I am a senior in high school who plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering next year, but have not decided where at yet. I am deciding between Purdue and Georgia Tech. Cost wise, Purdue is $9,000 cheaper than Georgia Tech because I got the Presidential Scholarship ($40,000 over 4 years). I have also been accepted into Honors Program at Purdue, but have also gotten into the Grand Challenges Program at Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech has not offered me any scholarship.
I understand that both programs are very good and that there is not much difference between the top Engineering programs, but I am torn between the two. I live in a small town, so Atlanta would be a nice change of pace and might offer me more opportunities than West Lafayette (though I understand Purdue and Illinois have a lot of recruiting for co-ops and internships). If you had to choose, which would you choose and why? If it helps, I am from the Midwest and plan on going to graduate school after undergraduate studies.
Right now I am leaning towards Purdue because of cost, but I worry that I will regret not attending Georgia Tech. At the same time, if Georgia Tech is as difficult as some students claim, I would rather go to Purdue (though Engineering is hard everywhere).
Thank you.