<p>So I'm currently a first year student at UML (although I'm technically a sophomore from my transfer credits from high school) for Computer Engineering which is my passion. I am currently also thinking of double majoring in Business Administration, another field that interests me and that I think can compliment CompE. </p>
<p>Here's the deal: I don't like UML. Living in Lowell all my life I wanted to go to college away from home but only got accepted to UML for my major. I decided to live on campus to still get some of that college experience and I have to say that was definitely a good choice. But I still don't like this school. UML was my last choice and even though everyone around me tells me about how great this school is I can't help but feel that I don't feel at home.</p>
<p>So, my best friend goes to URI and has been telling me about how much she's been enjoying her time there and from some basic research it seems like a great place to be. My biggest problems are: cost and education. (I'm fairly confident I can get in so I'm not worried about that). Out of state cost at URI is quite high and getting financial aid there is kind of difficult while here at UML I have a pretty great financial aid package (still have loans but nothing super overwhelming). Also, I know for a fact that UML's engineering program is spectacular and rivals that of many traditional "engineering schools" but when I look at rankings and overall focus of the campus I don't get the same image from URI.</p>
<p>To wrap things up, is transferring to URI an idea I should consider despite the possibility of increased cost? What's the quality of education there? What's if I also major in Business administration? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance, I know this is a great community that has helped many people in the past and may be able to help me.</p>
<p>URI is seriously underfunded by the state of RI. It’s probably the worst of the 6 New England flagship universities. If you have a good year at Lowell, have you looked at UMass Amherst? Great college town, very good engineering program.</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply! I originally had UMass Amherst as one of my top schools because I had really fallen in love with the campus when I took the tour. Unfortunately I was accepted as undeclared instead of Computer Engineering so I’d decided to go to UML. I’m not considering transferring to Amherst at the moment because it would be a total restart in terms of friends whereas if I stay at UML I already have a fairly large circle of friends and at URI I have my best friend from high school and her circle of friends.</p>
<p>Also what makes you say that URI is so much worse than UML?</p>
<p>URI is an excellent school for engineering and pharmacy. Both my husband and I are URI engineering grads and we had no problem finding well paying jobs. We were both well prepared for the work force. I continued with grad work at RPI and I didn’t find it all that different actually. We live in a wealthy area now and several of our physician neighbors have sons studying engineering there. My husband is a computer tech lead and just visited the campus with our son who will also be studying computer engineering in college next year. My husband was happy with the program for him. There is also an international engineering program that is really top notch. If you go, make sure you do an internship. How much more money will it more cost you? While URI is a good school, I would not put yourself in massive debt. And regarding funding, the state just passed a bill for a 125 million dollar referendum for engineering at URI. A complete rebuild to be finished by 2014.</p>
<p>Typo should read 2018 not 2014. But seriously, don’t go into debt, lowell14. You have your whole life to live somewhere else. ABET programs are fairly consistent at colleges.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, going to UML and dorming here is roughly costing me ~6500 in loans and ~2200 which my parents are covering. I know that URI is quite a bit more expensive on paper but I still want to contact them to see if I can get any idea of what I can expect to pay. I visited the campus this past weekend and I can honestly say I’d love to live there and would be happier there but I am afraid of making the wrong choice. </p>
<p>There are also other factors holding me back from transferring to URI as soon as possible such as my fraternity, whom I’ve grown extremely close to and have made UML a little better. </p>
<p>So I’d say at this point I’m not leaning in either direction, I truly don’t know what I should do. </p>
<p>Lowell, it is not just more expensive on paper, it is more expensive in reality even with the best SATs. By all means try but even top instate students receive nothing or nothing significant. As your backup consider study aboard for a year or exchange for a year within the US. I thought UMass schools did both of those. It could be something to look forward to junior year. Best of luck.</p>