the conservative side of political thinking so I don’t think it will be a big problem adjusting for me. </p>
<p>I can definitely see how someone would turn down UVA for Clemson. To be honest, UVA is an amazing school but engineering is not really one of its strengths. Clemson is by far a more technical school than UVA</p>
<p>Pierre…I’ve worked with engineers from all the schools on your list. In the end, I really think you need to go to the school that will make you happiest…and it sounds like that school is Clemson.</p>
<p>I have to say that I think VT is the better choice. Clemson is a nice place, I’m from the south and have heard good things - but VT has a better reputation by a long shot. Considering that you are paying out of state tuition for both, it seems like a no brainer to me. Why are you averse to VT? Why do you like Clemson more? At a large school like either of these you are certainly going to be able to find people that you get along with and fun things to do, so I’m curious as to your reasoning. If you said it had something to do with the location, I might understand - but since you’re from the Northeast I wouldn’t think that VT weather would be a problem.</p>
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<p>I’ve hired many excellent engineers from UVA. It’s actually a much better program than VT. Just because engineering isn’t the only thing at the school doesn’t mean it’s a bad engineering program.</p>
<p>Burdell, so we’re clear, did you just say that UVA’s engineering is better than VT’s, overall?</p>
<p>Yes. UVA produces better engineers in my experience.</p>
<p>Now if your sole measure of the quality of a school is US News rankings, you’ll come to a different conclusion. Of course, using that as a measuring stick is completely wrong.</p>
<p>The VT vs. UVA comparison reminds me a lot of Texas. VT, like TAMU, is known in the area because of the sheer number of graduates it puts into the market with practical teaching. On the other hand, UT-Austin and UVA both teach from a fundamental basis, so they produce higher quality engineers. The end result is that the “throw on a tool belt and climb the column” engineers prefer TAMU and VT, while graduate schools, consulting firms, professional schools, and the non-traditional engineering companies (banks, business, etc) prefer the higher quality UT-Austin and graduates UVA.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call an engineer that doesn’t actually want to do engineering “higher quality” but if that’s your definition then I agree with your statement.</p>
<p>Interesting comments about VaTech. My departmet head is a VT grad, as is my nephew who got his PhD in theoretical fluid dynamics. I’ll have to explain to them about the tool belt thing.</p>
<p>well US News has Texas ranked about TAMU for engineering…</p>
<p>so GP Burdell do you think that going to VT would be the best school for me since it’s a bit cheaper and is ranked higher for engineering by US News.</p>
<p>I think the real question I have now is that, do engineering rankings by US News really matter in the real world once I start looking for a job?</p>