Georgia Tech v. NC State Engineering (+ other options)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Which of these schools would give me better opportunities for immediate employment and admission to graduate school? My plan is to work for a few years after obtaining my undergraduate degree in either Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering, and then go to graduate school for an MBA. My hope (and dream, really) is to attend a top 10 MBA program. I received $2,000 in grants from NC State (where I am in state) and $6,600 in grants from GT (OOS). My parents agreed to pay $20k for my undergraduate education and leave the rest for me to take out in loans. Therefore, my NCSU education would essentially be 'free', while my GT education would leave me with ~$55-60k in loans. However, both of these schools offer co-op programs that I plan to take advantage of, which, in the case of GT, would help to offset the cost.</p>

<p>I've visited both of the campuses a few times and could see myself at either school. I live only 20 minutes away from NCSU, and roughly 6 hours from GT. </p>

<p>So, which school would better set me up for my goals? Should I go with the GT education + ~$55-60k in loans or the 'free' NCSU education?</p>

<p>On a side-note, I was also accepted to UNC - Chapel Hill, Villanova (with $30k in grants), Wake Forest ($24k in grants), and RPI ($25k in grants). If you can make a case for any of these schools, I'd definitely consider them as well. I would major in engineering at Villanova/RPI, but would probably do some sort of Math + Business/Econ/Physics combo at UNC CH/Wake Forest. However, I am a bit hesitant to go to a private school as I would likely lose my funding after my older brother (currently a sophomore at UNC CH) graduates.</p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.</p>

2

<p>NCSU is a fine school in the Research Triangle Park. GT has a higher reputation, but would its location in Atlanta and its possibly slightly greater attractiveness to non-local recruiters be worth $55,000+ in debt? Many would say no. You may want to ask the career centers at both schools which employers come recruiting for students in your major.</p>

3

<p>My vote is for NCSU and no debt. That amount of debt will feel like a noose around your neck at graduation and could really limit your options upon graduation, not to mention leaving grad school as unaffordable.</p>

4

<p>NCSU is the better way to go. GT is an awesome school but not worth the debt. You can always go there for grad school if you want. Starting out with heavy debt will seriously limit your options as a young adult for buying a car, home, marriage, kids, etc. You want to be able to make those decisions based on your readiness, not your debt.</p>

5

<p>You’d lose your UNC funding after your bro graduated as well.</p>

<p>This is really simple. NCState has co-op programs, will leave you with no debt, it’s the right choice. </p>

<p>A GT grad isn’t goiing to get paid more than a NCSU grad. Seriously. When you get your first job, you’ll find that the engineers all start at the same rate…even if they have big loans from “better name” schools. (Which is a real bite in the booty for them!)</p>

<p>I know that engineering starting salaries are higher than the general grad. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to pay off $60k in loans. Believe me, after a very short time, you would find those loan payments very annoying. Wow…$650 of my income each month…gone! for TEN long years. </p>

<p>Students often don’t realize that single people get hit hard with taxes; it’s not like you’d be really getting your actual salary (you’ll be shocked when you see your first paycheck). Once fed taxes, FICA, state taxes, and all the rest are deducted, you’ll be saying, “what happened to my money??”</p>

<p>You’ll have rent to pay, utilities, maybe a car payment, car insurance, gas, cell phone, cable, internet, health insurance, food, clothing, entertainment, etc. You’re going to get hit with a lot of expenses that your parents have likely been covering all these years that you’ve never considered. </p>

<p>When you are on your own, you’ll be soooooo grateful that you don’t have student loans. You’ll be able to take whatever discretionary income you have each month and put it towards your eventual purchase of a home or some other meaningful goal. :)</p>

6

<p>Go Wolfpack. My DH and S1 ('09) are NCSU grads. We are instate too. To say S1 loved his four years at NCSU would be putting it mildly. He had a great experience there, goes back to Raleigh whenever he can. GT is definitely not worth going deep in debt for.<br>
S1 graduated from State debt free and because of that was recently able to buy his first house in less than three years out of NCSU. Choose State.</p>

7

<p>What about in terms of graduate school? Would the prestige of a GT education have any positive effect on my chances of being accepted to a top 10 MBA program?</p>

<p>I’ve done a fair amount of research, and it seems that MBA programs are much more concerned about work experience (among other things) as opposed to undergraduate education.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on this?</p>

8

<p>A large amount of undergraduate debt may prevent you from being financially being able to attend an MBA program.</p>

9

<p>I understand that. What about if money was no object (for the MBA program)? Let’s say the company I work for payed for it.</p>

10

<p>Even with the possibility of a debt-free, fully financed MBA, coming out of undergrad with that amount of debt is a huge consideration. Have you considered that that amount debt hanging over your head might also limit your employment options? You might be forced to take whatever job would allow you to begin paying off that debt. It might not be the job you want or you might be forced to take a job that doesn’t have the perk of getting that MBA paid for.</p>

<p>[Student</a> Debt - Consumer Reports](<a href=“http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/04/student-debt-grows-to-alarming-levels/index.htm]Student”>Student Debt - Consumer Reports)</p>

<p>Jeff Macaluso, 42, a website designer from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., says his student debt, about $59,000, is “like a prison sentence.” His monthly payment is $430 under an income-contingent repayment option for a federal consolidation loan he took out about a decade ago, although he tries to pay $630 a month to keep the interest down. </p>

<p>Macaluso, who earned a master’s degree in fine arts in 1997, says he’s happy with the career opportunities his education afforded him. But paying off the debt is preventing him from saving for retirement and might deter him and his wife from buying a home. The debt, with more than 6 percent interest, “just grew and grew and grew,” he says, “and I’m saddled with it unless I make twice as much as I’m making.”</p>

11

<p>If you really can see yourself in either place, go with NC State. Their graduates do very well, and you will appreciate not having any debt. I’ve known people from NC who’ve gone to Georgia Tech and who are very happy, but they had large scholarships covering most of their tuition.</p>

<p>I love UNC, but it sounds as if you’d have to compromise on the program you want if you went there or Wake. Aside from the heavy engineering influence at State and the heavy English/creative writing influence at UNC, the two universities are really more alike in atmosphere than different – large research universities, academically challenging, friendly people, great sports programs, lots of cultural events.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

12

<p>What about in terms of graduate school? Would the prestige of a GT education have any positive effect on my chances of being accepted to a top 10 MBA program?</p>

<p>No. That’s a myth. </p>

<p>And the liklihood of an employer to pay for you to go away to a top 10 MBA program aren’t high. Some employers will pay, but only if you can commute to a local program and still work… Rarely are they going to let you be off work for a couple of years to go elsewhere for an MBA.</p>