Georgia Tech Engineering vs UVa Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
1

Hi everyone.

I am having a very difficult time choosing between UVA and Georgia Tech for engineering.
I know Georgia Tech has a much better engineering program but I am from Virginia and and going to Georgia Tech would be much more expensive.
Also, I have grown to love UVA and UVA feels more like home after having visited multiple times.

That being said, I do not want to make an emotional decision. Here are the pros and cons I have come up with for both schools.

UVA Pros-
-Perfect balance between social life and academics
-I already have friends at UVA
-Cheaper
-Well rounded Engineering curriculum
-Beautiful Campus
-Beautiful downtown

Cons-
-Decent/smaller engineering programs
-Less, limited job opportunities compared to Georgia Tech
-Not too great Mechanical Engineering program
-Too much influence by outside factors such as friends, etc. My paths seem very chosen and predestined at UVa. I’ll most likely end up at this one Fraternity and etc.

Georgia Tech Pros-
-If I do Industrial Engineering, they are #1 in the nation for it
-If i do Mechanical, they are #5
-Top 5 engineering programs
-Beautiful Campus
-More job opportunities
-Study abroad/internship/coop opportunities

Cons-
-4/5 years of hell (or so I’ve heard)
-30% girls
-I didn’t like downtown Atlanta too much when I visited
-dorms/housing
-Honestly, I just don’t like the south, Georgia Tech area too much.

The thing is, my brother’s friends are at UVA for engineering and they seem to be doing quite well. One got an internship this upcoming summer at Goldman Sachs as a Systems Engineer, but apparently they only get paid around $55,000 full time (of course compared to my friend’s step brother who graduated from Georgia Tech as an Industrial Engineer and making $65,000 at one of the top firms (I forgot the name of it).

If I am being 100% truthful, I want to become very successful in life, as in becoming a billionaire. I want to either start my own start up/business or become a CEO.

I am still not 100% set on what type of engineering I want to do.

If anyone had to make similar decisions or attend or attended either schools, please let me know what you liked and disliked about the college and please help me out with this decision.

Please!

2

Assuming you can afford either one, and cost is not an issue, Pick GT for a better education and better resume going forward. You might as well see what you are made of not everyone struggles at GT, perhaps you will be the top of the curves. Good luck. U of Virginia as you say, is really a very well rounded school, outstanding for English and many other topics, but not ranked as well for science and engineering fields, and not going to get you into the best business school, which is what you need to get that top job at Goldman! .

Since you like making money, get an MBA from Penn, Warton School of Business, then head to the west coast for the highest salaries. (I suggest Goldman Sachs in LA ) GT will stand out on your resume, and get you into any business program, and thats where the money is, as you seem to know. (Goldman Sachs LOVES Penn MBAs )

And if for some reason you want to stay in engineering, LA is good for a high payed engineering career, you may need a masters degree in an engineering subject , and GT will serve you much better on the west coast than UVA. It will also help you get into the best masters in engineering programs, should that be your direction.

3

You had Virginia Tech right there in your backyard. That would be a great blend of what you seems to look for. There is not right or wrong, it is what appeals to you the most. My DS1 was acccepted to GT and Auburn for ChemE. Went with Auburn, didn’t do a great as we planed but he is graduating this May and just landed a job that at the end it was between him and a GT grad, paying him ~$70K. My other S is in GT and loving it. AE major.

There is no doubt that you can be succesful past your undergraduate degree if you are determined.