Hello, Im a HS Senior from Dallas, TX. Extremely passionate about aerospace and very serious about getting the best education possible. Im also more of the research and development type and want to access labs and research centers even during my undergraduate years once I have proved my mettle. Please consider be as a very committed, serious, future aerospace engineer. That being said, I have got offers from both UT Austin and Purdue University for Engineering. UTA is instate for me and therefore I save on tuition fees. BUT, that thankfully is not a big deal for me as my dad will sponsor my college completely as long as I keep 4.0 GPA in college. I have visited UT Austin and Purdue. I like Purdue a lot, i like the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, Purdue’s legacy in aerospace, their labs et all. In US News rating for whatever its worth, Purdue is just one point up from UT Austin in terms of Aerospace Engineering. I know for sure from many other forums that both colleges are good. Assuming instate tuition fees saving is NOT a big deal, what is that “Extra” that I will get in Purdue in terms of education? Purdue seems to have on paper better labs and research centers than UT Austin (Mach 7 vs. Mach 5 wind tunnel), or, propulsion lab which Purdue has and UT Austin seems to be a NASA JPL partner, they don’t seem to have a Propulsion research center (unless I have been educated wrongly). Can any one help me understand is there anything strikingly special in Purdue for someone like me? Purdue being in a rural area surrounded by corn fields and UT Austin being a booming metro is not a big deal for me. I’m fun loving, but not the aggressive party type and whatever events that are in college like sports, or, music is more than enough. But, Purdue will mean more dollars for my dad and me living in harsh winter for 4-5 months a year compared to Austin. Is it really worth it? Please help me here. I will really appreciate your inputs. Thanks.
Omg…that’s not a good deal. Do you have any idea how hard/rare it is to have a 4.0 in an engineering major? Very likely, you won’t have a 4.0 the first year…then what? Dad stops paying? Then what?
I don’t care if you say that you’ve been a 4.0 for eons…college and Engg are different.
A year from now, you are likely to be a college dropout with a 3.5 or 3.9 GPA.
Wish me good luck than to curse me. If he pulls the plug, then, I will be on my own with student loans. Dont have to drop out. That being said, do you have a point of view on Purdue Vs UTAustin.
You cannot borrow enough student loans without a cosigner to pay for the full price of either. Your father is being unrealistic.
With respect to the schools, are you directly admitted to your major at UT? If so, then you do not have to worry about the competitive admission process to get into your major at Purdue, but changing to another engineering major at UT may be more difficult. Of course, that may not be a concern if you earn a 4.0 every semester, but very few students do that.
Really, the 4.0 GPA goal is unrealistic (I thought it was a typo at first). You’ve picked two very, very good programs. Your peers will, like you, be very bright and hard working. To get a 4.0, you’ll need to spend a awful amount of time studying, and a good amount of luck (you’re be surprised at what’s out of your control).
It’s a far better use of your time to shoot for a slightly lower GPA, and spend your time doing things outside of studying at the library. Get invoved in undergraduate research, join some clubs, work on a design team, be a bit more social.
When it’s time to interview, potential employees will want to see that you have some social skills (a 4.0 GPA is something of a red flag). You also do want to have “some” fun.
You have two very good schools to choose from, but that 4.0 requirement is going to lead to a potential conflict with your Dad. No one is going to recommend Purdue with that requirement (a school know for it’s academic rigor).
Good Luck!
Thanks for all the inputs that I have received till now. Lets keep the the tricky point of 4.0 GPA aside. My dad is realistic, a good listener and will be objective when it really matters. Whatever he is saying is more likely to motivate me, than to find a reason not to pay. Does Purdue has any great advantage like better research labs, ability for students to get more internships, more aerospace companies coming on campus to recruit aerospace engineers etc. Any thought on that will be much appreciated. Thanks.
At Purdue I believe you have to apply to your major at the end of freshman year.
At UT you are accepted directly into your major.
How good do you feel about your physics, calc and coding skills? First year engineering brutal is no big deal for a super small number of kids but for the rest it is shockingly brutal.
And finally, did you perhaps earn a merit scholarship to Purdue to even out the costs a bit?