<p>Throw in GTech and Northwestern as well (though hard to get in to, but you never know) if you are willing to pay OOS. I’d rank them, UMich, and Purdue all over VTech.</p>
<p>In any case, consider CC your safety. A ton of folks in CA transfer from CC in to Cal and USC (and UCLA and UCSD).</p>
<p>@NJProParent : not sure what you’re looking at, but that’s not what this shows:
<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/industrial-engineering-rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/industrial-engineering-rankings</a></p>
<p>I would recommend making your case for why VT gives the return-on-investment you think that it does. Keep in mind, your folks may feel burned by blowing a quarter-mil on your sister’s degree and are questioning if it was worth it (as you apparently do, as well), and don’t want to do the same in your case (+ travel costs). Pretend it’s your money you worked decades to earn, and compare VT to the alternatives. If your payback period is more than 7 years of incrementally higher income, then why do it?</p>
<p>If you can’t make the case in the form of significantly higher earnings, then gun for your top 4 (write great essays, show your passion) and go CC if you can’t get accepted. </p>
<p>Also, how committed are you really to IE? So many people change their majors and/or pursue careers that are in fields that differ from their undergrad degree. Even if you’re “certain about IE”, what about good schools w/o that major but supplemented with good internships and/or your own six-sigma certification work?</p>
<p>You’re obviously smart and have the benefit of having parents willing to pay for a college education. No need to be angry, depressed, or rigid in your thinking. Be thankful for all of the great options you have in life (compared to so many others) and find a way to do something special with the cards you have been dealt…they’re better than most.</p>
<p>@NJProParent : OK, cool. In any case, the rankings are just a rough guide. Just going on reputation, I’d still take Stanford/Cal/(UCLA/UCSD/USC/)UMich/Northwestern/GTech/Purdue over VTech.</p>
<p>@Cabbage1 but there is NO way i can get into stanford or berkeley. even with a great essay. if ur stats dont line up, they wont look at ur application (they wont read your essay), so usc i might have a chance and cal poly i have a 40 percent chance id say. </p>
<p>im not 100 percent committed to IE. i dont know if ill love engineering, but ive read about IE online, and i liked it. i want to experience it in college first and then make a better decision, and what exactly are you asking? r u saying that i can choose a major other than IE, but land an IE job. and sorry, i thought six sigma was about management/business. can u help me understand how its related to engineering</p>
<p>Some fields of IE is very close to management/business/finance.</p>
<p>I agree with @Cabbage1 that you need to do the proper assessment. Look at all the costs involved - if that is a consideration - many of the OSS costs will be less, especially VT and Georgia Tech. If VT interests you, apply as a safety school, along with one or two others that are recommended above, along with your reach schools. Give yourself options, don’t get down, and look forward.</p>