Hi. I got accepted to Virginia Tech for General Engineering and College of Engineering to Penn State Erie(I applied for UP, but got denied and they put me to Penn State Erie instead.), and Mechanical Engineering at UMBC
So my intended major is Mechanical Engineering, but leaning towards Aerospace Engineering.
I really love going to Penn State, but I feel like I’m left out because they put me to Erie. (I think the main reason why is because my SAT sucks, but that doesn’t prove what I’m capable of because I have a decent GPA(3.43 uw and 3.93w) while taking some of the hardest AP classes (Physics mechanics and E&M). I understand I could take the 2+2 program and transfer to UP at the end of sophmore year, but I calculated that I will spend about the same amount of money in Vtech or going to UP for 4 years.
I understand that Virginia Tech is ranked slightly higher than Penn State Engineering program, but I just felt Penn State is the right fit for me (but then I don’t want to go to a Branch Campus because most of the people at Branch Campus is probably like UMBC). So now I honestly don’t know where I should go… I’m fine with VT, but like I wanted go to UP. what should I do?
PSU, VT, and UMBC are all solid engineering programs. Don’t focus on the rankings, because unless the difference is huge the actual impact on your career will be minimal.
That having been said, going to a branch campus WILL impact your experience - the smaller campuses for PSU and UM will offer an equally solid “base” engineering education but will not offer as many opportunities to really excel. Even if you wind up at the main campus, there will still be at least a small impact. What that means for you personally depends a lot on your ambitions, so consider what your long-term goals are and whether or not you can accomplish them from a branch campus.
At the same time, you will tend to do better at a school where you are more comfortable - for some people, a LOT better. It sounds like UM is not something you are really looking forward to, lacking both the opportunities of VT or the feel of PSU, so the question becomes which is more important to you - graduating with a solid degree from a more comfortable university, or having the better academic prospects of a “main campus” spot at a school where you are less at ease.
Have you visited both school? Visiting it can really seal the deal a lot of the time. With that said I personally wouldn’t look at the rankings because its more important to make sure its going to be a good experience for you. Also if you wouldn’t mind me asking, i actually applied to Virginia tech and i haven’t heard anything yet, could you tell me a general estimate of your SAT possibly? Hope you figure out your decision!!
@senior19 I have only visited Penn State, but I am attending to Hokies Focus this upcoming April. When I visited Penn State, I really loved the environment and I just knew it was the right fit for me. But I don’t know about VT yet since I haven’t been there yet.
For VT, I was accepted last month around 20th i think?
My SAT
Reading 450 (I am not a native English speaker)
Math 670
TOEFL 95
Math Subject Test II 740
Physics Subject Test 690
GPA UW 3.43
GPA W. 3.93
AP tests: 4 on Calc AB
AP tests planning to take this year: Physics AP Mechanics C, Physics AP E&M, Calc BC, and Stats
Thanks!! As far as the visiting thing goes, take your time look at the place and the places around it cause I visited Virginia tech and I really like the open spaces, but with that said I visited VCU recently and I also fell in love with the crowded city. So i’d say don’t make a decision just yet if you’ve only visited one.
Going to PSU Erie route may not be a bad option as students get to take engineering classes starting during their junior year (@ UP campus). I loved it when I was in UP. VT is another great engineering school, so good luck with your decision.
Current Penn State Engineering Student, I don’t know, i’m not a huge fan of the school so I can’t speak objectively. My one suggestion would be don’t base your decision on one visit. There’s a lot about the school climate up here that makes me say to new students think looooong and hard about whether this is the right school for you.
@scholarme I am out of state, and last night I found out that I got accepted to Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and I will be receiving the Emerging Leader Scholarship( 2500 Freshman, 3000 Sophomore, 3000 junior, and 4000 senior). My plans right now is do ROTC for 2 years, and drop out before starting Junior year so I won’t get locked into the contract, and I still get the scholarship for freshman and sophomore. This knocked my spending just under 100k for 4 years at VT vs 130k in Penn state.
You might consider going the “Citizen Leader Track” instead of ROTC. You would still be in the Corps of Cadets and wear the uniforms, etc… That way you should be able to get the Emerging Leader Scholarship for all 4 years (at least, I think you can, but double check with VT). Not only does this not incur a military obligation, this also frees up some of your time, because you would not need to attend ROTC classes, just the Corps drill periods. http://www.vtcc.vt.edu/join/citizen-leader-track.html