Hi guys,
I recently just got my acceptance for U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for chemical engineering as a transfer student. I also applied for U of Maryland College Park for chemical engineering. My interest is the biomolecular side of chemical engineering. I know I cannot assume that I will be accepted to UMD but my chances are pretty high since the admission said as long as you complete the prereq for engineering and there is space you’re gonna be accepted. And my transfer GPA is considerably higher than the average transfer GPA at UMD.
Here are my thoughts about each of the university. Feel free to correct my thinking and help me to decide!
- Tuition
I am international so I will be paying OOS tuition fee, UIUC’s engineering tuition is about 38-39k per year, Maryland’s is ~30-33k but then they planned to gradually increase the tuition for specific majors like engineering. I don’t know if it is still 30-33k or if it is already changed or if it is gonna be the raised next year. Also, the living cost in DC metro area is higher than in Urbana right? So I guess I will spend a similar amount of money.
- Reputation and Academic
UIUC wins, it is a highly ranked university for engineering worldwide. It is ranked #5 in US news and top ten in several other websites. My teacher who went to UIUC, said they have excellent facilities and that it is a very academically stimulating place to be.
- Location
UMD wins, in DC metro area, while UIUC is in the middle of cornfields. I am worried that I won’t like it at UIUC. I have lived in three different countries, and most of my life I have lived in huge cities with a similar pace of life in Singapore and Tokyo that are like doubled the pace of life where I live right now, Seattle which is considered one of more fast-paced US cities, a tech hub and a place to get things done. I personally think it is still slow lol. I know UIUC is a huge school, I will always find something to do, but I just cannot picture myself being in the middle of cornfields.
But I also heard bad things about College Park like its high crime rate, and UMD is located in a ghetto area.
- Social Life and Diversity
I have no idea. But I researched a bit in UIUC’s forum, I conclude that it is hard to get a good social life without going greek. I know there is a huge international population in UIUC which is good, but not much diversity in their international and domestic student body. They have like more than 5k Chinese students? wtf? that is like more than all international students in UMD combined. Also, I cannot find statistics on the international students enrollment by country at UMD website. Can anyone help me?
Thank you guys any input will be greatly appreciated!
UIUC, but I would wait until you have your acceptances and financial aid packages.
Actually, like a lot of stereotypes, yours are sort of right and sort of wrong. UIUC is not exactly in the middle of cornfields, College Park is neither exactly in DC nor in a ‘ghetto’ area, and nobody I know thinks that Seattle is one of the more ‘fast-paced’ US cities!
UMd is about $5K less per year than UIUC, and as you say with the cost of living it is probably a wash. UIUC is currently #6 in USNWR, and UMd #23, so you wouldn’t go wrong at either place.
Is there a reason that you wouldn’t visit both places before deciding?
Seattle kinda has that lazy west coast vibe, but I do think you’re correct that if you like cities you might not like UIUC’s environment so much. Calling Urbana-Champaign “the middle of the cornfields” isn’t a particularly fair or accurate view of a pretty nice example of one of the many large towns/small cities sprinkled across the midwest, but it definitely is nothing like Singapore, Tokyo, Seattle, or DC. If you want a city, you want a city, and there are certainly many city kids who get bored at UIUC. There’s no point in pretending it isn’t a problem if it is.
College Park is not a ghetto but Route 1, where most of the restaurants and stuff are, is an ugly and not very well lit at night strip mall - the kind that makes you look over your shoulder every minute or so while you’re walking at night. This particular brand of urban blight isn’t unique to College Park, but it is unfortunate that the main attraction outside of campus in College Park isn’t very appealing. The residential parts of College Park are fine, and you can take the green line (within walking distance from campus + there is a shuttle) downtown whenever you want.
Social life at both should be about the same. They’re both huge schools, there are all kinds of niches and all kind of people. It might be difficult to consistently go to frat parties without joining a frat at both schools (duh…) but there will be apartment parties and dorm parties at both, and of course people who don’t party. The only difference is that it seems like there is less to do at UIUC than UMD simply because there is no large city near UIUC. This leads to people partying more and greek life appearing to be a bigger deal. But you’ve already established that you would rather be near a city anyways, so this is just another point for UMD.
As of 2014/2015, there were 2,482 Chinese students enrolled at UMD. Source: https://globalmaryland.umd.edu/sites/default/files/ies/Fall2014Stats.pdf
Based on location alone, I would say UMD is a better option. Combine that with the cheaper price and the fact that engineering is standardized, so it really doesn’t even matter where you go - every degree is practically interchangeable if you graduate from an ABET accredited program (which both are) - and the choice is obvious.
Actually, like a lot of stereotypes, yours are sort of right and sort of wrong. UIUC is not exactly in the middle of cornfields, College Park is neither exactly in DC nor in a ‘ghetto’ area, and nobody I know thinks that Seattle is one of the more ‘fast-paced’ US cities!
UMd is about $5K less per year than UIUC, and as you say with the cost of living it is probably a wash. UIUC is currently #6 in USNWR, and UMd #23- you won’t go wrong at either place.
Which is easier for you to travel to?
Do you have other potential choices (ie., UIUC and UMD are first answers with more to come) or are those your final choices?
Seconding GMTplus7’s question about travelling.
If you’re planning on working abroad after graduating, then a degree from UIUC will likely carry more weight due to greater recognition.
@collegemom3717 I won’t be able to visit… I can’t afford the plane tickets…lol. That is a considerable difference in ranking I think. After graduation, I plan to work here in US/abroad or maybe attend a graduate school. Do you think the school ranking/prestige is going to play a big role?
@GMTplus7 UIUC is definitely closer… but then I have to take 3 hours bus from Chicago to get there… so that’s basically no difference lol
@MYOS1634 Yes I applied for like six UCs. But I don’t think I will be accepted to Berkeley or UCLA. Their engineering admissions are insanely competitive plus I am OOS transfer (much less priority compared to California CC students).
Is there a reason that you would choose UCs other than Berkeley and UCLA over UIUC and UMD?
UCSD engineering is rather well-regarded as well.
I do agree that in engineering, UIUC is more internationally renown than UMD.
You should keep in mind that the current budget crisis in Illinois may end up affecting UIUC significantly. Other Illinois publics are cutting the number of their classes, as well as their staff. Decreasing financial aid doesn’t seem as if it would be an issue, but class availability sure would!
University Park, SCE, is served by all 3 major US carrier: United (Star Alliance), Delta (Sky Team), American (One World)
http://universityparkairport.com/flight-info/arrivals-departures/
This allows a lot more options for coordinating connecting flights.
Instead of driving 3 hrs to ORD, there’s nearby CMI. CMI is only served by American Airlines (One World)
http://www.iflycu.com/info/schedules
I suggest you search on Expedia to compare fares from your home airport to CMI, ORD for UIUC, and to SCE, JFK, EWR, PHL for Penn State.
^^ how did I get Penn State? Haha!
Sorry, the airports u should check fares for UMD are: IAD (Dulles is the primary int’l airport for the DC area), and BWI & DCA.
@PurpleTitan Yeah but chem e is more nano engineering focus… and it is not that well ranked… (only for chem e)