<p>I'm sure there are other threads with similar questions, but I'm really in need of some advice. I want to pursue a major in chemical engineering and go on to a top business school and eventually start my own company. I was admitted into the University of Florida, University of Texas at Austin, and Georgia Institute of Technology for chemical engineering. Here are the rankings for my major: UF- #28, UT Austin- #4, and GA Tech- #7. </p>
<p>Tuition varies broadly being an out of stater. Over the course of the 2 years it would take to complete my bachelors, UF would cost me roughly $30,000 and UT Austin and Georgia Tech would be roughly $78,000. (these numbers include tuition, food, housing, plane tickets, etc.)</p>
<p>Taking into consideration I may want to go to grad school (MBA or medicine), what would be my best option?</p>
<p>If you’re thinking of not working after you get your BS, then go to UF. The schools ChemE rankings will not have much impact on your chances of getting into Med or Business school. </p>
<p>FYI, most grads do work for a few years, before going to business school.</p>
<p>Otherwise, it comes down to what YOU can afford. If you plan on paying much of the cost via loans, then I highly recommend NOT going OOS (especially if you then have to incur cost for business or med school). No one needs to owe $78K before going into med school…ouch.</p>
<p>Damnit. I spent the last 3 years getting a 4.0 GPA on my associates, getting a 33 ACT score, working at an internship, and building an array of awards and leadership positions at my current college for the sole purpose of getting into a top 5 school for my major. I’ll be damned if I worked my ass off for the last 3 years (80 hrs per week at least) to go to a University that my peers with a 3.3 GPA and worked less than half as hard as I did got into. I’m so confused… :(</p>
<p>There is a reason to go to a top 5 school other than money or impressing grad schools: you want to. </p>
<p>I am in-state for GA Tech and don’t have a penny to my name, but if I get into my #1 (Berkeley), I’m going there. No clue how, but I’ll get loans or something. Why? Because I really want to and liking my life is more contingent on where I live and what I’m doing than on whether or not I can start buying boats on ATVs the day I graduate. </p>
<p>If you really want to go somewhere like GT or UT, I say do it.</p>
<p>Thanks Bottles. Berkeley was my #1 too, but I think my 8 withdrawals and felony really hurt me. Here’s some advice: dont make your personal statement about how you overcame alcohol addiction lol. I really do want to go to UT, so we will see. Ill find out this week what credits are transferring, that will be a big deciding factor as well.</p>
<p>Heh…I would never lie and claim that I’d OVERCOME my addiction to alcohol. (Kidding, sort of.)</p>
<p>Thanks, though. I have one withdrawal so far (32 credits in), so I’ll try not to add anymore. </p>
<p>I’m actually not pinning my hopes on Berkeley. I only have like a 3.8 now after a meh semester, and GT is pretty easy to get into for in-state transfers, so I am moving ahead as if GT is the plan, but will be shipping off an application before I apply to GT.</p>
<p>Good luck deciding. I personally hope you end up going to the school you are most excited to go to, but I’m annoyingly idealistic about school and money.</p>
Woah, there. You chose the harder route. Don’t hate.</p>
<p>Please pay attention to the money available to you presently and in the future. The philosophy of “I’m going to wing it. I have no money but I’m going to take out over 100K in loans” does not always workout. </p>
<p>Think about the experience you want out of college, what kind of lifestyle you want after college, and pick the university that will allow that. Names aren’t everything when you have an impressive GPA and experience in your field. </p>
<p>Personally, $78,000 for two years would only be worth it if I’m get laid $78,000 starting salary with little to no debt.</p>
<p>Personally, $78,000 of debt for only two years would only be worth it if I’m getting paid a starting salary of $78,000 and I have little to no debt. </p>
<p>Basically, unless the pay off for going to that top school is extreme, it’s not that worth it if I’m going into almost $78,000 of debt.</p>
<p>“I’ll be damned if I worked my ass off for the last 3 years (80 hrs per week at least) to go to a University that my peers with a 3.3 GPA and worked less than half as hard as I did got into.”</p>
<p>You do realize that the student bodies, with regard to academic quailty, are virtual clones between UF and UT.</p>
<p>As a freshman student coming from high school, getting into a good private or out of state college is easer than a transfer from a community college. However, it is MUCH easier to get into an in-state school as a community college student. My friend, a peer community college friend, got into UF with a 3.2. He was incredibly lucky. The average GPA of my friends from community college accepted into UF had a 3.6-3.7.</p>
<p>UT is definitely ranked much higher in engineering than UF as kldat1 said. However, in the eyes of a top graduate program my concern is that there will be no preferential treatment of one over the other.</p>
<p>If you want to go to UT, then go to UT. It won’t make a noticeable difference because there are more important things that factor into getting a job/into grad school.</p>
<p>Just know remember that it is an expensive choice you’re making, that may or may not be the best.</p>
<p>Clearly I’m a “bit” biased, so I’ll pass on the whole UT vs UF discussion. </p>
<p>Back to you plans. Most engineering MBA students don’t go straight into business school, but plan on working for a few years (and then getting the company to help pay for grad school). Of course, there are some exceptions (Industrial Engineers come to mind…), but folks like to get a few years of work experience, before picking up an MBA. If you go straight to business school, you likely will look at being something other than a working engineering (or why get the MBA).</p>
<p>After you get your MBA, don’t plan on being an Engineering manager, as you have to be a working engineer first, before taking on an engineering manager role. Plan on either getting an entry level engineering job, or an “MBA” type job. If you do take an entry level engineering job, don’t assume the MBA will have any impact in your early career. They will expect you to be an Engineer and not a manager/analyst/whatever.</p>
<p>I plan on working as an engineer for 4 years while maybe taking business classes simultaneously. After building some capital, I want to invest my money in either assets or my own company. And, as I write this now, I’ve come to the realization that if this is indeed my plan, being $80,000 in debt would be counterproductive lol. I just made my decision: UF.</p>