UF vs FSU for Chemical/Biomedical engineering major?

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<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am currently a freshman studying Chemical Engineering at USF. I wish to work in the biomedical field after I graduate, and also want to transfer to either UF or FSU sometime in the near future. However, I cannot decide on which one would be best. Any assistance on this decision would be thoroughly appreciated. You might also want to keep in mind that I plan to move out of state after graduation (which may affect the relative prestige of the universities). Also, double majoring in biochemistry is a strong possibility. Here is a pros and cons list I have devised:</p>

<p>FSU</p>

<p>Pros
-Offers a “Chemical - Biomedical Engineering” major which is essentially a specialized chemical engineering major with all the ChemE courses + a strong biomedical engineering foundation
-I have visited their campus and liked it very much
-girlfriend + best friend is going there. know a couple of other friends there as well.
-only requires 12-15 credits for transfer. i’d be out of here in no time.</p>

<p>Cons
-Not as prestigious as UF for engineering
-Shares FAMU’s engineering school
-Possibly not as good of a program?</p>

<p>UF</p>

<p>Pros
-Incredibly prestigious, at least in florida. (#2 in the southeast if i remember correctly?)
-Possibly superior program?</p>

<p>Cons
-No Biomedical specialization option except for their ChemE B.S. + BiomedE M.S. thing which would be a huge waste of time and money I don’t have (why spend another year of undergrad tuition and time to get an M.S. when I could just get it later on while working with tuition reimbursement?)
-Don’t know anyone there. Heard terrible things about the town and campus.
-Requires 60 credits for transfer. Longer wait in a place I’m not too happy with.</p>

<p>I’ll be waiting for replies. Thanks in advance for any advice.</p>

<p>Regards</p>

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<p>It’s highly recommended that you get a MS to work in Biomedical. For that reason, several schools don’t offer it as a BS degree, but only as a MS level degree. UF has only recently started to offer it as a BS degree, but only to a small number of students (20 or so). </p>

<p>Of course, as a ChemE you can get a job, and one in the biomedical field(which is one reason a lot of folks on this board would recommend you get a BS in something other than Biomedical, such as ChemE, Mechanical and EE), but a MS may still be something you should think about pursuing. There is a reason UF is offering that Chem BS+ Biomed MS program. It’s something they feel the industry is requiring (and hence the students). </p>

<p>Back to UF vs FSU. UF’s program is significantly better. You can succeed at FSU, but it’s easier to do so at UF. UF has more resources, stronger engineering faculty and better recruiting. It is a plus that FSU has the program you want, but a standard ChemE degree (with choosing the right electives) will likely serve as well if not better (in that it would be easier getting a standard ChemE job, which gives you more options).</p>

<p>I would recommend you take a closer look at the engineering schools, maybe hang out in a class or two and ask some of the students for feedback. Check out FSU’s chemE facility vs. UF’s building/facilities. </p>

<p>Like I said, you can succeed at FSU. It’s just easier at UF.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

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<p>Also check out their carrier placement center. You will probably notice that UF have partnerships with bigger companies than FSU and that their graduates end up with more and better offers out of school.</p>