<p>So I need help deciding on which engineering school to go. The decision will be between UConn, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Maryland. I have only gotten into Uconn and Penn State but would be surprised if I did not get into the other two. I live in Connecticut so in-state tuition is good for Uconn, plus they gave me a $12,000 scholarship. But there are two disadvantages that are on my mind: 1) Uconn is in the middle of nowhere (penn state is too but at least it feels like a town). 2) It is the only one of the four schools not ranked top 20 in engineering (ranked around 80th). Price is definitely a factor so if anyone could put their input on the engineering at each of these schools and if it would be worth it to go there out of state. Out of Penn State, Wisconsin, and Maryland, i know Wisconsin is the cheapest and its supposed to be a good deal. Thoughts please...</p>
<p>ABET, which is the engineering acreditation agency, returns over 500 schools offering a bachelor degree in engineering. So you aren’t exactly being shortchanged if you go to number 80. I’d check to make sure the schools are acredited for your major, although I’m pretty sure they are. And if they are, then they’re in the same broad middle range as far as employers are concerned (the top being MIT, Caltech, Stanford, and the bottom tier being those schools that accept pretty much anyone with a pulse). You can get a better idea of this by contacting the career center and finding out who recruits graduating engineers on campus at each school.</p>
<p>Cost is always an important factor, but if possible you should go to a college that you are not going to be unhappy to attend. Since you live in Connecticut you likely know students from the year ahead of you that are at Uconn. I suggest taking a sleeping bag and going to visit during the week to get an idea of what it would be like to be a student there; talk to students in the dorm (at most colleges visitors are allowed to buy a couple of meals), drop in on some classes, take the tour, etc. See if you can see yourself going there or if visiting makes you more determined than now to go elsewhere.</p>
<p>Lastly, I’d remind you that nationally between 1/2 and 2/3rds of those that start in engineering end up dropping out of the major. So I would at least be sure to factor into any decision whether you’d want to attend the school if it turns out engineering is not a fit for you.</p>
<p>I live in Connecticut so in-state tuition is good for Uconn, plus they gave me a $12,000 scholarship</p>
<p>*Price is **definitely **a factor *</p>
<p>when you say that “price is definitely a factor” what do you mean? How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>If your parents won’t pay the OOS costs of those other schools, the question may be moot. If you can only afford UConn, then it’s a “done deal”.</p>
<p>It sounds like UConn would be very reasonably priced with the scholarship and instate cost. </p>
<p>UConn</p>
<p>In-state tuition and fees: $10,670 </p>
<p>So, it looks like you’ve got more than free tuition to UConn. How can you beat that if money is a concern???</p>
<p>Certainly UConn’s program is more than adequate.</p>
<p>* i know Wisconsin is the cheapest and its supposed to be a good deal. *</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>It’s not cheap and it’s not a “good deal” if you’re OOS and money is a concern. </p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>Rankings have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the education you can get at a college. Absolutely nothing. What does matter is how you apply yourself when you get to whatever college you choose to attend.</p>
<p>In my opinion, you would be very foolish to go out of state for engineering when you have the option to go to UConn for a fraction of the cost.</p>
<p>And I would recommend picking up a copy of [Amazon.com:</a> The Thinking Student’s Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education (Chicago Guides to Academic Life) (9780226721156): Andrew Roberts: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Students-Guide-College-Education/dp/0226721159]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Students-Guide-College-Education/dp/0226721159) - might be the best nine bucks you ever spent.</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>If you’re bumping did you already buy the book? What did you think?</p>
<p>no but i read reviews and they mostly said that its common sense and I already have a book that sounds like that</p>
<p>I’m a PA resident and I have difficulty with the high cost of Penn State paying In-State fees. The OOS costs are quite high and merit very low. If you were my kid, I’d strongly urge you to rule out Penn State with the OOS fee close to $30,000 for tuition + add another $10,000 for room/board. </p>
<p>Maryland is a bit cheaper (approx $5000 less/year than Penn State) and a bit better with scholarships, but not much.</p>
<p>If you view college simply as an investment, the outcome for job earnings graduating from Penn State, MD and CT are all about equal. I don’t know anything about Wiscon. to comment.</p>
<p>The “middle of nowhere” comment may be less of a factor than you think when you consider the amount of time engineering students spend on academics (labs & homework). May want to consider taking a nice winter & spring break trip each year with the money you would save staying in state. Of course, I’m a parent. I’ve lived the “can’t do that, I’m in debt” lifestyle. Hindsight is 20/20.</p>
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<p>ha!..</p>
<p>^ Boy, that’s a very credible response. There are studies supporting Annasdad’s position. What do you have?</p>
<p>[Top</a> Public Schools | Rankings | Top National Universities | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public]Top”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public)</p>
<p>Come on, #19 in National Public Universities in the whole country!
We paid OOS for UCONN for our oldest child, it has opened doors for her… </p>
<p>If anything, these days, you look pretty damn smart for paying in-state tuition to potential employers! Sometimes I wish we were in-state for UCONN!</p>