<p>Hello I'm a Miami Dade College (CC) student who is planning to transfer for the fall 2010 semester. I've been accepted to the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Florida State University (FSU). My major is engineering, mechanical or aerospace. I've worked for the last three years as an Aircraft mechanic. I really love the aviation industry and would like to expand my job opportunities by becoming and engineer. I'm in a tear between FSU (nationally ranked) and UCF (Better engineering programs). FSU only has a mechanical engineering program (relevant to me) and also has more prestige, relative to UCF. On the other side of the coin UCF has an aerospace engineering program (even more-so relevant to my desired career) but is not nationally rank (tier 3). As far as location, Tallahassee is a "town" 9 hrs away from home and Orlando is a "city" 4hrs away from home.</p>
<p>The dilemma is will a degree from FSU look better on my resume although its engineering division is inferior to UCF's. </p>
<p>What would you do? </p>
<p>any advise is welcomed thanks in advance. By the way I'm considering the "fun" factor.(I know is better immature. but who doesn't want to enjoy themselves away at college).</p>
<p>This question has been asked before: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/florida-state-university/685845-florida-state-engineering.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/florida-state-university/685845-florida-state-engineering.html</a></p>
<p>Some recent press about [FSU</a> Engineering](<a href=“http://www.eng.fsu.edu/]FSU”>http://www.eng.fsu.edu/): [Engineering</a> students bring home trophy in hybrid vehicle competition](<a href=“http://www.fsu.com/Featured-Stories/Engineering-students-bring-home-trophy-in-hybrid-vehicle-competition]Engineering”>http://www.fsu.com/Featured-Stories/Engineering-students-bring-home-trophy-in-hybrid-vehicle-competition)</p>
<p>There are some additional factors to consider:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The faculty-student ratio at FSU is much better than at UCF. Huge advantage in learning your material.</p></li>
<li><p>The basic preparatory classes for engineering in the sciences (e.g. math, chemistry, physics) are much better and [nationally</a> ranked at FSU](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University) than UCF. You’ll really earn your grades, but you’ll be taught by some of the best. This can be a huge advantage.</p></li>
<li><p>FSU is more liberal arts based than UCF, which is a more technical, commuter-style university. FSU will require that you be well rounded in your education, above and beyond engineering. This will be a huge benefit later as you expand your horizons beyond a basic engineering job.</p></li>
<li><p>FSU will give you a traditional, residential university experience including attractive sports teams, concerts and diversity. These are a nice diversion from all the hard work you’ll be expected to complete.</p></li>
<li><p>FSU encourages undergraduate research and development, such as that which culminates in earning a Rhodes Scholarship. See: [FSU</a> Office of National Fellowships](<a href=“http://onf.fsu.edu/]FSU”>http://onf.fsu.edu/).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your rapid response. You brought to light some vital things that i wasn’t even considering.</p>
<p>FSUs engineering program is run jointly with FAMU. They have had some problems in the past but may be beyond that now. UCFs engineering program is very good. If your main focus is the strength of the engineering program, you should seriously consider UCF. I think both are very good schools – I have a student at FSU this fall (not majoring in engineering). But if he were studying engineering, I would have considered him better off at UCF. I have another student currently a senior in engineering at different FL school. He has a friend in engineering at UCF who is having a great experience, and who loves the program there. And if you really want to do aerospace – UCF is absolutely your best choice.</p>
<p>Parent2Noles is right about FSUs strengths, but UCF has a lot of strengths too – and it is not as much of a commuter school as it used to be. There are many new dorms on campus, and a lot of construction/beautification in the past few years has made it a very nice, liveable campus. It is also located close to Disney, Universal, etc.</p>
<p>Visit both schools. If you can’t visit, call or email. Talk to engineering students and teachers. Don’t go by just the ratings. They are both good schools.</p>
<p>Some recent [National</a> Science Foundation](<a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/]National”>http://www.nsf.gov/) numbers on R&D engineering expenditures for the period 2005 to 2008:</p>
<p>**Engineering<a href=“%5Burl=http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10311/pdf/tab61.pdf]TABLE%2061.%20Total%20and%20federally%20financed%20R&D%20expenditures%20in%20engineering%20at%20universities%20and%20colleges,%20ranked%20by%20FY%202008%20total:%20FY%202005–08[/url]”>/B</a>
UF 20
UCF 67
FSU 72
USF 73</p>
<p>You have UF, then everyone else in a lump. The other benefits of FSU I mentioned above then come into play.</p>
<p>If you examine the list, you’ll note FSU’s NSF funding consistency vis a vis UCF.</p>
<p>thanks again, you are extremely hopeful</p>
<p>Did you mean helpful?</p>
<p>exactly!!! darn auto-correct on this phones. I wish I could edited. :-)</p>