I am currently trying to decide whether to go to Texas A&M University or University of Wisconsin- Madison. I have visited both schools and all that, but the main factor at this point is cost. I would be paying out of state tuition at A&M and the total cost of attendance would be $40,000. At Madison, I’d be paying in-state tuition and the total cost of attendance would $26,000. My intended major is Geophysics and I think both schools are very reputable for that area of study. I would go to A&M over Madison if the cost was equal but obviously it isn’t. Going to school at A&M, I feel like I would be able to make more connections to companies located in Texas and I believe recruitment opportunities would exceed those at Madison.
Overall I’m trying to figure out which school is going to give me the best return on investment (ROI). Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance
U Wisconsin Madison is an excellent university. There’s not much justification for you to go to TAMU with such a cost difference and I don’t think recruitment opportunities are different at either one.
They actually sent me another response today offering me a departmental scholarship and in-state tuition for the first year. So I will be attending A&M now. I also emailed a lot of oil and gas recruitment agencies and the majority of them stated that A&M would be the better option for my area of interest since the oil companies directly recruit from there.
TAMU may be a bit better for petroleum-related recruiting. Other than that, I cannot see any reason for attending TAMU over UW-Madison, as UW is far better in academics overall, and even in several geological disciplines – especially when it is still not clear that you may still be paying significantly more money to attend TAMU. Unless perhaps you want to become a cadet.
One year of in-state right now, vs. ~4, I’d be rather careful. Still, if you are set on potentially paying more for petroleum at TAMU, it should lead to good career potential. It’s not clear what the departmental scholarship amounts to, or the duration. If that will make your costs equivalent to UW for your major, then that could weigh the balance in favor of TAMU overall.
I do like the fact that you were clear on your intended field of study, and then took the initiative to both inquire about potential employers, as well as ask your potential department for more support – and succeeded. That proactive attitude should serve you well wherever you attend.
Wow, that’s excellent! DO check that the scholarship and in-state tuition deals will be continued for the rest of your years there (provided, of course, that you keep a certain GPA).
And yes for gas/oil the opportunities are better at TAMU, I didn’t realize in your first post that’s what you were going for.
Be ready though, there’s likely to be a significant culture shock between WIsconsin and TAMU.