South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Will graduating from one over the other look better on grad school applications? How do their reputations compare? Quality of education? Any other thoughts appreciated.
I don’t have first-hand knowledge beyond my child attending a summer prog at SD Tech, but from what I can see both are pretty good for what they do. I tend to think of SD as being on the continuum more professionally oriented while NM tends to produce a lot more Ph.D. candidates. Obviously there’s a mix at both schools of students heading into professional careers vs attending grad school, but this is all that I know currently. They both have cool things about them that are unique. NM I’m pretty sure blows up a car like once a week for research purposes, I think focused on Security issues (I think of it as security with a capital S). SD has a mining-focused explosives engineering degree. They both seem like really cool schools. Best of luck.
Thanks Dustyfeathers. That is the sense I had also. New Mexico tech is in the top 15 producers of PhDs nationally.
I wonder what this means as far as what you actually learn in the undergraduate programs. Also, I wonder if a graduate school would prefer a 4.0 from New Mexico over a 4.0 from South Dakota… I would prefer going to South Dakota unless I come to the conclusion that it could significantly hurt my grad school admission chances.
a user on this board attended New Mexico tech and knew a classmate who went to caltech for grad school… Anyone hear of a sdsm&t grad who went to a top grad school?
Bump…
Anyone have any opinions/information on if choosing one school over the other would significantly affect grad school admissions?
Any more to say about the two schools?
Their reputations?
Anyone hear of a sdsm&t grad who went to a top grad school?
Thanks in advance.
What makes SD more appealing to you?
I can’t speak to the academics but I did visit campus recently because one of my kids did a summer STEM program there. The campus is compact and pleasant. If you like stark desert landscapes, there’s hiking, but for much of the year it is very hot. There’s also a bird sanctuary nearby that attracts migratory geese and cranes and offers a bit of green space. The town is quite small and there’s not a lot to do. Albuquerque is a 90 minute drive away. Our student guide spoke to the excellence of the academic offerings but said that many students end up transferring elsewhere because of the limited amenities of the location. You’d want a car if you went here. Like many tech schools, gender ratios skew strongly male. The only non-tech major offered is psychology.
On the plus side, NM Tech is well-known for its explosives program and the cost of attendance is very reasonable.
@MYOS1634 The city, Rapid City. It appeals more to me. It has a good population. The Black Hills nearby are beautiful. I like cold weather. And there is more recreation, dating, etcetera.
Socorro, NM is beautiful as well. I could live here. But I would prefer Rapid City. I think it is important to like the town you live in to do well in school.
I know NMT has a good reputation and wouldn’t hold me back at all. Would SDSM&T? Using Google I have found professors at good universities who went to NMT for undergrad. I haven’t found professors at good universities (besides for SDSM&T) who went to SDSM&T for undergrad.
I don’t think SDSMT will hold you back.
Have you considered de MUST in Rolla ? Michigan Tech ?
No, it’s definitely going to be a decision between SDSMT and NMT. Didn’t get into Michigan Tech, and not qualified for admission to MUST.