<p>For a geology/ geography related major...</p>
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<p>LSU is offering basically a full ride</p>
<p>UT is offering 0 scholarships and would cost around 25k/ year</p>
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<p>My parents would be fine to pay for UT but I may want to attend grad school so if I chose LSU they would pay for that.</p>
<p>Which school would make it easier for me to get into a respected grad school program and ultimately get me a better job? If I would have to work way harder at LSU to make myself stand out enough to get into a good masters program or job position then I don't think its worth it.... Please help!</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about UT’s or LSU’s geology/geography related majors, but I’d definitely say go to UT, work some, then go back for your graduate degree; UT is much better known for its academics than LSU is.</p>
<p>well you will pretty much get into Grad school with a good GPA, + whatever other tests you have to take, i think its the GMAT or something</p>
<p>so as long as you have a good GPA you will get into a grad school from either, i would go with the full ride and do grad work at UT or another school</p>
<p>UT has one of the best geology/geosciences programs in the nation. Their geosystems/petroleum engineering program is ranked #1 by USNWR. But full ride v. 25k a year? It’s a pretty tough choice but grad school matters more than undergrad. Regardless, you might be put into a better position if you do undergrad at ut</p>
<p>Thanks all, </p>
<p>@redhotsrock-
</p>
<p>But is it possible that I may end up in a worse position because my grades would be lower at UT because the classes are probably harder?</p>
<p>I would choose a full ride over anything these days.</p>
<p>Two great colleges.
One is free and one will be $100,000+ over four years.
I know which one I’d vote for.
(Come to UT for grad school!)</p>
<p>Think about the money, UT is a great school. But, how can you pass up a full ride? unless UT has a much stronger Geology/Geography program, I would got to LSU.</p>
<p>So Longhorn Dan, hypothetically speaking, would you borrow $100,000 if UT has a much stronger program?</p>
<p>doesnt matter if the program is stronger, since he will be going to grad school. you can go to a good grad school from either one as long as you have good grades. i would just take the free ride and go to UT for grad school. because FULL RIDES dont come around twice</p>
<p>If the difference between UT’s program and LSU’s program was big enough and getting a degree from UT would open up a lot of doors that LSU wouldn’t. Then I would strongly consider it. Luckily, I am not in this dilemma.</p>
<p>Essentially, I would take the full ride unless the opportunity at UT was a “can’t miss.”</p>
<p>mm yeah, i would just go to LSU dude, it’ll be easier and its free, I honestly have no idea about the program at LSU but i know the one at UT is very strong but still LSU looks like the best choice hands down especially in this economy, plus since you’re going to grad school you won’t have to worry about getting a job out of undergrad so LSU has a comparative advantage.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that I will still be receiving a Pell Grant and whatever additional financial aid that UT wishes to give. My parents would actually be happy to pay for UT because my older brother’s school costs even more, but I feel like I should be nice and take some of the burden off them. </p>
<p>So lets act like money is not an issue… How big of an grad school admission advantage would making a 3.2 at UT get me over a 3.3 at LSU? (just my self-predicted college GPA, it might turn out lower or higher)</p>
<p>First of all, I have to say that I know nothing about the geology program at LSU. I am in engineer, and I’ve only taken an intro geology class here at UT. But I’ve seen the facilities, and know a little bit about the program.</p>
<p>If you’re going to be attending graduate school, I would assume that research opportunities will be very important. The Jackson school at UT receives a lot of funding, and I would assume that it’s significantly bigger than the geology dep. at LSU, which means more opportunities for research. There is an undergraduate honors program here for geology, which you can apply for after taking 60 hours ([Undergraduate</a> - Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences](<a href=“http://www.geo.utexas.edu/undergrad/honors.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.geo.utexas.edu/undergrad/honors.html)). That program lets you write a undergraduate thesis before graduation. I believe that may help quite a bit in getting into grad school.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that research will be difficult to do at LSU, I just don’t know the situation there.</p>
<p>Overall, it’s still a money versus value issue. If you’re going to say that money doesn’t matter, then I would pick UT for sure. UT is considered by most rankings to be top 10-15 undergrad in geology whereas LSU would be near the top 50 range. However, as many people have pointed out, the money should be a large issue in weighing your decision. If you’re going to grad school anyway, the undergraduate education is considerably less important.</p>
<p>As for your question about the advantage. I would say that getting a 3.2 at UT is probably only slightly better (if at all) than getting a 3.3 at LSU. The big differences will be in quality of undergraduate research (publications? recs from researchers?) and getting to write an undergrad thesis. Grad schools tend to look at the whole applicant, rather than just the GPA.</p>
<p>The summer-before-freshman-year geology program at LSU sounds kind of fun.
[Fieldcamp</a> Freshman](<a href=“http://www.geol.lsu.edu/fieldcampfreshman.html]Fieldcamp”>http://www.geol.lsu.edu/fieldcampfreshman.html)</p>
<p>i would think you need higher than a 3.2 maybe around a 3.5 i dont think going to UT is going to get you into grad school. millions of people dont go to UT an get into great grad schools.</p>
<p>use the money for g school</p>
<p>short and simple as long as you do good in school.(undergrad) you will get into a good Graduate school, regardless of where you are coming from.</p>
<p>i tihnk i would do lsu now and UT for grad.</p>
<p>i’ve made three identical threads about this in different sections of the site, and the overwhelming consensus cries for LSU! i’ll keep that in mind</p>
<p>lol because its saving alot of money, i am sure at either school you will have a good experience.</p>