<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I'm a college student outside US. I have a chance to be exchanged to one of these three universities as a master's degree seeking student in the major mechanical Engineering.</p>
<p>Each university has its own conditions for exchange students:
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: I can have a tuition waiver and a fellowship
Purdue University, WL: I can only have a tuition waiver
Georgia Institute of Technology: not only can't I have a tuition waiver but also should I pay about 7000dollar/year.</p>
<p>My situation is: I won't persue a PhD in US but in my homeland. Although any of these three programs is affordable, I still want to choose the one which is most valueable.</p>
<p>Could someone give me some opinions?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>All three are good schools - especially GaTech. Ultimately your PhD will have the greatest impact, so your decision should based on (1) which will get you into your preferred PhD program, (2) which one best matches your preferences and research goals, and (3) financial issues.</p>
<p>Assuming that the differences in program reputation and research area are negligible for you, and bearing in mind that it will not be a terminal degree, I would go with either RHIT or Purdue - the differences are almost certainly not worth going into debt over. </p>
<p>Where did you get the $7000/year figure? For an international student that sounds amazingly low. Penn State (for example) is over $30k/year just for tuition for international students!</p>
<p>It’s possible he’s talking about GT-Lorraine in France which offers an MS in ME. Tuition is a lot cheaper at the satellite campuses.</p>
<p>that 7000D/year is a part of the exchange program. Maybe it is subsidized by some funds… Do you know how is the reputation of RHIT’s program? The only information about this school that I know is that it offers best undergraduate education. I have no idea of how the American are thinking about its master’s programs?</p>
<p>I’ve also heard that in US everyone needs a car, even a student. Is that true? If so, I have to budget some extra money.</p>
<p>Thank you~</p>
<p>Hi gthopeful, I see that you are in Atlanta. Do you study in Gatech? How is the university? I know, it’s the one among best in engineering. The reputation is really that high? Could you tell me, is that 7000D/year worth paying? Additionally, is it hard to find a position of GTA or GRA there?</p>
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<p>I do have a car, but I commute exclusively by train to GT’s campus every day. I guess it would be kind of difficult to have fun without a car.</p>
<p>Joe_sonic, you’re getting a steep discount from what most students without assistantships have to pay. I think it’s something like $23k/year for non-residents of Georgia. As to whether it’s worth it, it’s really hard to say because I do not know your financial situation, but since you plan on getting a PhD at another institution I am not sure that, strictly in financial terms, the MS from a school like GT compared to Purdue would pay off. I do have to say though I’m pretty sure you’d find Atlanta more fun.</p>
<p>As for assistantships, TA’s might be hard to get right now due to the economy, but RA’s may be easier to get, especially if you’re doing a thesis. Typically what you’d do is approach a professor and work with him for a semester and then that professor would offer to take you on as an RA if you did ok.</p>
<p>Whether or not you need a car varies from school to school. In most places you can live in reasonable comfort without a car, although it certainly helps to have access to one, not least because it would make you much more popular with your fellow students! In general, I would usually counsel against getting a car going into grad school - besides initial expense you would lay out significant cash for gas, parking, and maintenance, all for generally modest utility.</p>
<p>GaTech, suffers under the indignity of being one of the top engineering schools in a world where people usually only remember 4 names - MIT, Stanford, CalTech, and UC Berkeley. It has a well earned reputation as a fantastic school.</p>
<p>I agree with gt though - as you are going elsewhere for a PhD, it is that school which will dominate your study, research, and reputation. Despite the subsidy I would still recommend one of the other two, probably Purdue, as being better value for money.</p>