<p>Ok so I'm a PA native and I have applied to twelve schools, but I am still unsure about where I want to go. It would be helpful if some of you could comment about these schools, and share any personal experiences you have had with them. I'm going to study mechanical engineering, so it would be great to hear some feedback about the programs and reputations. After I graduate I'm interested in trying to break into the automotive industry in some way, and I am willing to go back to school. I am a very active outdoor oriented person and I happen to prefer warm weather so take that into consideration. So far I have been admitted to:</p>
<p>University of Delaware (Honors)- 9k scholarship per year
University of Pittsburgh
University of Vermont (Honors)- 12k scholarship per year
Penn State (University Park)
Clemson University- 10k scholarship per year
Case Western Reserve University- 22k scholarship per year
University of Miami- (Scholarships have not been released yet)</p>
<p>I have yet to hear from:</p>
<p>Lehigh University
Rice University
University of California Santa Barbara
Cal Poly SLO
Northeastern University</p>
<p>When I visited Clemson, I knew it was the school for me. The atmosphere is just amazing and it’s beautiful. You’ll be surrounded by lots of other engineers and people in hard science majors. You also have the opportunity to apply to live with other people in those majors, and everyone I know who’s done that has loved it. I’m not an engineer so I can’t give any feedback on the courses themselves, but if you have any other questions about Clemson, let me know.</p>
<p>I also know someone in mechanical engineering at UofD and he loves it. It doesn’t have the big sports atmosphere that Clemson has and it’s in a little more of an urban setting than Clemson.</p>
<p>Congratulations, you have a lot of good choices. It would make more sense to wait until you have all of your decisions and all of your financial information and then post this. And yes, when the time comes, put out of pocket costs for each school rather than the amount of the scholarship.</p>
<p>Given your weather preference and cost, Cal Poly has to be in your final three. Don’t know their relation to the auto industry, but an awful lot of manufacturers have California design studios. And unless Northeastern has a great program rep or connection to the industry, it’s cost and weather make it an obvious bottom of the list.</p>
<p>You will need to research program reputations and how closely each of the schools are aligned with the auto industry before you make a final decision</p>
<p>I’d keep Penn State in the mix - although let us note that once again it manages to be as or more expensive in state as many out of state options. I feel bad for PA residents. :s</p>
<p>Since in engineering and pre-med it REALLY doesn’t matter where you graduate, go with the school where your costs are lowest unless your parents are in the 2% and you’re on good terms with them. Pitt is a very fine engineering program. Everyone on this half of the Mississippi will be familiar with it. Companies are going to be more interested in what skills and knowledge you have and how well YOU did in school rather than in what school you went to.</p>
