University of Florida vs University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Due to recent talks with my parents and certain matters that have risen, in addition to my own thoughts, I've arrived at these two choices for colleges as really my only two goals (unless I win a scholarship of epic proportions). </p>

<p>Currently, I'm a Florida resident, so UF is rather cheap for me (~10k). Because of my idiotic highschool's choice in selecting to take GCE AS and A-Level examinations over AP, I have credits for those classes, the former which are almost useless anywhere outside of Florida. However, from the few A-Levels Ill have, I'd get the following credits FOR SURE:</p>

<p>Chemistry: (maybe higher if I can score a higher grade, but reasonably I'd have these in the bag)
CHEM 1021, 1022 for 8 semester credits
CHEM 2301 for 3 semester credits
Math:
Calc I and II and some random math class (MATH 1155) </p>

<p>A total for 23 credits.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, at UF, I get to skip about two Chem classes and Calc I-II + some other random math class, but I also get to skip some humanities and other random classes because they actually take my AS-Level scores, totaling to about ~40 credits. Granted, I won't be able to use all of them, but for the most part, yeah. </p>

<p>Now, monetary-wise, UF costs ~10k while Twin Cities will be ~17k so they are both acceptable as far as money goes. </p>

<p>I'd like to go on and study Chemical Engineering. I know that Twin Cities is ranked very highly in the list, beating a lot of great schools while UF...not so much. However, I noticed that aside from that, Twin Cities does not seem so impressive, so I'm kinda unsure if I'm walking into a trap (a frozen one at that, considering how far up north it is). </p>

<p>Now, I've already received an acceptance from Twin Cities, and waiting on UF, but should I get accepted into UF, should I still pick Twin Cities? Would I get a lot more out of Twin Cities (better internships, better learning, better dorms(xD) than UF? Or should I just go to UF, rack on the credit, and maybe finish a year early, double major, or just have it more relaxed? </p>

<p>On a side note to any Twin-Cities student, is there any advantage to going to Casa Sol? I'd take it but that class that they make you take is rather uninteresting to me.</p>

2

<p>Personally, I'd go to UF if I were you. However, I'm rather biased being that I'm from FL. I got into UF, and came very close to going there, but came to Purdue bc it has a better engr rep... I don't know too much about Twin Cities, but I don't think that your opportunities are going to be any better there than at UF. It's just my opinion, and perhaps I'm wrong here, so take it or leave it...</p>

3

<p>I would go to UF over basically any other school if I were receiving Bright Futures</p>

4

<p>Did you get into U of M's IT honors? If so, I'd pick that. Even if you don't get placement credits, can't you do department placement tests to get credit? Plus, it's ranked like 4th or something for a reason. But one only concern is the weather... however it would be a nice change... right?</p>

<p>Oh, plus, it's good to take intro chem classes to get a good foundation...</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
Did you get into U of M's IT honors? If so, I'd pick that. Even if you don't get placement credits, can't you do department placement tests to get credit? Plus, it's ranked like 4th or something for a reason.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I disagree. For most people in Florida it does NOT pay to go OOS if you can get into UF (exceptions being if you're rich or get into the #1 or #2 school in your general field). I would NOT pick an undergrad school based on perceived excellence in one very specific area of study.</p>

<p>
[quote]
But one only concern is the weather... however it would be a nice change... right?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm going to go out on a limb and say he'll be miserable due to the weather. I know at least one person from Florida that transferred back from the midwest because he could not stand the weather there.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all for the replies!</p>

<p>@Purduefrank: If you abandoned UF for Purdue due to Engineering rep, then why are you suggesting that I don't do the same for Minnesota?
@Modulation: I did not make it to Honors (or at least, it doesn't seem like I did). Placement tests are a possibility.
@GTHopeful: The difference in price (~7k) is not too much. As for the weather, you'd be right. The whole "omg this is freaking freezing" thing is not exactly appealing. Mind you, I'll stand it if I have to, but it's not exactly something I'm dying to experience.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
@GTHopeful: The difference in price (~7k) is not too much.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>~10k covers board + food easily for a year if you're on Bright Futures at UF. The 17k figure for UMN is based on what exactly? Their website shows 14.8k for OOS and 7.3k for room and board, not to mention stuff like food or leisure. I'm not saying you're wrong, just wondering how you arrived at 17k.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The whole "omg this is freaking freezing" thing is not exactly appealing. Mind you, I'll stand it if I have to, but it's not exactly something I'm dying to experience.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>One Floridian to another, even Atlanta is pretty miserable for our type. In the winter, it hurts to walk anywhere or heck even breathe in the morning. Weather is a big part of quality of life.</p>

8

<p>I qualified for some scholarship that pays for the difference between instate and OOS, so it's really $10,806 for tuition then 7.3k in room board, yields ~18k. 1k off. Though you may have a point there. As for the weather, heh. Maybe I underestimate the weather's impact?</p>

9

<p>Well, I am going to choose my words carefully here, as I don't want to start any kind of argument. However, from my perspective I thought that the relative difference in the recognition of Purdue's engineering program compared to UF's was worth giving up the benefits of going to UF. Although I hate to bring up rankings, as I truly think there are better ways of deciding a good program, Purdue is ranked 9th in USNEWS, where UF is 28th. This, plus the fact that Purdue is ranked 3rd in my specific kind of engineering, lead me to believe it was a good choice. By choosing UM-TC you would only be gaining a very slight difference in rankings, as they are at 25th. And perhaps more importantly, from my perspective, I would say that UF may have the better name recognition even when you don't consider rankings. Of course in this case that is going to be due to UF's great sports programs, however, none the less, I just don't think the benefits would add up for you. UF is a good school, and is known as a good school especially in the South East. Plus, even here at Purdue I can say that the weather is a definate negative. It's freezing here, very often. Last week we have -15 degree temps... Anyway, those are my thoughts.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
By choosing UM-TC you would only be gaining a very slight difference in rankings, as they are at 25th.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>U of M is ranked highly for chemical engineering. Like 4th or something. But I do have to say that the weather could be a dealbreaker...</p>

11

<p>UMTC has an excellent chemical engineering research reputation. They also have a lot of professors who write the text books that are standard in the field. I would say go to Twin Cities if you can stand the cold.</p>

12

<p>I wish I was more knowledgeable about ChemE....but if it is similar to the more traditional branches of engineering, where you will have to go to grad school to get something beyond a menial assignment, there will be no meaningful academic discriminator between programs that are both ranked this well. UMinn is a great program, no doubt...but UFs isn't exactly chicken feed either and won't stop you from getting into any grad school you choose to pursue. This decision should be more about fit and cost than anything else.</p>

13

<p>"Maybe I underestimate the weather's impact?"</p>

<p>No, you are wise to not underestimate the effect of weather on a long time south florida resident. The intense cold is one of the four reasons cited for RIT HUGE dropout rate.</p>

14

<p>So as time goes by, I need to make the decision. </p>

<p>So, any more opinions on this matter? I think I can withstand the weather. Pretty confident on it. Other than this, is there anything else I need to take in mind? Would be nice to hear from some alumni from both sides…</p>

15

<p>bump. </p>

<p>Please?</p>