UIUC vs. Purdue Computer Engineering

<p>I'm an international student currently attending high school in Kentucky. I just got in both schools and intended to major in computer engineering. Any comments (regarding to these two schools' research opportunities, co-op opportunities, job placements, campus atmosphere, dorms, or just anything) are appreciated! Which school has a better program in computer engineering? Also, which school has a more friendly atmosphere for international students?</p>

<p>Any comments are appreciated! Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>P.S. It's very likely that I will get a full ride at University of Kentucky. Should I consider that as an option, or is paying 40k a year at Purdue/UIUC worth the money? The main thing is that's a big amount of money for my family, and we might even need to borrow some.</p>

<p>take full-ride</p>

<p>If you’re planning on going to graduate school it might be better to take the full ride.</p>

<p>Is it true that if a computer engineering major goes on to grad school, he or she will get paid by the school? (because technically he or she is working for the professors…)</p>

<p>Taking the potential full ride aside, how would you compare the computer engineering program between UIUC and Purdue?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>if your major is computer engineering - U of K is just as good. I would take full ride.
as for grad school - it is not automatic. you will have to apply for a Teaching assistantship or Research assistantship to get paid by the school and qualify for a tuition waiver.</p>

<p>@amghspa, “if your major is computer engineering - U of K is just as good.” What do you mean? Is that really true?</p>

<p>I live in Silicon Valley. I believe the computer industry is the most egalitarian, school-reputation agnostic industry in the country. They don’t care where you got your degree from - if you are a good programmer - they will hire you - no matter where you graduated from.</p>

<p>@amghspa, I can see your point. Just curious, are you a current student at UIUC?</p>

<p>No. Will be in the fall. Business.</p>

<p>@amghspa is somewhat right. where you get your degree from doesn’t matter as much nowadays – a good programmer is 10 times more productive than a bad one, regardless of where they studied (or if they studied at all – it’s not that hard to earn a very good living never getting a formal education.)</p>

<p>basically, if you go to a brand name school, jobs find you. if you go to a second-tier school, you have to find jobs.</p>

<p>either way, you should have an active stackoverflow and github account with some examples of your work. its pretty rare to be hired nowadays without something to show. there are a good number of [url=&lt;a href=“http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/07/why-the-new-guy-cant-code/]articles[/url”&gt;Why The New Guy Can't Code | TechCrunch]articles[/url</a>] outlining why this is the case, even if you have great paper qualifications.</p>

<p>@dustinthewind, thanks for the reply! I have four concerns.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I’ve been told by other people that for computer engineering or engineering in general, equipments are very important, and only brand name schools have the money to purchase the latest ones.</p></li>
<li><p>Is computer engineering all about programming? That sounds more like computer science. </p></li>
<li><p>I have found myself more interested in business, but I do want to have a solid engineering background for undergrad. I want to combine business and engineering and maybe start my own company someday. In my case, is attending a top-tier school very important?</p></li>
<li><p>Say if I were going to UK for undergrad, what would I do differently in order to be as successful (regarding internship, maybe job placements, and grad schools) compared to going to Purdue/UIUC for an engineering undergrad degree?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Any comments are appreciated! </p>

<p>P.S. A few days ago, I was notified that I indeed became a recipient for UK’s full ride scholarship!</p>

<p>i would say that you make an appointment with computer engineering department and discuss. you would get a more direct answer.</p>