Hello! I was recently accepted into UGA as a biological engineering major. As of right now I am planning on being a biomedical engineer. I really loved UGA and Athens, so it would be my first choice. However, I am unsure about the reputation of their engineering program. It is a very small and new college, so I am worried that it will be difficult to get internships, research opportunities, and jobs. I was also accepted into Clemson as an engineering major, and I know that Clemson’s engineering college is a lot more well known. So, I feel like that would be a better educational choice. However, I really love everything else about UGA. PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!
If anyone knows anything about UGA engineering or have any experience with its reputation, please! Any information is good information.
Are finances an issue? Do you have your financial aid packages from both schools? If so you could let the school with the most scholarships/aid offered choose your school haha. But also consider…UGA and Clemson are closely ranked big public schools overall but in engineering Clemson trumps UGA. However, UGA is a top public university so I’m sure you could find internships/jobs if you put forth the effort. Also UGA, like Clemson, does offer a lot of research opportunities for all majors so I’m positive that wouldn’t be an issue. I also suggest you visit Clemson and get a feel for it if you haven’t already. You may enjoy Clemson more than you think. In the end, while academics are important I think you should follow your gut. There are Harvard grads who are unemployed so the school clearly isn’t everything ( it is important but not everything ). You will be spending your next 4 years there so the vibe you get from campus should be very important. It seems like UGA may be your best fit. But hey I’m in high school just like you so who am I :)) Congrats on your acceptances though I wish I could have this problem right now =D>
If you are a GA resident, GT is the obvious choice for engineering, with a world class reputation, if you are accepted. Both GT and UGA will accept Zell Laurie and Hope scholarships. Of schools close to UGA:
Clemson is ranked #75
Auburn is ranked #65
UGA is ranked #123
Alabama is ranked #104
Duke is ranked #29
NC State is ranked #25
GT is ranked #7
So UGA just isn’t at the level of the others yet. That being said, it is ABET accredited, so your classes will be similar in every school. Alabama (especially), Auburn, and Clemson have a lot of OOS scholarship students as well. In general the higher the ranking, the better the students, and the more interesting the student projects.
I don’t believe mechanical or electrical are yet ABET accredited at UGA - unless it just happened very recently.
You don’t say whether you are a Georgia resident….or perhaps a South Carolina resident. How much will cost of attendance be driving your decision? I know there are many factors you and your family must consider. From a strictly academic standpoint, Clemson would be the better choice for Biomedical (or Biological) Engineering. Since Georgia Tech has the top ranked Biomedical Engineering program in the country, I assume you have also applied there. I know they don’t release admission decisions until January. Of course, UGA is a great school! It’s recognized as a top public university. It may be a great fit for you depending on what your priorities are for your college experience. I would suggest that you give yourself some time to enjoy your senior year while you wait to hear from all the schools you’ve applied to. In the meantime, continue applying for scholarships and maybe revisiting the schools to which you’ve been accepted. When the time comes, you can sit with your family and assess your options with all the needed information. Best of luck to you! I know will end up somewhere great - and somewhere great for you!