<p>GaTech might be ranked even higher among folks who recruit engineers. It takes a hit in the US News ranking because its graduation rate is lower than some of its peers. GaTech can be brutal, but those who survive are very well prepared to become excellent engineers.</p>
<p>if you apply to UT-Austin, and apply for scholarships you would be eligible for instate tuition</p>
<p>"GaTech can be brutal, but those who survive are very well prepared to become excellent engineers."</p>
<p>They have reputation for excellence. With top Co-op program and undergraduate Internship program give students early opportunities and competitive advantage on job and attending the top graduate school.</p>
<p>Mustang, I thought you were trying to avoid costly schools. USC is expensive...well over $45,000/year when you consider all costs. IF that's the case, definitely apply to Cal.</p>
<p>
yeah, but as i said...USC is a private institution with a large endowment. hence, they can afford to dole out fairly large grants, not even counting possible merit aid. USC isn't the only private school that fits all specs, but it was one i could think of that has fairly good schools of business and engineering. OOS public institutions might not be so generous with grant money, especially the UC system. </p>
<p>as for the question about the ACT...sorry, can't help there since i took SATs of all variation. i would ask around the USC forum around here.</p>
<p>and USC...warm weather all year round. really, 2 noticeable seasons with slight variations...warm (not typically hot), then cool/slightly cold (lowest around maybe 40-45 F) with stretches of rain.</p>
<p>"OOS public institutions might not be so generous with grant money, especially the UC system."</p>
<p>And it MIGHT be more generous with grant money. Neither of us know what the OP would get, so I think you're a bit off base to use that as a reason not to apply. Unless of course you have data to back that up. If so, by all means post it.</p>
<p>Phobos, UCS's endowment is large, but so is its undergraduate student body. USC is not known for being that generous and in terms of merit aid, I think most universities expect significantly more than a 31 ACT score. I am not saying that the OP shouldn't consider USC, but if he is, then he should definitely consider Cal.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USC is not known for being that generous and in terms of merit aid
[/quote]
never heard that...at the very worst, i've heard that it's nothing huge to speak of. on the other hand, i've seen people with serious financial need alone (such as what the OP might have) get grants well in excess of their tuition (completely independent of merit). personally, i needed to get at least $18,000 in grants to even consider going, and they gave me $19,000. you wouldnt believe how many people i know that are attending because of grant money.</p>
<p>Phobos, what you describe is no different from what most universities, including the elite state universities do. At all top universities, the average student graduates with anywhere from $15,000 and $25,000 debt. At all top universities, between 90% and 100% of demonstrated need was fully met. At the end of the day, very few universities, with the exception of the likes of Princeton and Caltech, are truly generous. USC isn't one of those. Yes, USC's endowment of $3 billion is large. However, given its size, USC's endowment does not afford it the luxury that schools with equally large endowments but much smaller student bodies (like Emory, Notre Dame, Rice, Vanderbilt and Washington U.) have. Those are the schools that are famous for their scholarships.</p>
<p>well, i did note USC wasn't the only university to consider, and actually...that was the very first thing i said. my point was to consider private universities, and USC happened to fit much of the criteria outlined besides an absolutely cheap tuition at face value...and...i've said it several times before already, but it has great weather (i'd argue that most people would agree), a very good engineering program, and a reasonably good business school.</p>
<p>Phobos, my point wasn't not to apply to USC. As you point out, it is a good university with respected Engineering and Business programs and it is located in SoCal, which has great weather most of the year. I was just saying that in the case of most private university, the applicant is depending on the generosity of the university to knock that total cost from over $45,000/year, to a more reasonable $30,000 or less. With a school like UT-Austin, he will not have to depend on the generosity of the university as UT-Austin costs well under $35,000, all costs included.</p>
<p>"I am not saying that the OP shouldn't consider USC, but if he is, then he should definitely consider Cal."</p>
<p>What is Cal?</p>
<p>cal = berkeley</p>
<p>i would apply to both USC and cal... then see what they offer in aid. no point arguing about it beforehand. both schools have excellent undergrad programs in engineering and business.</p>
<p>Im almost done with my USC application. The link to financial aid doesn't work right now. So far these schools seems like reaches for me. What about some matches? Again, my criteria:
Warm, not really expensive, ocean proximity is a plus!</p>
<p>Like what about Cal Poly San Luis Obispo? Seems like a really cool town.
btw I will very likely transfer after my first year if im not really happy at the school i choose. And for Austin, I think it may be too hot there.</p>
<p>Cal poly could be a good fit. Nice weather, $4000/yr tuition, close to the ocean. Good engineering and business programs.</p>
<p>My analysis:</p>
<p>Top-10 undergrad Eng. Schools</p>
<ol>
<li> MIT</li>
<li> Berkeley, Stanford</li>
<li> Caltech, UIUC
6 GT, Michigan
8 CMU, Purdue
10 Cornell</li>
</ol>
<p>Top-10 Undergrad Business School</p>
<ol>
<li> UPenn</li>
<li> MIT</li>
<li> Berkeley, Michigan
5 NYU, UNC, UT-Austin
8 CMU
9 USC, UVA</li>
</ol>
<p>Based on the two data sets while utilizing the objective function with the appropriate weightings and constraints, the best undergrad schools for Eng & Business are:</p>
<p>MIT-Berkeley-Michigan-CMU</p>