<p>I am a graduating high school senior and I'm trying to decide between The Ohio State University, and the University of Cincinnati. I have visited both schools and have been highly impressed on both counts. I am hoping someone with knowledge of both schools can provide insight as to which is more marketable or provides a better education (unfortunately, as I'll get into later, I don't know that the two coincide). </p>
<p>I've visited Ohio State three times now, general campus/engineering visit, Math and Science day, and ECE Open House. USN ranks OSU at 25 for undergrad engineering. At OSU, I would pursue a Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering specializing in computer. I have been accepted into scholars, and would likely choose to live in their dorms. My general impressions of OSU is that they have a nicer campus, nicer buildings/dorms, nicer facilities with better resources, and to some extent better professors. Keep in mind these advantages over UC are slight. The biggest advantage I see at OSU is the opportunity to do research even as an undergrad. At the ECE open house I got to tour some research facilities and talked to some students who began research in their sophomore/junior years. Many of these students were continuing or had continued into graduate study and paid little out of pocket as research grants covered most of their degrees. OSU is very proud of their research, and makes sure their students know it is available. While OSU does have a coop/internship program, it is not mandatory and is probably not quite on the level of UC's. Still, it seems fairly easy to get involved and I would likely seek an internship for the summer at some point.</p>
<p>My general impression with UC is that it lags behind OSU a bit in most things. USN would agree with me, ranking the school at 73 for undergrad engineering. UC's real claim to fame is its coop program, which is undoubtedly the best available to me. While coop is great, the real selling point for me is their ACCEND program. I have been accepted in the program and, in five years, could earn a MS in computer engineering and a BS in electrical engineering and still coop. This would require me to do some distance study when cooping (basic courses through blackboard, probably one class per coop), use my ap credits, and take a slightly more rigorous course load. At first, I did not think there was any research going on at UC, but I inquired on my second visit and a professor walked me by some of their labs. I'm still not convinced their research is at the level of OSU's, but there is interesting research happening. While the professor told me it was not impossible to get involved as an undergrad. He was impressed with me and seemed to suggest that if I continued to apply myself I should have no trouble getting involved with research as an undergrad. Still, I got the impression graduates and professors did most of the work. For that matter, I wonder if their average student would get involved in research even if they knew they could.</p>
<p>I feel the quality of an OSU education may be slightly better, but I think the job experience at UC would make me more marketable. Also, I would think a masters degree, even at UC, would beat a bachelors from almost anywhere. That being side, I would like a masters degree even at OSU, I'm just not sure whether my finances will allow or if I will be willing to put in the extra years (easy to say I would now). If I could get my degree paid for as the research students I spoke to did, that would be ideal. The size of the campuses do discern them a bit. ECE is a huge department at OSU, but I think the department was something like 300 students at UC. I don't really have a preference, but I generally feel more people means more money and more opportunities. One other thing I must consider is whether I should live on campus. At OSU, I would have to live in dorms my freshmen year and would likely try for coop housing or an apartment later in my career. At UC, I could commute, which would trim cost and make for an easier adjustment into college life. I would likely commute the first year or two then look for housing after. But would I miss out by not living on campus? I could live on campus at UC, although costs would then be pretty comparable. Thanks for reading this and I appreciate any advice you can provide.</p>