<p>I've been accepted at each of these schools and I am planning to study engineering or mathematics. </p>
<p>I'm in South Carolina, so Georgia Tech's out of state tuition is it's major downfall to me. Other than that, it would be my top choice. </p>
<p>Clemson and South Carolina both have good engineering departments, but they don't seem to be as respected as Georgia Tech's. Is this the case? And if so, does Georgia Tech's prestige make it worth the cost of out of state tuition?</p>
<p>What are your PARENTS saying? Are they happily willing to pay the extra costs for GT without them taking on debt? </p>
<p>You will not get paid more as a GT grad than a Clemson grad…so no, not worth it.</p>
<p>My parents would rather me go to the U of SC mostly because that’s where they went. They really aren’t crazy about me going to Clemson. </p>
<p>From the opinions I’ve read, it sounds like USC’s engineering department isn’t quite as good as Clemson and GT’s engineering. </p>
<p>If I were to go to Georgia Tech, my parents would help me out, but I’d also have to rely a lot more on whatever loans and financial aid GT gives me. </p>
<p>If I stay in state, the lottery scholarships will pay for a good portion of my tuition.</p>
<p>I agree that if money is an issue (and you prob don’t have final financials from GT) I would go with USC or Clemson. Starting off your career without debt is huge and gives you so much more flexibility. Clemson is more highly rated than USC for engineering, but I seriously believe that success depends on what you put into it. You can make great opportunities at either school. We are a USC family and my youngest D looked at Clemson with our blessing. In the end, didn’t feel it was the best place and she ended up as math major and loves her USC professors, but we would have been fine (except during football) with her being a tiger. Maybe visit specific programs one more time.</p>
<p>All 3 are good decisions depending on money.</p>
<p>Go to Clemson…it’s really the best cost-wise unless USC really comes thru.</p>
<p>*If I were to go to Georgia Tech, my parents would help me out, but I’d also have to rely a lot more on whatever loans and financial aid GT gives me. *</p>
<p>GT’s not going to give you anything unless you have amazing stats and are chosen for one of their highly competitive scholarships.</p>
<p>YOU can’t borrow much. YOU can only borrow $5500. to borrow more requires co-signers and would NOT be worth it.</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay for GT. The cost for OOS is over $40k</p>
<p>again, you will NOT be paid more with a degree from GT. High tech companies offer everyone the same entry salary for eng’rs. IF you have your degree from Clemson, GT or wherever, a company will pay you the same. So, why waste your new income on paying back student loans when your collegues will be paid the same???</p>
<p>What are your stats? GPA and test scores (SAT breakdown).</p>
<p>What is your EFC?</p>
<p>Although GT is a better engineering school than Clemson, I suggest you go to Clemson. </p>
<p>The difference in prestige does not overcome difference in price. </p>
<p>Clemson is a great school and will really get you places for engineering. </p>
<p>If you’d be able to afford the extra money, GT would be a better choice for engineering, but Clemson would be a much better choice considering its $10-20k per year cheaper. </p>
<p>And Clemson would be a better option than USC unless the environment really appeals to you. Clemson is know to be much more engineering focused than USC. </p>
<p>Good luck with your choice.
<p>@scmom12
Thanks for your opinion. I think you are right about success depending on what you put into it. A couple of people have told me that a good student can get a good education no matter what school they choose. I think this is true. Between Clemson and USC, I like the feel of the USC campus more and I do think that it may be a better fit. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids
I dont know my final financial information from Georgia Tech, but my stats are not nearly good enough to be considered for their top scholarships. My SAT is 1350 = 640M + 710CR. My ACT score is 28 and my overall weighted GPA is 4.71. With those I know Im not going to get significant financial aid from GT. </p>
<p>So the decision Id have to make is whether GTs prestige and respected degrees are worth the extra $10-20K. Thank you for your opinion. </p>
<p>@BoundForBoston
Thanks. Thats pretty much what everyone has been telling me. Id love to go to Georgia Tech, I just dont see paying all of that extra money for a more prestigious degree when there are comparable alternatives in-state. That is, unless GT really surprises me with their financial aid. </p>
<p>But between Clemson and SC, thats going to be another tough decision. I like the feel of USCs campus more, but like you said, Clemson does seem to be more focused on science and engineering whereas USC typically seems focused on business and liberal arts.</p>
<p>Good luck. Either instate school is good choice…hard to walk away from that state scholarship money! Interested in seeing what $ you get from schools. USC was much more generous than Clemson for us.</p>
<p>Everybody I know who goes/went to Clemson loves it.</p>
<p>*I don’t know my final financial information from Georgia Tech, but my stats are not nearly good enough to be considered for their top scholarships. My SAT is 1350 = 640M + 710CR. My ACT score is 28 and my overall weighted GPA is 4.71. With those I know I’m not going to get significant financial aid from GT. </p>
<p>So the decision I’d have to make is whether GT’s prestige and respected degrees are worth the extra $10-20K. Thank you for your opinion. *</p>
<p>Do you know what your EFC is? Have you used the NPC on the GT website?</p>
<p>Since your test scores aren’t mert-worth for GT, unless you’re low income and would qualify for Pell, you’re not likely going to get much/any free aid. </p>
<p>The issue isn’t whether GT is worth an extra $10k-20k. That is only the annual difference. Besides, as you said, if you go to a SC school, you qualify for instate scholarships so the cost difference between a SC school and GT could be $80k-$100k per year. Even if the difference was only $40k for all four years (not likely), unless your family will happily pay that, the difference isn’t worth it.</p>
<p>I’ve been to both Clemson’s and GT’s campuses. Clemson is much nicer with a better male/female ration (if that matters).</p>
<p>Clemson’s the clear favorite for engineering in South Carolina. Don’t have the latest engineering rankings but in 2011, Clemson was ranked 56th (ranked with schools like Auburn, Pittsburgh, BU) and South Carolina was ranked 110th (ranked with schools like New Mexico State, New Hampshire and Wayne State University). Georgia Tech is an amazing school but now that I’m a senior civil engineering major at Clemson, I know what kind of jobs people are getting out of Clemson and it’s probably similar to the jobs people are getting out of Georgia Tech (been to a few internship interviews and there have been GT graduates there as well).</p>
<p>If you can’t afford Georgia Tech and you want to get a valued engineering degree (which seems important to you if you want to go to GT), it seems that Clemson is the easy choice.</p>