Hey everyone! I’m a senior from Boise, Idaho who’s torn between USC and Gonzaga for mechanical engineering. I feel that USC has a lot of opportunity, but it’s a really big school. Gonzaga is a lot more of a size that I feel comfortable with, and I have friends going there. Any ideas or input is welcome!
Undergrad engineering is mostly a financial decision. Bigger schools generally will have better facilities and slightly more opportunity, but usually not enough difference to justify significant debt.
@USCorGonzaga I’m gonna put the cost questions aside and ask some general questions…I am familiar with both schools in engineering - no selling either one, just things to think about. The first time my engineer visited Gonzaga they loved it. And the merit there was insanely good. She had a tour with the Dean of Engineering and was really impressed. So initially, we think Gonzaga is a great choice. But on visit #2, she flipped and fell out of love, I think maybe for her it was location. Have you been to both schools at least once? The cities are sooo different - do you prefer a certain setting for these four years?
I think college is a time to push yourself, I think it is great if you are excited and nervous about going at the same time. USC is big, but Viterbi Engineering is small, and the engineers there are really a close knit group, there is so much collaboration. Friends are so easy to come by in engineering, the environment is super supportive (versus cut throat that you hear about at some schools). But Gonzaga is full of super nice people/students too - they have that Jesuit vibe going, so it’s also a supportive environment.
Are the friends a good thing at Gonzaga? Would they help you grow, or would you feel stuck in any way/old patterns? I ask because some kids want to get away from the HS friends, but some friends are great to be with all the way through.
If you think of yourself older, where do you want to say you graduated from?
I think you will get a great education at either one, it sounds like you are leaning toward Gonzaga, but probably hard to let a school like USC go, but you have to do what is right for you. The people at school with comments now aren’t the ones at the school you choose for the next four years, so you have to push outside interference out of your mind. Try to really make a decision and live with it for a few days while there is still time to do so. And see how you feel. Good luck!
USC has one of the top Engineering schools in the USA, and it’s in a major urban area, and the school has many more connections, meaning easier access to internship opportunities. It is extremely difficult to get a job nowadays in engineering without at least one internship, and the more internships, the better the chance of being hired. Gonzaga has a very good program, but cannot compete with the facilities, opportunities, or resources that USC has. You may want to look through the websites of the two engineering schools to figure out what each can offer you.
@OhiBro The differences in resources in this case are huge, resulting an very large difference in opportunities in development of ideas and concepts, independent research and research with faculty, working spaces and facilities, etc.
It’s less the size as much as the funding, connections, and focus. For example Harvey Mudd, which is about the size of Gonzaga’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has facilities and resources that easily match USC’s, and provides the same range of opportunities and more.
Good points, @MWolf . From my perspective, undergrad engineering is about the fundamentals, which depend less on facilities and research opportunities. The same things are taught everywhere, so debt just doesn’t make sense.
If all things are things equal, however, USC may be a better option academically, as you say. But OP appears to also care about the fit of the school, friends, etc. More than just academics at play.
@OhiBro - also good points.
“It is extremely difficult to get a job nowadays in engineering without at least one internship, and the more internships, the better the chance of being hired.”
I would not agree with this. The labor market is tight. Getting A job in engineering, even without internships is not super challenging right now. Getting THE job though, is a different story. The most treasured jobs are very competitive.
“From my perspective, undergrad engineering is about the fundamentals, which depend less on facilities…”
I would also disagree with this. High end facilities like particle accelerators and the such only used by PhD candidates and post-docs don’t make any difference, but teaching labs can make a huge difference.