<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>
<p>
I believe you’re looking at this “con” the wrong way. Yes, you will not be graduating with an undergraduate degree in Biomedocal Engineering, but 1)a master’s in biomedical engineering is looked highly upon, 2) you will gain research experience, 3) while you may spend a year of *graduate<a href=“it%20will%20not%20be%20undergraduate”>/I</a> tuition, you are saving a year off of your masters in the long run (this value is highly dependent on the funds and time you have available), and 4)you will have a bachelors and masters from UF. </p>
<p>
All hearsay. Look at the campus for yourself. Every campus has an ugly side. </p>
<p>If you can’t stand USF and want to be with your girlfriend and friend, transfer to FSU, but don’t cut down UF because you haven’t experience it yourself. If you choose UF, just know that USF has an enormous amount of research opportunities that you can pad your resume with in the meantime.</p>
<p>I’m a believer that the prestige of engineering undergrad is vastly overrated (aside from a select number of schools).</p>
<p>That said, I’m not a fan of FSU engineering mostly because the school isn’t on campus. I would say go to UF.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insightful replies! I will certainly visit UF’s campus and formulate my own opinion.
@Niquii77: you say graduate tuition. Is it cheaper than undergraduate tuition, or at least eligible for funding, TAing, all that good graduate level stuff? It seems like an interesting option, but I can’t help but feel like I’d still be better off getting into industry as soon as possible then getting my masters later on with tuition reimbursement, real work experience, financial stability, etc. This is especially important since my parents aren’t doing too hot so I’d rather have my own income in 3.5 years instead of still being on their backs. FSU’s Chemical - Biomedical major would make me at least somewhat eligible for a Biomed industry job right off the bat (emphasis on somewhat).
@noleguy33: It being off campus doesn’t worry me, as I’d most likely be living off campus anyways and I hear it’s relatively close by. That being said, the fact that their engineering school is “outsourced” does worry me when it comes to academic reputability.</p>
<p>Graduate tuition is more expensive than undergraduate tuition. I believe you are eligible more federal aid. I’m unsure how federal aid works at the graduate level. If UF’s BS/MS program is anything like USF’s you will be paying graduate tuitions becaus you are paying for graduate courses. You’ll be a full fledged graduate student in your last year and tho should make you eligible to be a TA and the like. </p>
<p>This is what I am planning on doing my 5th year in my BS/MS, as well: be a TA. </p>
<p>To determine if it’s worth it is really dependent on your situation. Whether you have had internships, value able work experience, desired skills and whatnot. Just know that there’s a chance that your company will not do tuition reimbursement and you may not go back to school. I’m not trying to dissuade you. Just letting you know. These are things I am thinking about as well. I have decided that graduatin in 4.5 years with a BS and an MS isn’t so bad. </p>
<p>Also think about the financial side of things. If you have money for it and whatnot.</p>
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<p>Not sure if that is necessarily a con – if you are interested in FSU engineering, you can apply to both FSU and FAMU and choose whichever one costs less (probably FAMU) for the same education.</p>