<p>i have to choose between Purdue or UMD college park for aerospace engineering. i am an instate student for maryland, so its ALOT cheaper, but purdue is ranked slightly above CP is aerospace. I liked purdues campus alot and Purdue also has alot of astronaut connections, - something Im really interested in going into - however its very expensive - any advice on where to go? ( i love both college sports teams so thats not an issue lol)</p>
<p>This is not even close, … unless you have $$ to burn? … If you are going to pay “ALOT” more, there must be a BIG difference between the schools …</p>
<p>Um…I don’t think there’s a question. (but I assume you assume that you’re going to get UMD on this forum!)</p>
<p>“Purdue also has alot of astronaut connections”…Um, NASA’S Goddard Space Center is right down the road…among a bunch of other things in the DC area that are right at your fingertips. D has had an intership at NASA since fall of her sophomore year. She’s on the science end of things, but says that there are actually a lot more opportunities there for engineers than scientists. You’ll have opportunities (as long as you are a good student and work your butt off in your classes) that you certainly could not get at Purdue. </p>
<p>I don’t know about aerospace ratings, but overall, UMD ranks higher on several categories than Purdue. (Take a look at average SAT scores, etc.)</p>
<p>Do you really like cornfields and soybean fields that much?
(I’m from central Illinois, and there’s a reason I don’t still live there).</p>
<p>I’m sure that you are thinking that the grass is greener, but if the cost was the same, I’d still recommend UMD because I believe there are a LOT more opportunities for you there. With the cost differential, it becomes an obvious choice, as far as I can tell. Don’t worry, UMD is a big place and if you don’t want to hang around people from your high school, you really, really don’t have to.</p>
<p>thanks guys
plumazul: ALOt is 41k for purdue vs the 21k for CP. so i guess the difference isnt big enuf</p>
<p>astrophysicsmom: thank you so much, that really clarified alot on the nasa stuff, im lookin to intern there as i have done the past few summers, so yea. i just wanted to hear some others opinions on this. thanks!!</p>
<p>Like I said in the other engineering thread there will be no difference academically at the undergraduate level and both schools will have sufficient research opportunities. I’d go to UMD and save a lot of money but you should definitely visit both campuses to make sure you won’t have any regrets.</p>
<p>This is no question.</p>
<p>UMD all the way.</p>
<p>Half the cost.</p>
<p>Great location by DC. You will have no dearth of internship or career opportunities. Well, idk if that’s true, depends on how picky you are. Lots of engineers complain that the only jobs they can find is making bombs and missiles…but isn’t that the case no matter where you major in aerospace or chem e etc.? NASA is definitely right around the corner. As are Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, etc. </p>
<p>A fairly highly ranked aerospace program, to boot…idk if Purdue is a few spaces higher, but a few spaces is NOT worth 20K. </p>
<p>I remember that a former head of NASA was teaching classes at UMD fairly recently…UMD is the real deal. MD no question…though I agree with the first poster…unless you have $$ to burn haha…</p>
<p>Speaking as a current Aerospace Engineering student who also chose between Purdue and Georgia Tech vs. MD as instate, UMD definitely! Our aerospace program is amazing (actually our entire engineering school is highly ranked as you know) but there’s really not that much difference between those in the top 10. We have a bunch of aero labs which are really easy to work in as an undergrad even as a freshman (like the SSL- Space Systems Lab if you’re looking more towards astronautics like me). That and our engineering school here is loved by everyone == we get soo much money in support from both the university and alumns and companies == more undergrad research and GREAT profs who are famous in aerospace! In the end, college is what you make of it, and umd is a great school. Plus, graduating with no loans, or very little loans will help you immensely in the long run. I remember having a hard time choosing between GT (#2 behind MIT in Aero) and umd, but in the end, the money was hard to turn down and I’ve never regretted coming here since! Hope to see you at UMD AIAA meetings and events in the future! :)</p>
<p>haha thanks so much orchdork - i am actaully in the same predicament as you - i was picking between purdue gtech and umdcp, but narrowed it down betw cp and purdue ( i liked purdue alot better than gtech) so yeah - thanks so much for your help and i guess ill see you at cP</p>