Electrical Engineering: Illinois vs. G Tech Vs. RPI vs. U Maryland vs. CC

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Electrical engineering major here, from maryland, looking for help on a decision...</p>

<p>U Illinois (Pros: ranked 3rd in EE Cons: far from home, only $1350 in scholarship)
Ga Tech (Pros: also tops in EE Cons: far from home, rough area and crazy grading?)
U Maryland (Pros: close to home, in honors and with $4500 2 year scholarship Cons: What the hell is UMCP's undergrad EE ranking? I can't even find it!)
RPI: (Don't know much about it, just got an email saying I get $5000 scholarship per year if I get taken off the waitlist)
Local CC aka Montgomery College (Pros: Full scholarship and "top engineering transfer program" Cons: Its a community college...)</p>

<p>Anyone care to lend some advice?</p>

<p>I'm leaning towards illinois sort of, but I'm really not totally sure what makes them "so great" in EE.</p>

2

<p>Instead of telling us how much money you are getting from those schools, can you tell us how much each school is going to cost you? </p>

<p>At any rate, if cost is not an issue, I would chose UIUC or GT.</p>

3

<p>Depth and breadth of UIUC ECE department is what makes it great. You should check out different ECE courses offered at undergrad level, which is quite impressive. UIUC ECE also has been historically rich, with important contributions to the field of electronics, such as the transistor, integrated circuit, and LED.</p>

4

<p>In-state tuition at Maryland would probably be hard to pass up. The faculty at Maryland are excellent scholars and researchers. Their graduate ECE ranking in US News is generally 13th-15th. Not sure about undergrad…probably top 30 but US News only lists top 15-20 in specialties. I think the overall rank in undergrad Engineering for Maryland is 21st and ECE and Aerospace are their top specialties. You can get an excellent undergrad education in ECE at Maryland. If you are a top undergrad there will be plenty of opportunities for research experience.</p>

5

<p>Well my main goals are the following…</p>

<p>-Lots of hands on work
-Doing undergrad research
-Best shot at top EE grad schools
-Social environment thats made of neither neurotic workaholics nor constantly intoxicated alcoholics</p>

6

<p>Bump</p>

<p>10 char</p>

7

<p>Ga Tech located in Midtown business district, not downtown. It is no longer situated in rough spot (since Olympic revitalized). Most condos nearby fetch highest price in Atlanta.</p>

<p>Also, most engineering schools give tough grade. I know for fact Illinois engineering school also has rough grade and probably as difficult as Ga Tech. It is just Ga Tech is mostly engineering school and IMO students at Tech complain too much about tough grade.</p>

<p>I were you, I pick Maryland for its price. Its engineering program is respected enough.</p>

8

<p>UIUC if money is not object. Maryland if it is. You will be fine either way.</p>

9

<p>Well, my parents are willing to pay, but they don’t want to throw their money away when there is no difference.</p>

10

<p>There is not a huge difference #3 vs 17 (Maryland) according to US News. Same numbers in EE according to the NRC. </p>

<p>Is Maryland instate? If it is then go to Maryland. But honestly with the Honors college, I think it becomes a wash. I would go with less cost at Maryland.</p>

<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in Electrical Eng](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area23.html]NRC”>http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area23.html)</p>

11

<p>Happykid is at one of the “W” high schools here in Montgomery County. For the last three years, the largest single number of graduates from that school have headed straight to MC. More of them choose MC than U of Md. These are kids who go on to transfer to top programs all over the country after two years at MC. Some of this year’s crop would be in your pre-engineering program this fall if you go there. You can find your peer group there, and save a lot of money for your further education. </p>

<p>If you are in the honors program at MC, I really don’t think that you can beat it. All of those hard classes most engineering students have to repeat because they flunk them the first time will be much easier to get through at MC where the class sizes are limited to 25 or so. And, with the guaranteed admissions program, you will go directly into the third year of engineering at Maryland after you finish the transfer program at MC. OK, the environment is not as “college-like” as if you would live on campus at one of the other schools, but the student body does seem to have any number of organizations that you could participate in, and it would be really easy to avoid the heavy partiers/drinkers because it is a commuter campus. </p>

<p>I’ve taken several classes at MC. The instructors were on par with instructors at other colleges and universities where I’ve studied. You can get a lemon there, but you can also get a lemon at any one of the other schools you are looking at. The faculty at MC are closely tied to the community, and to the universities in Maryland. If you want to get involved in some kind of research in your first year, I’m sure it can be worked out.</p>

12

<p>Maryland is a top 20 school in your field. It would be silly to pass that up for a CC. Then where are you going to transfer to? Maryland?</p>

13

<p>I just accepted Illinois :-D</p>

<p>But I’m still very sad about turning down Montgomery College, the program I got into was quite special.</p>

14

<p>MC does not have a “guaranteed transfer program” for engineering; they do for most disciplines.</p>