<p>Just because I didn’t go there doesn’t mean that I am completely ignorant about it. When I was there, comparing the people I met to the people that I met at UIUC, it just wasn’t quite the same. Like I said, I loved the school and it came in a close, excruciating second place when deciding where to go for grad school, but for undergrad, the atmosphere wouldn’t have been for me. I am merely cautioning the OP to visit before making a decision.</p>
<p>And I totally agree on the admissions stuff. It is completely laughable when people use the admissions rate as a measure of the difficulty of getting in. It is such an incomplete picture.</p>
<p>You’ve completely ignored my referencing his SAT. For the fall 2008 term the average SAT composite score at GT was a 1360. The OP has a 1360. That is only an average score, meaning half of the accepted class is below that point. With a 60% acceptance rate, why is GT so unrealistic for the OP? </p>
<p>No one is saying it is a complete picture. With schools like Lehman and City College having acceptance rates below 35%, I know. A lot of unqualified people apply to these schools. I realize that it is different at GT. I supported that “incomplete” picture with a reference to the OP’s solid SAT scores. Most people that apply to MIT are not trash {with it’s 12% acceptance rate}, nor are people that apply to CalTech, Princeton, or Columbia Engineering. These people apply to prestigious engineering programs because many of them believe they have a chance, and have done their research. With GT being a top 5 engineering program, I’m assuming it is at least as good, if not better than some of the schools I’ve listed above. But these other schools are more selective. Graduating from schools like UIUC, GT, Purdue, etc, with an engineering degree is an impressive feat, but it is not only the top 5% of HS engineers-to-be that are accepted into these programs. Graduating is much more impressive than being accepted, and the OP’s stats do not make he/she unqualified.</p>
<p>The main consideration for you, in my opinion, should be the money. Im a big fan of UF, but Im sure beyond a reasonable doubt that the OS tuition is going to come back to bite you. VT is a good school, and I really wouldnt get too caught up on exactly which kind of engineering degree you get the majority of them are pretty versatile. I actually sat next to a guy on a plane last year who worked at a nuclear plant we were talking about engineering, and he told me the guy who manages the entire facility is an EE.</p>
<p>GP is a well known ■■■■■, feel free to ignore him.</p>
<p>Anyway, between UF and VT I’d just visit both and while there ask about Nuclear certifications. Like I said, I know VT has one and UF might also. Also ask to see the course offerings (they might be on the college websites somewhere) and see which one has more Nuclear classes.</p>
<p>“The main consideration for you, in my opinion, should be the money. I’m a big fan of UF, but I’m sure beyond a reasonable doubt that the OS tuition is going to come back to bite you”</p>
<p>K thats what I was figuring too.</p>
<p>And the EE running the plant is quite an eye opener. THX</p>
<p>I’m not saying that it’s unrealistic that he’ll get in, just that he’s below the average, which is true (about 50% of students usually are). So he shouldn’t just assume that he’s in. </p>
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<p>No, you just dislike that I’m not a fan of VT. If you check the football boards, it looks like a GT - VT rivalry is starting to brew (at least I don’t refer to VT as VPI, like most people)</p>
<p>75th percentile for GT is a 1420. Straight off of their 08-09 common data sheet. But now I see your point GP. You thought I was of the opinion I was guaranteed into GT. That is far from the case. I won’t say I’m guaranteed to any college except VCU. </p>
<p>Rsala no one has said mechanical is a repalcement for nuclear. Its a springboard to get a masters in nuclear. And the comparison is NOT between florida and GT. Its VT and Florida.</p>
<p>Probably because Mechanical and Nuclear have identical core curriculum and the only difference is that at the higher level classes, the Nuclear classes apply those core concepts differently. However, as long as you get those same basics and take some of the nuclear oriented electives, you will be very similarly qualified, especially when you consider later on-the-job training. It is kind of like doing aerospace vs. mechanical.</p>
<p>Looks to me like they aren’t that different. For instance, reactor thermal hydraulics is where they are going to get their fluid mechanics. It is just going to have a different application to the way that MEs do it. While MEs look at a lot of flow through pipes, NEs are going to look at flow through something like a reactor core and an Aero is going to look more at flow over lifting bodies. However, the concepts are the same. Since it is thermal hydraulics, that implies that their Thermal Hydraulics 1 and 2 takes the place of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer.</p>
<p>A lot of the other upper division courses are similarly related to their ME counterparts, which is why if you are an ME and you took a couple electives in the Nuke department, you would be just fine.</p>
<p>I’m admitting right off the bat that I know nothing about Engineering programs. But, something that has not been mentioned in this thread is that all Florida publics have taken serious (in some cases catastrophic) financial hits this year. I can’t start to tell you how many programs have been cut. Of course, UF is the flagship university in the Florida system, but it is not and will not be immune to budget cuts. Keep that in mind if you want to go to a public school OOS (I’m from Florida) especially if a large chunk of your decision is financially based. Let’s say you do get in, and let’s say they do provide financial aid, there is no guarantee that it will be sustainable for all 4 years. That’s something you might not consider right now, but could be huge down the line.</p>
<p>“Keep that in mind if you want to go to a public school OOS (I’m from Florida) especially if a large chunk of your decision is financially based”</p>
<p>Question answered right there. I’ll apply to VT instead of Florida</p>