College decision

Well I have already applied to A&M and UT and I decided to pick ut dallas as a safety school. I’m going into mechanical engineering so i know it will be very competitive at A&M and UT. The problem is UT is my first choice, and i’m retaking my act score to get above the avg of 31. IN case I dont make it or maybe they just give me my second choice of aerospace engineering then I can always go to A&M and try there (of course entry to major would made it hard, hence second choice school).
I have been thinking about this for days I could really use some help.

At A&M i would have to risk going through the entry to major in hopes of a very high gpa for mechanical (my brother is there as a different engineer but he has pretty much told the maths that i would need to do to make it easier so i will have some preparation). However, i could also go to UT Dallas as mechanical engineering guarantee -assured admission?-. My problem is, should I go to A&M (I like engineering, math, and science in general but my favorites are 1st mech, 2nd aero) and take the risky but “branded” route which would also help me get a job much quicker or should i go to UT Dallas as mech. guarantee but a name that is not AS “reputable”. I know all three are ABET certified. However, this is something that I have been thinking about on end and I am yet to decide what I will do when admissions results come around (not too long).
Don’t worry about housing, cost,and anything else nonacademic or “unimportant” in that type of manner. I want to know which one will give me the best result out of the two. Thank you very much in advance. I appreciate any help you guys have…
please tell me anything you have to say.I know the whole “branded” thing sounds ignorant but I’m sure it makes a difference.

At all of these schools you will receive a good education. Let me give you a pitch for UTD. My DD just started there in CS. She turned down UT to do so. There were many reasons for her to do so with the one major reason to go to UT was the prestige. UTD offers for good students:

  • great scholarships for good students
  • University honors that gives you priority for registration and housing, access to professors (my DD has had 2 to 3 lunches already with profs)
  • direct entry into major and flexibility in changing majors or doing minors
  • rich environment for internships and jobs - they say for CS, students that wanted a job 100% placement
    Many companies have headquarters or are located there - newest is Toyota which spent a week at UTD recruiting
  • classes are taught by professors and facilities are new, good supporting services - math lab, discreet math lab
  • less pressure/opportunity for partying and drinking - could be good or bad depending on what you want
  • good times in Dallas - my DD has gone to a Ranger game, spent day in downtown Dallas, found a sandy beach off a lake, and joined many activites on campus - learning to play pool, swim club, sand volleyball, cookouts, ultimate Frisbee - all in 2 weeks
    That is my pitch for UTD. If you have any questions, I will try to answer. I suggest you take a visit and see what you think.

@GTAustin my son is also considering UTD for CS or engineering but is concerned about the "commuter"reputation. He is not the most socially adept and is concerned over finding friends and having that "traditional"college experience. He is not at all concerned about partying and drinking or big sports but more concerned about how many kids actually live on campus and stay on the weekends etc. Can you comment on how your DD has found that environment at UTD. Thanks.

UTD has an undergraduate population of about 15,000 students. They have 6 dorms that house 450 to 650 freshman each. They do have apartments on campus that house upper classmen. I think the total amount of students housed on campus is 4700. They are in the process of building 2 new apartment/dorms on campus for upper classmen that will add 800 beds. They are also opening this year a drag area with shops and apartments above that house 650 students across the street from the present dorms. It is called Northside UTD. So, they do have a lot of students who live on campus.
My DD’s roommates - one is from San Jose and one is from Dallas area and my DD is from Austin. This weekend (Labor Day) a lot of the kids did go home but not my DD. She found things to do all weekend. Her secret for keeping busy has been to join numerous facebook groups and be social. She has joined several clubs - swimming, women in computing, and campus outreach. She does spend time in the lobby, playing pool, and has met people there. It does help that she took a car up with her and doesn’t mind driving. They do make it easy to bring a car. If not, they do offer free DART pass that goes a lot of places in Dallas and the school runs buses to local stores and restaurants.

The secret for the social scene there does appear to be the clubs (over 300) and becoming involved with other students that have similar interests. The school does have many opportunities to volunteer for and many kids seem to do that.
If your son is a true CS person and likes to do the gaming - there is a large number of students involved with that. My DD is not into the gaming, so I did have some concerns. That is why she choose the honors LLC vs CS LLC. She has found her crowd thru the intramural/club sports scene - swimming, volleyball, dodgeball, activity center, ultimate Frisbee, pool. I’m happy - it is keeping her busy and healthy. I couldn’t ask for more.

@GTAustin - not really a thread for your question but whatever…