Oklahoma State or Texas A&M Engineering

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>This is yet another in the long line of posts about prestige vs. money, except maybe on a smaller scale.<br>
Currently I am considering Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University. It seems that based on “prestige” rankings, recruiter rankings, and opportunities Texas A&M comes out on top by a wide margin. However, OSU has a good reputation in Oklahoma. Although I like having concrete numbers to go by, I don’t think that these numbers should completely define my decision. I have good scholarships to both OSU and A&M. The cost of OSU would be very minimal. The cost of Texas A&M would be around $20,000-$30,000 more, assuming that I do not receive any more scholarships either now or in the future. My family and I can afford both schools and my parents are willing to pay. However, I wouldn’t mind saving them some money (that I could also put towards graduate school if I choose to attend it) and going to a close school where I would already have friends by attending OSU. </p>

<p>My question than is this, in terms of my future career is going to Texas A&M for engineering worth $25,000 extra dollars, a long drive, and not knowing anyone?</p>

<p>Other possibly useful information:
Academic profile: Motivated student, 4.0 unweighted GPA, National Merit Finalist, ACT 33
Oklahoma resident
Major: Mechanical or environmental engineering
Future plans: possibly graduate school, not terribly interested in working in Oklahoma
I have visited both schools and felt comfortable at both.
I do not expect any financial aid.</p>

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<p>A&M all day</p>

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<p>Even though I’m a Longhorn and if I were in your shoes, I’d go to A&M.</p>

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<p>I’m an engineer in OK, if you are going for your PhD go to OSU, do well there and attend top 25 grad school. If you think you are going to work a while with a bachelors, go to Texas A&M. Just my opinion, you have two great options!</p>

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<p>I think it depends on what you want to do. The environmental program at A&M is sub-par, especially for undergrads. If you want to go mechanical, then A&M is leaps and bounds ahead of OSU.</p>

1 Like
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<p>Thank you all for you replies. I think that I will give a little more thought to whether or not I will be attending graduate school.</p>

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<p>If your family can afford it just fine, I would say definitely go to Texas A&M. If it was going to be a huge burden on them financially, I would say that doing OSU is a fine option if that is your decision.</p>

<p>Deciding at this point whether or not you are doing graduate school is foolhardy. It will be difficult to really know that until you get to about your junior year of your engineering program. For the time being, I would say go to the best school that you can realistically afford. The increased recruiting draw of Texas A&M is easily worth it if it won’t break the bank.</p>

<p>Also, for what it is worth, engineers are often paid to go to graduate school if they go full time.</p>