<p>I am a high school junior interested in majoring in either computer science, computer engineering, economics, or political science. Computer sci and engineering would lead me to either a PhD or MS program in the field and economics or political science would lead me into law school. Not really sure which route I want to go yet, but I still have time to decide.</p>
<p>I was talking to my history teacher at school who graduated from Stanford. She claims that it's easier to get into Stanford (or any other prestigious school) grad or law school if I come from a school with a good reputation. Since I'm a Florida student, I would like to take advantage of Bright Futures and go in-state for undergrad (the one exception being if I decide to go engineering, I would consider Georgia Tech if they gave me enough money since it's close by).</p>
<p>My teacher claims that UF has a decent reputation, Georgia Tech's reputation is really good, and Miami has the reputation of being a party school. Miami really interests me because it's a private school with smaller class sizes and smaller student body and located in a city where there's more to do. UF interests me because it's inexpensive.</p>
<p>Do any of you think going to Miami instead of Florida or Florida instead of Miami will affect my ability to get into graduate or law school? I'd like to get some answers from both UF and Miami graduates / parents... I placed this thread in the UF section because more people will likely see it in here.</p>
<p>No real difference, in that both schools are viewed about equally on academics. </p>
<p>For law school, it’s critical that you drive up your GPA and do well on the LSAT. Either school (including Georgia Tech) will offer what you need to succeed.</p>
<p>For engineering, both GT and UF have larger (and better rated) engineering departments (including Computer Engineering). As with law school, you need to do well on your GPA (but not nearly as much as law school) and GRE. Going to GT or UF will likely also give you more “contacts” to other engineering departments and hence engineering grad school connections. Both schools have greater resources that you can take advantage of. </p>
<p>UofM is not a “bad” school for engineering, it just doesn’t have as many resources/advantages. If you do well on your GRE (and have a decent GPA) you will be accepted by a grad school, no matter which of the three schools you attend.</p>
<p>Law school and Engineering grad school are completely different. With law schools, they are dominated by the “Top” tier schools (about 14 or so schools). With law school, you will be trying to get into a tier 1 or 2 school.</p>
<p>With engineering, it’s really more of a matter of which professor you’ll be working with and which projects. Based on what you want to work on (and who you want to work with), you may pick Alabama over George Tech for grad school. Rankings don’t play nearly the same role in picking your grad school (as it does with law school).</p>
<p>That’s kinda why law school turns me off a bit. Everything is so competitive and cut-throat for law school. Plus, just thinking on a practical level, if I graduate from law school and can’t get a job as a lawyer, I really have nothing. If I graduate with an engineering PhD and can’t get a job (which isn’t really likely to happen), I still have all of the hard engineering skills and could always invent a product myself.</p>
<p>Academic reputation on the side (which are about the same), it’s all down to preference. UMiami is a much smaller school, more expensive and is near to South Beach. UF on the other hand, is a big school with more things to do on campus, it’s also cheaper but the surroundings might not be as attractive to Miami.</p>