<p>Hey guys, it's getting really close to deadline and I still don't know where I should go, and I've narrowed it down to UIUC and UT both for undergraduate engineering... any suggestions?</p>
<p>Here's some background information!</p>
<ul>
<li>I live in Texas, so I would pay in state tuiton for UT</li>
<li>I preferably want to go to Illinois, but I don't know if it's worth it to pay out of state tuiton for it. </li>
</ul>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>
<p>You live in Texas? Go to UT. Both are top Engineering schools and UT is a lot cheaper in your case.</p>
<p>Texas, definitely. It’s a great school.</p>
<p>UofI definitely. Great engineering program from what I’ve heard.</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with either in most engineering fields. There are no general criteria to pick one over the other.</p>
<p>In fields such as computer science the top software/systems companies recruit extensively at both universities.</p>
<p>I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision. Two great engineering schools. Son is an alum of UIUC, daughter goes to school in TX (not UT). OOS is really not worth the $$$, unless UIUC gave you enough to make it reasonable, but not likely. Austin also beats U-C for off campus activities and sports scene, not to mention the weather.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies they are helping me sort this all out!</p>
<p>Well another few reasons why I don’t want to go to UT is because it is packed with students and it is extremely competitve. Also, I don’t want to fall under the peer pressure of all the parties.</p>
<p>Also I’ve heard UIUC has a good study abroad program.</p>
<p>UIUC has one of the best engineering programs in the world though UT-Austin is also a good school. Can you afford UIUC extra cost/ how much more would it cost, do you plan to attend graduate school, etc…?</p>
<p>Also, do you want to majoir in CE or EE? UIUC is 3rd best in CE and 4th in EE so I would also take that into consideration.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>These are legitimate concerns. However, UIUC is also packed with students and the College of Engineering is competitive.</p>
<p>UIUC also has its share of parties. At UIUC, Texas or anywhere else, resisting peer pressure is up to you.</p>
<p>Right now I would be going in as a MechE, but maybe ECE? I was also thinking BME as well… maybe double major? I know a lot of the classes overlap so it wouldn’t be that much harder.</p>
<p>Is it possible to establish residency in Illinois without becoming an independent? I have family there if that helps.</p>
<p>I don’t know if Illinois allows residency if you are enrolled in school. In other words (at least for grad students could be different for undergrads) you have to live in Illinois for a year or two WITHOUT going to school BEFORE you can establish residency.</p>
<p>There’s no substitute for reading the residency rules very carefully. Even then, it’s possible to fall into a gray area where it’s not clear whether or not you’ll be considered in-state for tuition purposes. Worse, you have to actually enroll before universities will make a final determination as to whether you’re a resident. This doesn’t always happen right away, so you may have to spend a semester or more for which you will have to pay OOS tuition if the residency determination is not in your favor.</p>
<p>You need to read UIUC’s rules specifically. Illinois and Texas will have different rules for who is a resident. Even within Illinois, the rules vary from university to university.</p>
<p>Having family in the state doesn’t, by itself, make you a resident. It might help overcome a perception that you moved to Illinois solely to attend school. Most states have a rule that if you moved there specifically to attend school, you do not qualify for in-state tuition regardless of how long you have lived in the state. But note that even with family in the state, you might still be perceived to have moved to Illinois just for the in-state tuition. The officer making the residency determination is going to wonder why you moved closer to extended family while your parents still live in Texas.</p>
<p>You’re applying directly out of high school, right? It’s rare for a traditional-aged student to qualify for in-state residency in a state where their parents don’t live. Many states do require you to be independent for financial aid purposes to qualify for residency in this case. This, in turn, is very difficult. Even if being independent isn’t required, there’s often a minimum age below which you’re automatically considered to be a resident of the state where your parents live.</p>
<p>In short, you’re not likely to qualify for in-state tuition at UIUC.</p>
<p>Illinois is under severe financial stress and classes will be reduced and tuition increased while Texas is wealthy and getting more state funding. UT is a clear choice for you. Not even close.</p>
<p>If you want to be able to tell your kids that you walked to class in blizzard force winds in a foot of snow, go to U of I. Otherwise, stay in Texas. (Is U of I still called the 11th of the Big 10?) Of course, IMO, the pizza is much better at U of I than in Austin. Much better Mexican in Austin, however.</p>
<p>Absent a specific major available only at UIUC or a full-ride being offered, I see no compelling reason for a Texas resident paying in-state Texas prices to go to UIUC.</p>
<p>Undergrad engineering rankings:</p>
<p>Illinois #5
Texas #9</p>
<p>The difference is negligible and certainly not worth the difference in price between UT in state and Illinois OOS. Texas wins. </p>
<p>Congratulations on having acceptances from two such outstanding universities.</p>
<p>Living in Austin as opposed to UC for four years. Hmmmmmm, that’s a toughie!</p>