<p>I'm a beginning my second year at Oregon State University (a very local college for me) majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Although I am considering switching my major to Nuclear Engineering). I have taken 6 trimesters worth of classes so far, is in the Honors College, and currently has a 3.92 GPA, and the one B I have was an act of God (I suffered the concussion the night before the finals while playing basketball T__T whoo go me.) </p>
<p>In the last few weeks, I've been wondering what would perhaps be the best plan for my future. I know that what college you go to stays with you for life, but I'm also planning to pursue at least Master's degree in Engineering/Hard Science if not PhD and for those two degrees I'm definitely planning to attend top engineering schools. As of right now, if I stay at Oregon State Honors, I'm confident in my abilities and my work ethic in that I could graduate at the top of my class here. I've been also thinking of transferring to a Top-25 engineering universities (Thinking of UC Berkeley, Cornell, U.Michigan, or Georgia Tech) So my question would be:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Out in the real world, would people care about where I came out for my undergrad if I have a Masters/PhD from a top school? </p></li>
<li><p>What would be better for me in terms of admission chances for top grad schools, assuming things like GRE and research is similar? Summa Cum Laude and Honors Bachelors from Oregon State? Or bachelors from a top school but say only Cum Laude GPA?</p></li>
<li><p>What would be your decision if you were in my shoes and why?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>End Note: Price isn't a significant concern, OSU is ranked ~80 in Engineering, ~50 in Electrical and Computers, ~130 Nationally according to US News.</p>
<p>I’m not in engineering, so perhaps its different in that field, but in almost every other field, if you have a masters or PhD from a top school, no one cares where you did your undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>Graduating at the top of a less competitive school with outstanding letters of recommendation from faculty who know you well and who have provided you with good research opportunities would be much better than transferring to and graduating from a better known school but with faculty who know you less well and therefore provide less strong letters of rec and give you few research opportunities. (And if the school is more competitive, you may not stand out as much academically). </p>
<p>So, I think the real question is whether you are happy at your current school: Do you like the people, the culture, the faculty, the work/play balance? If the answer is yes, then I would stay put if it were me.</p>
<p>Every working adult, including college professors, I’ve spoken to tells me that no one will care where you went for undergrad studies. They just care about your terminal degree.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation as you. I’m attending a not so prestigious college (it isn’t completely horrible though) but because of this I’m able to have many opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise, such as a research job during my first summer of college. I’m planning on staying here for my entire college career and taking advantage of the chances that come my way.</p>
<p>1) In the real world, most hiring managers don’t care about MS/Phd’s in engineering. It is helpful for consulting or research, but not much else. Other than that, the only reason why a hiring manager would care about undergrad institution is if it’s his alma mater. In the real world, most hiring managers show huge bias towards alma maters. For example, if you had a Stanford bs and PhD from Cornell, a Stanford alum hiring manager would likely notice the bachelors degree. </p>
<p>2) Academic rigor for engineering is roughly the same across the board. In other words, if you can hack it at OSU, you can hack it at any Tier 1 university. The only difference is at Top 5 programs there are more highly-motivated students throwing off the curve. </p>
<p>3) I would wait until I had serious summer work experience + upper level classes before I decided on grad school. If you’re determined on grad school, then I would drop engineering double major (pick one) and get a math minor or major. Most grad students are shocked at how mathematical/theoretical engineering graduate work is – very different from undergrad, for good or bad. If money is not a problem, then I would transfer to best school near to the biggest, most relevant job market. Look at best employers–> look at feeder universities for those companies (typically top 10 universities located nearby) –> transfer to those schools. I would also stay away from nuclear engineering. Very limited job prospects.</p>