help deciding between colleges

College Search & Selection
1

hi guys, i need help deciding between my colleges!! i’m applying to be a mechanical engineer and here are my options:

  • NJIT honors w a full ride + dorm
  • RU honors w $3500 scholarship (I’d pay around 22k a year)
  • UIUC (53k)
  • UMich (65k)
    on waitlist for gtech and cmu
    i would greatly appreciate any advice/past experiences. also, if you have any suggestions on if i should try to save all my money or if better schools are worth more money, that would be greatly appreciated. also if you’ve attended or know anything about research/internship opportunities there, please let me know. and lastly, if you know anything about starting salaries and what grad schools prefer that would also be appreciated.
    i have a couple days left to decide and i would appreciate any help!!! thank you!!!
2

Since NJIT offers a very strong mechanical engineering program, it would seem to represent your top option with costs considered.

For an indication as to typical starting salaries, see the individual entries in *U.S. News/i.

3

Well what can you afford, let’s assume it is only the NJ schools buy correct me if I am wrong, is RU worth 100,000 dollars more then NJIT???

4

I would go with NJIT (not b/c its full-ride) I have 3 of my friends there from HS heard a lot of great things about it. Also b/c it’s close and well connected to NYC and companies from there for better job/internship opportunities. Connection of the college matters! NJIT is known for its mechanical engineering program. Good Luck!

5

First of all, congratulations on your great acceptances!

While the starting salaries for students graduating from UMichigan and UIUC are almost certainly higher, it is in the order of $20K-$30K more a year. Attending UIUC or UMichigan will cost $200K-$260K a year more. It would take you 10+ years to make it in financially worthwhile, and the differences in salary disappear after 4-5 years, as your experience becomes more important than your Alma Mater.

Unless money isn’t a problem, attend NJIT.

6

In the past, parents here at CC who hire for engineering graduates have pointed out that entry-level engineering salaries depend on the major, not on the degree-granting institutions. So provided your cheaper option has ABET accreditation, and decent recruiting, it’s perfectly OK to choose that place.

NJIT has a better than just decent program for your major, and offers significant cost savings. This one seems like a no-brainer to me.

7

RU Honors is quite prestigious and will offer a more diverse experience than NJIT.
That being said, where would the 22K come from?
If the answer is “my parents have saved enough for me to go”, then it’s entirely up to you and your family.
If the answer is “loans”, then NJIT all the way :).

8

thank you for your response! from what i have heard, the rutgers mechanical engineering program is stronger. i have the same question, is rutgers work 100k more