EE - U of Rochester vs. UMiami vs. NC State

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've posted my dilemma in each respective school's threads and received responses that obviously favored the school there. </p>

<p>I would appreciate any advice as to where I should make my May 1st deposit to. As of right now, I'm not considering costs as one of my factors. I'm a finalist for the Gates Millennium Scholarship, and I already have a backup school in case things don't work out (Clarkson University, about $7000/year). I've also been waitlisted at UVa and Stanford. Please keep in mind that I'll also be participating in Air Force ROTC in college.</p>

<p>Rochester
PROS:
* Overall, rising academic reputation (In the early 30's now in rankings)
* Free curriculum, apart from ECE requirements
* Degree is in both Electrical and Computer Engineering
* Free classes at Eastman School of Music
* Good student to faculty ratio
* Student body is said to be collaborative and friendly</p>

<p>CONS:
* Doesn't host Air Force ROTC (I'd have to commute to RIT about 15 minutes away twice a week)
* Bleak and dreary weather for most of the year (Though I'm excited for snow, I know the adjustment to cold weather will be tough to adjust to coming from an island lifestyle)
* Not as much offerings in engineering majors in case I want to switch
* As far as I know, not as much centers devoted to engineering department research</p>

<p>Miami
PROS:
* Hosts Air Force ROTC
* Weather
* School spirit
* Good student to faculty ratio
* The city of Miami (Proximity to museums and other big city events)
* Frequently mentioned as a "school on the rise", though I don't know if it will be able to surpass Rochester academically</p>

<p>CONS:
* Isn't known to have a good academic reputation (party school rep)
* Isn't recognized to have a good engineering school
* Most students until now, claim that the student body isn't friendly and are very snobby</p>

<p>North Carolina
PROS:
* Hosts Air Force ROTC
* 4 season weather
* School spirit
* City of Raleigh has more to offer than Rochester
* Good engineering reputation
* Diverse offerings in engineering majors
* NUMEROUS course offerings</p>

<p>CONS:
* Most other majors apart from engineering aren't valued as much
* School size
* Rigidity of curriculum
* Overshadowed by Duke and UNC academically
* Has a majorly conservative feel</p>

<p>Overall, I just want to attend a school that will prepare me well for both a beginning career in the U.S. Air Force and then possibly, a good job afterwards as a civilian. Like everyone else here, I want to be able to receive the best education possible in my field by attending a well-perceived college, and at the same time, enjoy my undergrad years.</p>

<p>Any feedback is greatly appreciated as I have no means of being able to visit these schools! Thanks. :)</p>

2

<p>I would take Miami off the table, just not in the engineering class of the other two.</p>

<p>NC State would be my choice.

  • Significantly better ranked/reputation in EE and Comp Eng than Rochester
  • Much better location in Research Triangle + attached Centennial Campus hosting dozens of engineering businesses, great internship opportunities
  • Strong ROTC programs well respected on campus</p>

<p>NC State is a politically unpolarized middle of the road campus but the Triangle as a whole remains quite liberal. It’s rep in the region is stellar. UNC CH has no engineering available (other than Biomed and even that is joint with NCSU). Everyone in NC knows that NCSU is THE destination for quality in-state engineering. And as strong as Duke is as a university as a whole and in Biomed in particular, its other offerings in engineering are often trumped by NCSU (US News even ranks NCSU at 29 overall, Duke at 28, that factoring in Duke’s much greater biomed strength). Campus is very friendly and accepting, great school spirit, exciting D1 sports, devoted alums.</p>

3

<p>If you are planning to complete the AFROTC program then you will spend at least 4 years in the Air Force post graduation. After 4 years as an officer in the Air Force the reputation of the school associated with your bachelors degree will be completely irrelevent. Moreso, it is very unlikely that you will be working as a design engineer (or even have a job that is direcly related to your major) during much, if any, of your time in the AF.</p>

<p>I suggest you choose the school where you feel most comfortable and feel you are most likely to succeed during your time there. Your grades in school will have a huge impact on your success in AFROTC and subsequently the first set of choices available to you in the Air Force.</p>

4

<p>Take Rochester off…I know people who do ROTC at a host campus, and they say that the other cadets who commute from another school don’t really like commuting. They said it’s nice to just be there, and isn’t as much of a hassle. If this were a university you were really leaning towards, then it might be worth it, but it doesn’t seem like you are leaning towards it too much. </p>

<p>Engineering is pretty good at NCSU.</p>

5

<p>Agree with wbwa - I’d go with NC State. NC State is a great school for engineering and it doesn’t matter how the other majors are valued (people go to other schools for those majors, to NCSU for engineering, ag, etc. The area as a whole doesn’t have a conservative vibe, and the campus is probably middle of the road. My friends who went there (many) all got great educations in engineering and liked it. The campus (imho) is not attractive, but it’s OK and in a good location to go to school. Unless you want the Miami party school vibe (and many do), it should be off the table and Rochester is freaking cold!</p>

6

<p>Thank you to everyone for your honest advice. :slight_smile: Honestly, I was really favoring Rochester and Miami, because of their rising rankings and smaller class sizes. My doubts about Rochester really just lie in the commuting situation. Whenever I ask other people for advice regarding the three, I never even hear NC State as an answer because it isn’t as well known, especially out here in the Pacific islands. My doubts about NC State’s class sizes were trumped though, when people here in CC told me that classes there can be capped at 30 students. I was surprised to say the least and am seriously considering NCSU now.</p>

<p>Thank you again for your input. I’ve contacted the cadre at both NC State and U Miami and inquired about the process of registering as a cadet. </p>

<p>My questions about NC State are:

  • Would funding for the school be impacted significantly (especially in the engineering department) because it is a public school?
  • I’ve heard that engineering as an undergrad is the same almost everywhere. What solid advantages does NC State engineering have as compared to Rochester’s? (If you can elaborate specifically on electrical engineering, please do.) I’ve done research, but it would be really helpful to hear from people who have attended or know someone who attended NC State. Does it really have that much of an impact?</p>
7

<p>University of Rochester is what I recommend. Rochester and UMiami are definitely a notch above NC State overall. If you decide to leave engineering, NCSU will be a bad choice. If you are like 99% sure about it, go with NC.</p>

8

<p>XtremePower:</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice! However, I’m about 99% sure I want to get into engineering, haha. If not engineering, then another science, and from what I hear, NC State has pretty decent science programs. :slight_smile: Overall, I’m realizing that rankings really aren’t everything. It seems like State will provide me the best academic experience overall engineering-wise.</p>

<p>What’s funny is that at the beginning of everything, I really favored Rochester and refused to seriously consider anything else. But it is apparent now that there are so many other factors other than prestige that are just as important.</p>

9

<p>Aaaand today, I’m favoring Rochester. I’m just torn between the two schools now! (Miami doesn’t seem as appealing to me anymore.) I imagine every high school senior is feeling the same way though. Good thing I have until May 1st to decide…</p>