UT Austin VS Columbia (Master, Civil Eng.)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm having a really hard time trying to make a decision between these two schools. I like both programs but UT's CE program ranks a lot better than Columbia's... however, Columbia is a lot more prestigious... I'd like to work in industry and I don't know which one will look better on my resume for that... Also, kind of feel bad rejecting an Ivy. Any advice?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>PS. Got a private scholarship, so funding is not an issue.</p>

2

<p>

Columbia is a lot more prestigious to whom? The average person on the street? Or the industry people who’d be hiring you?</p>

<p>UT-Austin is consistently ranked among the top 5 in the nation in Civil Engineering–i.e., the uber elite in that field–compared to Columbia’s being ranked among the top 30:</p>

<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in Civil Eng](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area22.html]NRC”>NRC Rankings in Civil Eng)</p>

<p>[Best</a> Civil Engineering Programs | Top Engineering Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/civil-engineering-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/civil-engineering-rankings)</p>

<p>Seems to me (and I’m not an engineer) that in this particular field, among those in the know (including those who do the hiring), UT-Austin is “a lot more prestigious” than Columbia. Just as, for example, the University of Iowa’s Creative Writing MFA program is a lot more prestigious to those in the know than most–if not all–comparable programs in the Ivies.</p>

<p>So the question is: who do you want to impress? The average guy on the street? Or the industry people who can hire you?</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much for the advice 45percent. Think it’s just what I needed to hear. ;)</p>

4

<p>Glad to help.</p>

<p>Plus, Austin’s a terrific city–especially for a student!</p>

5

<p>GO with Columbia. Its much better overall.</p>

6

<p>^^^^Nonsense! This is graduate school XtremePower. You go to the best program you can find…period!</p>