I have my college decision down to these two schools for aerospace engineering. I have a Naval ROTC scholarship so money is not an issue for the decision. I would really appreciate any insight as to what these schools have to offer.
I have a child at each of these schools. My UMD is a Mechanical Engineering major. The OSU one is more interested in laboratory science and research. UMD is ranked higher for engineering as far as grad schools go, see link below: OSUprof may have better input here on under grad comparison. Have you been to both campuses? My UMD told my OSU when we all moved her in, that Columbus is a way better college town than College Park. Job opportunities may be better at UMD because of access to the Balt/Wash employers.
Overall, college of engineering at Maryland is somewhat stronger for research than OSU (though some departments like Mechanical are ranked higher at OSU). Maryland has a bit more of a survive or sink’ attitude towards undergrads, OSU is morenurturing’ (another way of saying it may be that classes are unforgiving at Maryland).
Maryland’s closeness to federal agencies is their big strength, and this may be even more crucial in Aeronautical (NASA Goddard is about 4 miles from campus!). But Ohio isn’t bad in that sense, because of Wright Patterson
OSU has a lot more of a school pride, as their athletics are the thing in the town. On the other hand, people are more of a fan of Washington or Baltimore teams in Maryland area. Area around UMCP has also gone from bad to worse over time.
Tough choice!
I toured both schools and if you look past academics as they are sos implant, Ohio state seems like a better choice. Maryland had a very nice campus but I did not get the best feeling when I was in college park. Even though Ohio state is so large, I genuinely felt like I was a smal school. Had the campus been smaller and if I had no prior info, I would have guessed like 10,000 students go to Ohio state, not ~50,000.
@migo1416 : There isnt really any difference between them… just close your eyes and toss a coin. If it comes head go to OSU else go to UMD…
I wouldn’t let this deter you. College Park isn’t the nicest place in the world, but the campus is so close to DC that it really doesn’t matter that CP isn’t great. The only major issue about UMD is that the cost of living is very high. But if you can swing it, I would recommend going there rather than OSU. You will have more opportunities for internships and jobs in the DC area, and nothing beats being so close to the nation’s capital.
``College Park isn’t the nicest place in the world, but the campus is so close to DC that it really doesn’t matter that CP isn’t great.’’
Exactly – if a mugger with a gun approaches you in college park, just shout loudly. President of United States will come to your rescue, being so close. In case he/she is traveling, definitely head of FBI will be there. It is really perfect. Everyone feels safe in College Park, Maryland, because they are so close to Washington DC.
In case my sarcasm wasn’t obvious, it should be obvious that MarcusOSU will make any possible argument to avoid OSU engineering getting one more student!.
osuprof, I find the implications of your statements here to be quite offensive. By urging a student not to go to a certain campus because of overblown fears of getting mugged (which, by the way, happens in OSU’s neighborhood all the time), you’re presenting an intellectually dishonest picture of the issues here.
CP isn’t the safest place in the world, but neither is Columbus’s university neighborhood. However, what CP does have going for it is proximity to DC–which, as you even admitted above–carries considerable benefits for an aeronautical engineer:
Moreover, I find your hand-wringing about crime here to play into stereotypes that people have about certain “demographic” areas. I would hope an OSU professor would be above such sentiments, or at least more aware of their implications. But, as you prove again and again in this community, you’re not a great representative of what OSU has to offer.
Oh, and by the way, I lived in the DC area. I worked in poor neighborhoods, and I was never the victim of a violent crime. The cultural riches of the area are not to be underestimated. The only major drawback is the cost of living, which I mentioned above. If the OP doesn’t have a lot of money, then Columbus might be a better place to live to avoid going into debt.
There is no need to relate crime issues to `demographics’. Just check crime statistics of Prince Georges county, Maryland. Here is one link stating how three towns in Prince Georges county are among the 10 most dangerous places in the entire State (these three towns are neighbors of college park).
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/11/18/10-most-dangerous-places-in-maryland/
Lol, you’re talking to someone who lived in PG. Hyattsville, Mt. Rainier, and Bladensburg are not that close to College Park. Nor would a CP student have cause to go there very much.
Indeed, the Linden neighborhood in Columbus is somewhat sketchy, and it’s much, much closer to OSU than any of the three cities you linked us to.
I’m not a big fan of playing on people’s fears to get them to go to a certain school. Obviously the OP knows what’s best for them. Neither OSU nor UMD are in bucolic, wealthy, crime-free settings. UMD has DC nearby and all the potential contacts, internships, and opportunities. OSU has a lower cost of living and a comparable academic reputation. But the crime rate in this country has dropped since the early 90s, even in PG county: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/prince-georges-leaders-tout-falling-crime-rates-homicides-drop-40-percent-since-2010/2015/01/13/d38e006c-9b28-11e4-bcfb-059ec7a93ddc_story.html
``Hyattsville, Mt. Rainier, and Bladensburg are not that close to College Park. Nor would a CP student have cause to go there very much.’’
Hyattsville is right on one end of campus, Mount Rainier and Baldensburg are both right next to Hyattsville. Maximum distance: 3-4 miles. I will invite any reader to just go to google maps and look for UMCP campus and these three towns.
Just keep moving those goalposts, osuprof.
Don’t argue with i**** because they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. —Greg King
If you’re going to be intellectually honest (and you’re not, so what’s the point), you have to concede that OSU is not in a great neighborhood, so telling someone to go to OSU simply so they don’t get robbed or mugged or beaten is a specious argument at best. OSU’s neighborhood is also plagued by slumlords and other issues.
My line of argument has always been clear. OSU and UMD are both good schools, but the OP should not be scared away from attending University of Maryland simply because they heard that College Park isn’t a nice place. CP isn’t a great place, that much is true, but the cultural and economic opportunities of Washington, DC, cannot be understated, especially not for a person who wants to go into aerospace engineering. You get so many more opportunities in a city like that that it behooves the OP to weigh this decision very carefully. College Park is right on the DC metro’s green line, which shoots you straight into the heart of the city.
However, if money or cost of living is an issue, then the OP should consider OSU. The DC area is brutal when it comes to the rent. I’m sure students live on campus in the first couple of years, but the last years might be something to plan for.
What I know for certain is that the OP should not go to OSU because they are under the mistaken impression that it’s in a nicer neighborhood or a better city. It isn’t. And no, I’m under no obligation to tell the OP to go to OSU just because I went there. There are a lot of great schools in the world. College Confidential doesn’t exist as a mouthpiece for the admissions office. It’s a place where people can trade information freely so that people can make good, informed choices.
Many University of Maryland students live in Beltsville. OP, have you at least been to visit UMD?
I take issue with the comment that College Park has gone from bad to worse. It’s gone from not great to improving rapidly. I have two daughters at UMCP and both live off campus off of Rt 1. Their safety has never been a concern of ours in CP. You can quickly tell if you are in a bad area and the area around UMCP is not that.
Both schools are terrific, I’m not sure you can go wrong. I have a son who attends OSU and loves it, I attended the U of M and have a great love for my university. OSU and Columbus is a great place to be, a nice city, great campus, solid academics and the school plays great football. I was really happy when my son picked OSU, my wife and I fell in love with the school throughout the admission process. He was admitted to both schools but really felt at home in Columbus.
In terms of Maryland it offers some great academic programs, is situated between two big cities, and has a gorgeous sprawling campus. If U of M has an advantage it would be its proximity to Balt and DC and the work/ internships that are available in those areas. The city of College Park is getting a much needed facelift and the surrounding areas are totally safe. A student will never venture into the three communities in PG county that are being mentioned. While Hyattville (by the way its really a decent area) is close, i never stepped in Hyattsville in my four years at U of M.
You have some great choices - good luck