<p>I want to major in environmental engineering, and I know most would tell me GT. However, UNC-CH is cheaper, since I'm instate, and they have a dual bachelor's to master's degree program where you major in environmental sciences and enter grad school to get a Master's in environmental engineering. UNC has a good graduate environmental engineering program, maybe not as prestigious as Tech's, but still, I would end up being an engineer either way. If you had the option, which would you choose? I'm having trouble deciding.</p>
<p>If I had the option, I would choose Georgia Tech. That said, this is your choice, and what we would do really ought to be something you ignore. You have to do what is right for you, and if the price is right, what is right for you may be UNC.</p>
<p>What about NCSU? It would be in-state for you while having an ABET-accredited environmental engineering bachelor’s degree program.</p>
<p>Also, UNC-C and NCAT have civil engineering departments with environmental engineering as a subarea.</p>
<p>What is the cost difference?</p>
<p>I’m actually an Alum of UNC and also in a Master’s of Industrial Engineering at NCSU. I’m not going to lie, I loved UNC, the culture is unbeatable… but when it comes to engineering NCSU wins hands down. I know when you are looking at the normal prestige ratings UNC tops out, but the engineering world is different. UNC is not known at all for their engineering program, while it’s NCSU that is well respected and can give you the resources of a true engineering school. You might want to consider that. </p>
<p>The difference between UNC in state and GA Tech OOS is 20K a year, which would be a total of 80K over 4 years. From the parent perspective, that is a significant cost difference.
One thing to consider is what else could you do with that money such as graduate school or other educational experiences such as study abroad, internships, supplemental classes.</p>
<p>Note that UNC-CH has no ABET-accredited engineering degree programs. If the jobs you are seeking in environmental engineering are like those which civil engineers often do, where a Professional Engineer license is necessary or helpful, then it really would be best to attend an ABET accredited environmental or civil engineering degree program.</p>
<p>If that is the case, then UNC-CH is not really a suitable school; NCSU, UNC-C, and NCAT would be your in-state public options, with GT being a more expensive option.</p>
<p>@varroyo79</p>
<p>I am not sure that you are aware that GTech admission is getting even more competitive from this year as it has joined the Common App…more so for OOS folks like you
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<a href=“http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2014/jan/07/georgia-tech-accepts-5000-early-action-students-al/”>http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2014/jan/07/georgia-tech-accepts-5000-early-action-students-al/</a></p>
<p>These high schoolers, as in previous years, are at the top of their classes. Georgia Tech’s average admitted student has a 4.0 GPA and an SAT score of 1485/2193 and will have taken nine college-level courses prior to high school graduation.
“We think the trend of increased selectivity will only continue with our use of the Common App,” said Rick Clark, director of Undergraduate Admission. In spite of Common App glitches and woes earlier in the admission cycle, Georgia Tech saw a 37 percent increase in Early Action applications in its first year using the system, with applications continuing to come in for the Jan. 10 regular admission deadline.
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<p>My suggestion would be to attend the best Engg. school you can get into and work/study hard. Money pays for itself when you enjoy your profession. Let your parents tend to your monetary needs. So based on what you have mentioned, this would be my pecking order : GTech –> NCSU –> UNC-CH</p>
<p>I am going to be practising what I preach. My D will be starting ChemE this Fall. On the top of her list currently are GTech and UMich but I will gladly spend the extra $ if she gets into UCB (her dream school). We are from PA.</p>
<p>Good luck !</p>
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<p>Minnesota and Delaware on her list? Both are highly respected in chemical engineering; Minnesota’s out-of-state price is not too much different from Penn State’s in-state price, while Delaware sometimes gives very large scholarships to high stats students.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus, yes, my D2 has got into a laundry list of univs for ChemE incl. UMinn and Wisc-Mad. She has been rejected at MIT and Stanford. I agree with you totally - UMinn is super for ChemE… it has been from at least the time I graduated in MechE (mid-80s). She attended a science fair at Penn State and did not like their campus. And my D1 attends Pitt Med school, so no app to anywhere near Pittsburgh …incl. CMU … for her :-)</p>
<p>So we will find out whether she makes it to UCB this month…your alma mater. The other two remaining ones - RPI and JHU - are inconsequential at this time. Fortunately… I guess… money for college is not an issue.</p>
<p>I would also like to compliment you for your posts throughout CC…very impartial, informative and balanced. Thank you !</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight everyone!</p>
<p>The program at UNC in environmental engineering is a very strong graduate program. The group has done excellent research in the fundamentals of air pollution and atmospheric chemistry. There are also ties to the school of public health and the toxicology program to conduct research in the effects on human health. They seem to be geared towards a 5-year bachelors/masters degree. If you have interests in these areas, you may want to take a closer look.</p>
<p>^ Is there a lot of demand in that field? Last Jan - May I was down in Atlanta and my roommate was a GTech guy getting his MS in environmental engineering focusing on that very same thing. On multiple occasions he mentioned he wished he would have just chosen Civil because he was worried about the job prospects. </p>
<p>I don’t have any first-hand info on the current market. He should work closely with the department and career services and cast a wide net. </p>