Question about Computer Engineering

Okay, so currently, I’m in a bit of a pickle. For the longest, I’ve always wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. Unfortunately, as of late, when I look back on topics, I’ve come to realize that it isn’t my cup. Now, I’m actually more interested in Computer Engineering, so I kinda wanted to go to a school with Mechanical and Computer just in case Computer doesn’t pan out.

Thing is, there’s only two schools in my state (Georgia) that offer it (that are schools my mom would want me to go to). One is Georgia Tech and the other is Mercer University. I have a better chance at getting into Mercer, but all they offer is Computer Engineering, General.

Also, financially, I’m not that well off. And as for out of state schools, I’m looking at UAH. The main reason why out of state is kinda out of the question is that my mom would flip out and it’s financially overpriced.

Okay, here’s a few questions:

What’s the difference between Computer Engineering and CompEng, General?
Do employers look more for General or not?
Also, is out of state worth it? (I’d have to pay $22, 000-23, 000 after all my scholarships at school)

Employers probably will not have any questions about your education, provided that it was ABET accredited. The Mercer website says that its engineering program is a B.S.E, with a computer “specialization.” So maybe not as extensive as Georgia Tech, curriculum-wise, but in any event you should investigate Mercer’s record of student employment. How many employers recruit at Mercer’s engineering school and where do they come from?

As for out-of-state schools, there are multiple options, depending on your academic record and your budget. Are your grades and scores high enough for a U of Alabama-Tuscaloosa scholarship? The same question should be asked about places like Ohio University and U of South Carolina-Columbia. Also, you and your family need to sit down and frankly discuss your aspirations. Like most parents, I am sure that your mother would support you if you traveled away from home for college, if that was the best situation for you.

Ohio isn’t very far away from Georgia. Ohio University has scholarships for engineering students. Another school in Ohio, the private U of Dayton, has strong engineering programs. There’s also the Illinois Institute of Technology. Going further afield, universities such as U of Rochester and Worcester Polytechnic Institute might offer a student from Georgia a significant financial incentive to enroll at their institutions. I know a student from Atlanta, from a family of very modest means, who decided to enroll at U of Rochester because of the excellent financial aid they offered. You might also consider three Missouri schools, which are a bit closer to Georgia; Washington University, Saint Louis University, and Missouri Science & Technology University.

Another very good option is the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Depending on your grades you could be an auto-admit. But don’t misunderstand, Mines is a very rigorous university with a national reputation among engineering professionals, as I have noted often on this board. It is also a bargain at approximately $22,000 in total cost.

What are your grades and scores like? Describe your profile.

@LikeWashington

First off, thanks for responding.

As for my grades, I’m average, 3.4 (but after doing a bit of calculating it could be a 3.6 at the end of the semester with my current grades. And that 3.4 is unweighted). I made a 28 on the ACT, but if colleges take your highest subscores from each category of both tests I took, I’d be at a 29. As for extracurriculars, I did one year of wrestling, but quit after the amount of strain I put on my body. And that’s it, really.

Also, I’m going to be looking at Mercer’s employment rate. As for other colleges, I’ll be on the lookout, but also part of the reason I would love to go to UAH is because of its focus on space, etc. Not that I plan on working for Nasa or SpaceX, ect. but I just love the atmosphere. I’ll definitely look at the Tuscaloosa campus and courses. And those other schools.

The great thing about engineering school, or at least the stronger engineering schools, is that there are broad opportunities for undergraduates if you seek them out. Therefore, you might find a professor with an interest in researching and creating new technologies for space vehicles, even though the school itself may have a limited history of involvement in space projects. For example, SD Mines just got another grant for researching new applications for coatings for aerospace vehicles. Try to find a college whose student clubs appear to be active in the areas that interest you. My son, a ChE major, is fascinated by SpaceX (and Tesla, for that matter). He joined his school’s car-building competition. He had a blast, even though the Mechanical Engineering students did most of the work.

I have heard nothing but positive things about the academics and the social environment at UAH. The one bad thing I have read is that in recent years the school has dramatically reduced the financial incentives it offers to to successful out-of-state applicants.

Incidentally, you may want to send emails to the Deans at the engineering schools at Case Western Reserve University and U of Akron to ask about their relationships (if any) with NASA’s John Glenn Center in Cleveland. CWRU is a fabulous STEM university. U of Akron is home to the Goodyear Research Center. The major drawback to UA is that as a public college it’s a bit of a commuter school; but I have read that being an engineer on campus is much more pleasant and interesting than being enrolled in the other majors. I think that the engineering school is actually separated physically from the main undergraduate campus. By the way, the private U of Dayton is also a very fine engineering university and may entice you to apply/enroll with a decent financial aid package.

Oh, I don’t think I answered your original question. Here’s a layman’s perspective.

Computer Science involves original software programming (writing); mathematical computing and programming to create systems that perform specific functions on various powered devices.

Computer Engineering the actual design and construction of the hardware and energy sources that power computers and devices that rely on computers and software.

@LakeWashington
Thanks for all your help. I’m currently looking at Akron’s financial aid opportunities and there are a lot of scholarships that pay off a huge portion.

Case Western and Dayton are also pretty good, but I think Akron has my attention.

Glad I was able to be of help to you.

Make sure you investigate the ‘Akron Advantage’ scholarship program for non-Ohio residents. The UA website says the scholarship constitutes a significant reduction in the non-resident tuition surcharge that normally applies to out-of-state students. Your present ACT score is high enough for the award, but you need to pull your GPA up to 3.5 to get the largest award. There’s a second-level award that only requires a 2.75, but my guess is that the money is much less and the competition stiffer. In any event, the approximate tuition price of $19,000 per anum is certainly reasonable. Don’t know what they charge for dorm rooms. In a midwestern city like Akron, I am confident you would find nearby off-campus housing options that are cheaper than on-campus rooms/suites. As for transportation, I’ve seen non-stop flights from Atlanta to Akron for less than $200 round-trip. It’s only a 1.5 hour flight, so tell your folks to stop worrying. LOL.