<p>I got into both Georgia Tech, Purdue, and Florida Tech. Florida Tech will be a little cheaper but Georgia and Purdue have the same prices. I know Georgia Tech is the highest ranked but what is the general opinion of these schools? Florida Tech being so close to NASA is a plus, but would NASA be more impressed with students from a higher ranked school such as Georgia Tech. Any insight and/or opinions on the matter?</p>
<p>I would go to Georgia Tech or Purdue based on which one you like better and yes employers will like that you are from a higher ranked school. However, if you choose Flordia Tech, as long as you do well, you will not be at any huge disadvantage.</p>
<p>Where you like it the best. You will perform better. And look at where nasa recruits from. I am not sure where, but there most be posts somewhere around here from where they recruit from. Look on their site?</p>
<p>I would go to Georgia Tech or Purdue over Florida Tech</p>
<p>If this means anything:
My company has a hiring bar that is “unabashedly extreme” and we have a lot of Purdue grads here.</p>
<p>Purdue and Georgia Tech are national powerhouse engineering schools, especially in aerospace. Florida Tech has a quality program but it isn’t on the same level of those two, and really is only recruited regionally rather than nationally.</p>
<p>FIT isn’t even considered a good program in Florida.</p>
<p>Eh, shows you have regional it is. I had heard a few positive things about it but don’t really know much about it. I didn’t even know it was a school until recently to be honest, but I was under the impression it was okay regionally. <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>It’s OK, but it’s not one of the better schools. In Florida, for engineering it goes:</p>
<ol>
<li>UF</li>
<li>UCF/ERU</li>
<li>UM</li>
<li>USF/FSU/FIT</li>
<li>FAU/FA&M</li>
<li>UNF/UWF</li>
</ol>
<p>You could argue with a few (ERU to third tier, FIT to fifth tier, FSU to third tier, etc), but that’s roughly where the schools stand. </p>
<p>That doesn’t make it a “bad” school. You’re still near NASA so there will be jobs. But the platform an FIT degree isn’t even comparable to the platform a Purdue or a GT degree will give you.</p>
<p>Purdue or GT. Purdue is second only to MIT for the number of people who’ve been to space. The president is the former NASA Chief Scientist, and without a doubt defense and aero industry recruiting is extremely heavy.</p>
<p>The Naval Academy and Air Force academy are 1 and 2. Then MIT, Purdue, GT. </p>
<p>FIT has two astronaut alumni, but both were Naval Academy grads that were already in astronaut training when they earned MS degrees part-time from FIT.</p>
<p>Not that the number of astronauts should be an indication of the quality of the program.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, but if I’m interested in working for NASA, like the OP has indicated - I would certainly pay attention to the numbers. </p>
<p>OP - my question is why you only applied to FIT in FL? It seems like you probably could’ve gotten into UF which would then make paying out of state tuition a bigger question. However, I don’t personally think FIT (even with the tuition difference) is a smart option when you compare it Purdue or GT. UF on the other hand might have been a different story when you consider the cost difference.</p>
<p>“Purdue or GT. Purdue is second only to MIT for the number of people who’ve been to space. The president is the former NASA Chief Scientist, and without a doubt defense and aero industry recruiting is extremely heavy.”</p>
<p>Per capita, HMC is #1… LOL. With only 2 astronaut alums and 4000 total alums, 0.05% of alums are astronauts :P</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>FIT is private and costs more than GT OOS and Purdue OOS, unless she received a pretty nice scholarship to FIT.</p>
<p>Even someone like me (who downplays the rank/rep of colleges that folks give ) would say Purdue or GT.</p>
<p>Considering that I am a little biased as I am in a BS/MS program at GT, it is by far your best option. The reason this is true has nothing to do with rankings (although it is ranked second and well above Purdue’s 4th). The true reason is the amount of research options and the size and diversity of academic faculty at Georgia Tech. You will be able to get incredible research experience in the field of your choice and work on contracts for NASA, Air Force, Navy, FAA, industry, etc.</p>
<p>Particularly with the new direction of NASA, having this research component will be more and more vital to them in the future. You could probably also get this at Purdue with a little more work, but Georgia Tech’s Aerospace research budget is massive (more twice as large as any other Aerospace school in the country). Also, as far as Florida Tech, I don’t recommend it for the above reason.</p>
<p>You seem like you could use some sound advice wherever you go and, no offense to the other posts, but it seems like a lot of these people aren’t really involved as directly as I am with the current industry (a lot of internships and fairly active in my department). I also have a lot of friends from Purdue, Michigan, MIT, Stanford, etc so I know a lot about their experiences as well. If you have any questions, shoot me an e-mail at <a href=“mailto:juan.cajigas@gatech.edu”>juan.cajigas@gatech.edu</a>.</p>
<p>Juan, you clearly don’t know anything about Purdue. There are wonderful opportunities available at GT, and it is a great school, but to say it is the best choice “by far” is just ignorant. Similarly, since when is two “well above” four?</p>
<p>The objective fact of the matter is that GT and Purdue are very similar in research, faculty and industry connections. It is darn near a wash between the two.</p>
<p>“You seem like you could use some sound advice wherever you go and, no offense to the other posts, but it seems like a lot of these people aren’t really involved as directly as I am with the current industry (a lot of internships and fairly active in my department).”</p>
<p>Hmm. I hate to say it but I’m dead smack in the middle! Purdue, in my book, slightly out-edges GTech, but not by much.</p>
<p>“although it is ranked second and well above Purdue’s 4th”</p>
<p>This gave me a pretty good laugh.</p>
<p>I’m still a little torn, I think it must come down to the personal preference, I’m planning on getting some post-grad degree so I’m not totally worried about the job thing… I visited Purdue and after I visit Georgia Tech I’ll hopefully be able to decide. Thanks everyone.</p>