<p>Hello, fellow CC’ers,
I’m an OOS student from Michigan and was recently deferred from umich so I need to choose another school just in case i get rejected in April. I was recently accepted into UIUC and OSU’s electrical engineering program. The cost is a factor-UIUC potentially being 45k with no merit scholarships and OSU being around 17k with guaranteed merit scholarship(34 ACT, 3.8 WGPA, 15 AP’s, Good EC’s). I know UIUC’s engineering program is much stronger, but i’m questioning if its really worth the extra money. Also, i’m considering going to law school so going to UIUC might mean having a lower gpa. So now that you’ve read my situation, What do you think I should do?</p>
<p>UIUC is considered a better school, but 17k vs 45, I don’t know. Maybe keep the faith with regards to Michigan? I imagine that Michigan would be a lot cheaper in-state, and 17k still isn’t <em>that</em> cheap …</p>
<p>UIUC is a top 5 school and therefore is among the group that a degree from there makes a difference. That being said, Ohio State is essentially a top 25 school (or so) and has tremendous research and intern opportunities that are appealing given the economic benefits. I would look on the ASEE site (American Society for Engineering Education)
[ASEE.org</a> - ASEE - Publications - College Profiles - Search the Profiles](<a href=“http://profiles.asee.org/]ASEE.org”>http://profiles.asee.org/)
where you can check the specific specialties for each engineering area. I found it quite interesting and a good source of information. Good luck.</p>
<p>You mention you want to start off as an engineering student, but also going to law school. To me, it sounds like you are not committed to engineering. When I was making my college decision I almost chose Case Western Reserve only considering its engineering program. I myself started my freshman year as an engineering major as OSU, and I figured out that I did not like it at all. Good thing I didn’t choose Case, because its program in my new major doesn’t come close to OSU. Don’t let rankings and prestige blind you - OSU is very competitive, especially in STEM and business. And if you change your mind and decide to pursue a liberal arts major to complement pre-law, you will be just as well off at OSU. </p>
<p>And the (potential) difference in cost is HUGE. Actually, with your stats or if you are a minority, you might receive quite a bit more in aid at OSU than you predicted. Admissions is looking heavily to recruit better students as well as out-of-staters each year. It might not seem like it, but having any kind of student loans is stressful. I have $10k in loans for one year alone and it stresses me out even though I have a few years to pay it. If you can foot $40k a year, do it, but otherwise, don’t put that kind of financial burden on yourself at a young age.</p>
<p>Think about it for a long while and talk to your parents about the financial aspects. Good luck on the rest of your search!</p>
<p>I agree that OSU is good for STEM and business, but I don’t agree on the liberal arts angle. I don’t think OSU offers much for people interested in arts and humanities. The classes are huge and the professors are more interested in their own research and grad students. Seriously, welcome to TA-ville. </p>
<p>If you get a humanities degree, go through the honors program. Your stats are good for it.</p>
<p>My main focus will be getting an engineering degree, only if my gpa is high enough will i even consider law school. As for recruiting OOS students, I definitely agree. OSU came to my city and invited top students who had demonstrated interest in the school and payed for dinner at a pretty nice restaurant and had a informational presentation. I guess i will wait till my umich decision and go from there. OSU is definitely the front runner unless the other school offer a reduction in the price.</p>
<p>waitlisted at michigan, will attend uiuc in the fall</p>
<p>Have the costs changed in favor of UIUC? If not, please do visit the EECS department at the OSU, spend some time at their career center, and assess how it fits your needs. Do the same at UIUC.
People change their future plans (law, business etc.) for grad school; besides law school is very expensive, and future prospects are not so bright for lawyers.
UIUC is a fine school; too bad you were wait-listed at Michigan; it is their loss.
In any case, without personally visiting both the campuses, and doing an in-depth assessment for your suitability, do not select UIUC just because it is ranked higher. My S, who is currently a junior at Michigan engineering, is finding that the grading at Michigan is tough, and their engineering placement is so so, as compared with Ross, </p>
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<p>Agree with most of this. My feeling is that the education at most Big Ten schools is about the same on a day-to-day level. At both universities the classes will be large and the services very similar. Though UIUC has a better name in the world and a slightly better reputation with employers, I don’t think its name is better “enough” to justify a 30k difference. If this was a 30k difference between OSU and, say, Cornell or Stanford, then I’d say spend the extra money. Or even Bucknell, which has a fabulous undergrad engineering program as well as a rigorous liberal arts program. But I don’t think any of the Big Ten schools is worth 45k. </p>
<p>I don’t agree with discouraging the OP from law school, though. Though the law market is depressed right now, it may turn around 7 or 8 years from now. I also don’t think that people should choose their major based on some hypothetical earning potential. Everyone I know who picked a career in college based on how much money they thought they would be making is very, very unhappy right now. (This includes a lot of engineers.)</p>