Senior trying to decide on Mississippi State, Auburn or VT for engineering. Lives in Ga and has some chance at GT. Looking at aerospace or mechanical. Is accepted to Honors program at MSU, applying for Honors at Auburn and VT. Wants good co op / Greek life and excellent employment after under grad. Any insight is appreciated.
Your son will be in good company with many, many engineering students at Auburn from Georgia. At my son’s Camp War Eagle (orientation) the director stood up in front of all the groups and asked how many had given up “Hope” to attend Auburn - my son said about 1/2 of that session stood up. Not getting into GT as an in-state student within the top 25 of their admittance profile is getting very, very frustrating for the parents having to pay out of state tuition for an engineering education - but Auburn offers scholarship money (Alabama gives it away and they are a great school too - just different than Auburn). Son also was admitted to VT College of Engineering (a friend was accepted but not into the College of Engineering, although that’s where he applied, so I’m not sure how that works) but no merit money, same with NCState and some other engineering schools, acceptance but little to no merit money. I do hope you do make a visit Auburn and see how it fits. War Eagle!
My son got into engineering at VT (now grad student at GT). He did not attend. After calling the school and finding out he is not really an engineering student until he takes an into eng. course which we were told he most likely wouldn’t get in as there are too many students and goes by grade level so that would set him back a year at least. Can’t take any other engineering courses until that one is taken. Also told at VT and other schools to expect 5 year graduation. Son went to a great state school in our home state and graduated with 2 bachelors (one in Mechanical and one in Aerospace engineering in 4 years. He worked very very hard. Did great things on campus. Very high GPA. All is well.
See if VT still requires that first engineering course and that students don’t even take it until sophomore year. Also, ask att every school, 4 or 5 year graduation?
VaTech is a great engineering school, but that is cold comfort to VaTech students whom can’t get into the engineering program of their choice because of the high degree of competition. Certainly Auburn is solid. Investigate whether or not admission to the university includes direct admission into the college of engineering.
Mississippi State University is underrated. Do yourself a favor and investigate the ties, if any, between MSU engineering and the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
My son had no problem graduating in engineering from Virginia Tech in four years. It can certainly be done. Any of the schools being considered should provide good opportunities. Good luck with GT as well, since you are in Georgia.
They’re all fine for eng’g and grads get jobs.
What are your parents saying about giving up Hope? Unless you qualify for a LOT of merit at these other schools, they will cost a LOT more than your instate schools.
Yes, some kids give up Hope to go OOS, but either their affluent parents will happily pay, they have GI Benefits, or they’ve landed excellent merit.
what are your stats
“he is not really an engineering student until he takes an intro eng. course”
All students admitted to engineering start out the first year in General Engineering ( and take things like physics, calculus, chemistry, Foundations of Engineering and a first year writing course). Then, they move on to one of 14 specific departments ( mechanical, civil, industrial,etc.) but they are "engineering students " from the beginning. http://www.enge.vt.edu/undergraduate.html
I’d go with either Auburn or VTech, especially if he gets into Honors. Email the career center as well as the dept to get details about co-ops. You shouldn’t worry about internship opportunities, both have excellent ties with industry and excellent placement.
Mississippi State’s main drawback is the location (rural Mississippi) in my opinion.
I live in Mississippi and MSU isn’t anywhere on our list. Auburn really isn’t either, but I would be very happy if either of my children chose to go there. Auburn has a beautiful campus, in the same way that the Ole Miss campus is beautiful. The school also has an active Greek system. And while the city of Auburn isn’t small, it isn’t huge either, which I consider a plus.
I suggest you at least visit Auburn.
I’m fairly certain GT has the only Aerospace program in Georgia. If they can’t get into GT, they will have to look OOS. With Mechanical, the only other in state options are Georgia Southern University and Kennesaw State. With GT getting so competitive, a lot of solid engineering students have to look OOS.
All three options are good. You should also add University of Alabama and Clemson to your list. Clemson is similar to Auburn (and does offer some OOS aid, but not an aerospace engineering degree), while UA also offers very competitive merit scholarships. You may also want to add UT-Knoxville to your list, it also has a solid engineering program (including an Aero major) and offers OOS merit scholarships (requires an UT weighted GPA of 3.8+ and ACT/SAT scores of 28+/1250+).
Good Luck!
PS: Down south in Florida; UF is almost as competitive as GT, and you’re likely have to pay full OOS tuition ($28K+ a year). If you can get into UF, you likely can get into GT (which is a far better choice for a GA resident!!).
Three possibly better options (for Aerospace Engineering) would be UCF (large aerospace program, several major aerospace employers in the area, generous merit aid) and the two private schools; Florida Institute of Technology and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University(Daytona Beach). If you’re looking at OOS publics, you may as well take a look at the privates…they may (with grants and such) fit into your budget, or not.
Excellent suggestions, @Gator88NE, although probably not of much benefit to the OP who was inquiring on behalf of a high school senior. It’s pretty late for a senior to be looking for any of the big merit awards, isn’t it?
Ack!
Why was I thinking a junior…yes, it’s past the admission deadline for UT and Clemson. UCF is on rolling admissions, and the two privates may still be taking applications.
However, Mississippi State, Auburn or VT are all solid (and popular for GA residents) choices for engineering.
Gator88NE, thanks for the feedback on the other OOS. Son was deferred to GT so he is meeting with a GT advisor in next month to see what his chances are. UF was exactly as you say; just as difficult OOS as GT is in state, + very litttle Merit $$. Waiting on Clemson, but it is only Mech, no Aerospace. In state gor Georgia is tough sledding for Engineering if you cannot get into GT.
LakeWashington, good point on VT, we will investigate the Foundations of Engineering availability in year 1. Will also look into the Stennis Space Center.
Good insight from everyone. Thank you for posting.
This thread seems moot until you’ve been admitted to all three. VA Tech has only released ED results. If you got in you are obligated to attend. Otherwise you won’t know until late February. Can’t count your chickens until they hatch.
Unless something has changed, if your child does end up at Virginia Tech, there should not be a problem getting the initial engineering courses (if he is admitted directly to engineering). Here is an old thread from 2009 that addresses that (starting at post #10 by a poster that has also participated in this current thread). If you find out differently and that there could be a problem, please report back so we will have the accurate information. Sorry your son was deferred at Georgia Tech. Good luck in the regular round.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/virginia-tech/786674-typical-engineering-sat-and-gpa-p1.html