GA vs. CMU for Mech Engineering??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
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<p>I am struggling to decide between the two! Please help me!</p>

<p>I visited CMU, and I wasn't exactly too impressed with the student body. I liked the school and its multi-discplinary aspects, but the students themselves were a bit...bla. The students I stayed with (as part of the sleeping bag weekend program) all quoted CMU as their second or third choices because they didn't get into their first choices...Other than a hint of student dissatisfaction, I kind of liked CMU and wouldn't mind going there. </p>

<p>I havn't visited Georgia Tech yet, but I will in a couple of weeks! I'm so far impressed about Tech's reputation in engineering, the course rigor, and preparedness of graduates, but I also have heard tons about the stress and pressure of the school. Is it really that overwhelming? I understand time management is key, but is there absolutely no leeway to relax and enjoy college a little? What also concerns me is the 31% 4-year graduate rate!! Why is this?? I've heard various answers, but I'd like to get a definitive one before I set my mind on this school. </p>

<p>These are my primary concerns right now. At least the ones that have been brought to my attention. Please comment if you have anything relavent to say about either school! I really need help in weighing the Mechanical Engineering program between the two, considering student life and quality of education in both of the colleges too. Oh, and please note! Cost of tuition is not a factor that I'm not putting a lot of importance on.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>While both GTech and CMU are fantastic schools, there are minor differences between them that can ultimately influence your decision. CMU is more known for its Electrical and Computer Engineering (which are actually not even better than GTech’s, they’re both on par), however, GTech seems to outrank CMU a considerable amount when it comes to Mechanical Engineering. You can’t go wrong with either school academically speaking, but if you are absolutely focused on Mech Engg, then I’d recommend GTech.</p>

<p>For student life, I guess the best thing to do would be to visit the school. If you really didn’t like CMU, then there’s no point in going to Pittsburgh if you think you’ll be miserable. Pittsburgh is a great location, as is Atlanta for GTech. Both have the benefit of being highly advanced cities, with many Fortune 500 corporate headquarters within them. This is great if you want to intern there or just be near them. Pittsburgh houses the headquarters for H. J. Heinz Company, Dick’s Sporting Goods, U.S. Steel, among others. Atlanta contains the headquarters for The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, AT&T, among others.</p>

<p>Pittsburgh is considered to be a more livable city, but if you’re in college, that’s not really going to matter. Atlanta generates $270 billion annually, making it the 6th largest economic city in the nation, and 15th in the world.</p>

<p>On the Global City Index (highest to lowest in terms of economic importance to the world economy, Alpha ++, Alpha +, Alpha, Alpha -, Beta +, Beta, Beta -, Gamma +, Gamma, Gamma -), GTech was classified as an Alpha - city, alongside cities like Philadelphia, New Delhi, Johhanesburg, Bangkok and others, while Pittsburgh was a Gamma city (still pretty good), along side Kansas City, Rotterdam, San Salvador, and others.</p>

<p>GTech is known for being a tough school, but the truth is that when you come out of GTech, you’ve faced some of the toughest education that the world has to offer, and you’ve come out on top. After that, when people see an engineering degree from GTech, eyebrows will be raised in appreciation. In regards to your concern about the 31% 4 year graduation rate, I’d say that’s a mixture of a few causes. First, GTech is a tough school, and some people will require a little more time to graduate. Second, many people do co-op programs, which can take some time out of your education, extending your studies by a little bit. Lastly, this doesn’t take into account people who graduate in 4.5 years, or anything a little after 4 years, so it makes it sound much worse than it actually is.</p>

<p>Since you said that “cost of tuition is NOT a factor that I’m NOT putting a lot of importance on,” I’ll infer that the double negative means that cost is somewhat important. In that case, CMU’s tuition is little over $45,000 a year, while GTech is little over $29,000 for out of state students, and $10,000 for in state. That’s a massive difference, and over a 4 year period, that’s savings adding up to more than $60,000 if you pick GTech. It’s also worth mentioning that GTech was ranked the #1 school for return-on-investment (How much you make after college vs. how much you paid for it), and CMU was ranked somewhere around #26. The Ivy Leagues were somewhere in the #15-20 region.</p>

<p>For my final verdict, I’d say this:
GTech = CMU (Education Quality)
GTech > CMU (Mechanical Engineering)
CMU > GTech (Student Life)
GTech (Atlanta) > CMU (Pittsburgh) (City)
GTech > CMU (Less cost)
CMU > GTech (Prestige-Overall)
GTech = CMU (Prestige-Engineering)</p>

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<p>Whoops! The double negative regarding the cost of tuition was a complete slip up on my part! But in response to your answer, FreelancerMaine, it was very helpful anyways! I’m not too concerned about location anymore, or the graduation rate, but I do have a few questions that came up when reading your response, however. </p>

<p>So I am aware that Tech is better than CMU in mechanical engineering, but I guess what I am really concerned about is the atmosphere of one school versus the other. In engineering, yes, Tech has a great reputation and I know I’ll come out as a highly prepared graduate. But, will I have a significantly easier time at CMU but come out prepared as well (although slightly less prepared than Tech, but prepared “enough”)? </p>

<p>I’m also particularly worried about this statement: At Tech, students call graduating, “getting out” - is student experience that bad? Students who graduate from Tech love Tech for how its prepared them, but do any of them love it for their social experience too? I’m just worried because I’ve heard so much alumni say that stress was a huge factor at Tech and they didn’t have time for anything because people were always studying! (which btw, is not a great selling point of the school, alumni) I mean, I understand that at every highly ranked college, one will have to work hard, but the factor of stress and pressure at Tech just amazes me, since it’s a through-line inmost every one of alumni Q & A responses. Is the stress comparable to CMU? Is it just the students who are overhyping the amount of work they actually have to do?</p>

<p>Another thing, I know that at Tech, most of the school is comprised of engineers. At CMU at least, there’s a good balance of technology and arts too - they have a great theater program I hear. I just love the thought that I could be friends with people involved in the arts, and not just be rooming with engineers! I value the variety. However, I know that Tech has a great sports program and going to a school where people take pride in their team because Tech is actually good, is something that intrigues me as well. Basically, would you consider the balanced, less-challenging atmosphere at CMU better than the super concentrated, engineering-focused atmosphere at Tech? (that last sentence might just be a rhetorical question, but feel free to give your opinion)</p>

<p>Obviously I’m the one who has to see if a school fits, because I’ll be the one going there in the fall, but if you could somehow slightly address the issues I have talked about above, that would be great! And sorry for all the text! Typing out this response was also sort of helpful to me in laying out the pros and cons not just in my head. </p>

<p>but Thanks! And to anyone else, feel free to respond as well!</p>

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<p>I’ll try to address your concerns in the order you’ve asked them.</p>

<p>Your first point is asking whether CMU might be a better option because the academics are easier, but they still pass the bar for preparing you after college. This is a good question, and I’ll try to answer it as well as I can. The truth is that an easier time that grants you the same rewards is always more desirable. I mean, who wants to work 10 hours a day in a job when the contract says you only have to work 5? The real crux of the matter comes about when you start looking past the simple concepts of academics and rigor of the curriculum. That’s when you start asking yourself the deeper questions.</p>

<p>Sure it might be easier to go to CMU for Mechanical Engineering, but what will you have that’s different from any of the other thousands of people around the world who will be getting the same degree as you? If you decide to go somewhere like GTech, then you’re pushing yourself past the necessary point, and experiencing the most difficult that academics has to offer. You’re right when you say that GTech is difficult. Some of the current professors used to work at MIT, and they can testify to the rigor of the curriculum. But imagine how you will feel coming out of GTech after those years with a world-class engineering degree under your belt. After that time at such a tough university, the real world will seem like a joke. Challenges that seem insurmountable to other people won’t even be a concern for you.</p>

<p>In regards to your concern over the “stress and pressure” at GTech, all I can say is that you should have a schedule. I feel like I’ve been leading you on this entire time. I’m actually a senior in high school who got into Georgia Tech as well as CMU (also Berkeley, but it’s too far away). My personal opinion is that to survive at such a rigorous place, there has to be method to the madness, and a way to incorporate a social life into it (Fraternities, hanging with friends…etc).</p>

<p>Chances are that those alumni are telling the truth, Tech was a tough place, but you’ll notice that they all love their alma mater. They might not have had a “party school” experience, but they don’t just love GTech, they respect it. And in the long run, respect is what they remember when they reminisce about their years at GTech.</p>

<p>For your last point, you’re right in your desire to want a diverse community, so do I. GTech might be an engineering majority, but it also has a well known management program, and its liberal arts aren’t too bad either. The main point to remember is that Emory University is just 20 minutes away, and they are very big on the humanities, so there certainly won’t be a lack of diversity close by to even out the majors. Sports are definitely a big thing at GTech, so that’s a great way to incorporate yourself into the culture there, not to mention the Greek Life.</p>

<p>In my opinion, I’d pick (and I have), GTech over CMU, for the simple reason that you yourself have posted. I don’t want a broad curriculum full of liberal arts and humanities, because I know for a fact that I want a place that can give me what I want: a world class education in engineering, and only engineering. If you’re unsure about your major, or what it is you want to do, then CMU will be a better bet, because you have plenty to turn to. However, if you go into your undergrad with a clear view and focus on what you want, then the ball is in your court.</p>

<p>Sometimes, it’s not enough to just reach goals, you have to surpass them and meet new challenges that you’ve set for yourself.</p>

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<p>i think some current Gatech students should chime in for real world experiences in Gatech. I can only tell from my son’s perspective who is a freshman this year and (just switched to) EE major.</p>

<p>I will tell only one point to FreelancerMaine and OP, if you have not developed good learning habits in high school, you will have trouble in college (any college, be it CMU/MIT/Gatech/Podunk).</p>

<p>You will hear stories about students who play all day and night and STILL get an A and then there are who struggle to get a C. Gatech is no different. Its definitely hard and takes toll on you, I have seen it first hand when my wife got a call from my son 3 days before the 1st sem finals. You can guess what was it about.</p>

<p>Anyway - back to CMU vs Gatech - both are equally good school and their degree will have equal values. No body is gonna put your CMU degree down when comparing with Gatech degree. I would go where you feel at home. Other things will fall in place on their own. We had narrowed down between Case Western and Gatech, visited both places and finally selected Gatech (that was based on BME major, BTW). </p>

<p>One good thing in gatech is that students dont compete against each other and actually do help/collaborate. The “mentality” is more like us vs “The Institute” ! The common goal is to graduate and “get outta here!”.</p>

<p>BTW – congrats for getting “Admitted” to “The Institute” :wink: They dont call it “The Institute” for nothing ;)</p>