<p>Hi, I am a senior who is going to major in chemical engineering at either Georgia Tech or the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. I have in-state tuition to both, so price won't be an issue. Besides weather, what incentive is there to attend GA Tech over Minnesota? They have comparable ChemE programs (Minnesota is 3rd and GA Tech 11th, so they are basically equal) and they both have a marching band with a Division I football team. What sets GA Tech apart from Minnesota or any other public school? Specific answers would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, what is the general religious/political pattern at Georgia Tech? I am an atheist liberal, and having everyone in Texas trying to convert me throughout all of high school has been pretty annoying. Thank you for any responses!</p>
<p>Before I respond to the question, I’m a Florida student and I want to go to Georgia Tech if all the financial stuff works out. So how do you live in Texas but have in-state tuition to Minnesota and Georgia?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the University of Minnesota other than looking at their College Board profile. GT is smaller but not too small (13,000 undergrads or something like that). It’s great across the board in engineering, so you know that if you stray from the Chemical Engineering department (for a single class, or for your major), you won’t be disappointed. GT basketball is good, too. The opportunities are plenty with co-ops and internships.
I really like Georgia Tech, but my in-state option is UF, so…I haven’t really thought of that many reasons of how GT is awesome other than that it’s way better than UF for me.</p>
<p>i get in state to ga tech because my dad is getting a job in atlanta starting january, so i get in state after 1st semester freshman year. i get in state to minnesota because of a tuition waiver.</p>
<p>Demographically, Tech is more similar to a large private school like Cornell than a major public university. Tech and Cornell have 13,000 undergraduate students, Minnesota 33,000. Tech and Cornell have 60% of their student bodies living on-campus, Minnesota 20%. Tech and Cornell have highly diverse student bodies with 40-50% of the students non-Caucasian or international; Minnesota has 80% white students. And unlike some huge public universities, Tech has a contained and well-defined campus.</p>
<p>Academically, Tech’s reputation is valued in the technical-field marketplace, and the median starting salaries of its grads bears that out. However, my impression of campus life there is that the dues you pay for the valued degree can involve an unusual degree of rigor and stress.</p>
<p>BTW, if your move to Georgia is necessitated by your father’s new position in Atlanta, you may qualify for in-state tuition from the outset. It will be necessary for you to apply for in-state status through the Admissions Office, and document that your change of domicile is not voluntary for the purpose of attending college, but is corollary to your father’s acceptance of a job in Georgia.</p>
<p>@abcdegsds:</p>
<p>I think the general attitude among Tech students is that they have better things to do with their lives than try and convert people, either politically or religiously. Back in 1964, Tech integrated without any real issues, because the students were “too busy to hate.” There is the random guy on Skiles with a Bible from time to time, but that stuff happens on every campus. Rarely are controversial topics discussed in classes, and you will in no way be singled out or alienated for your beliefs.</p>
<p>thanks gadad and RmblinReck!</p>
<p>one more thing to consider:</p>
<p>What if you realize after one semester that ChemE is NOT what you want to do for the rest of your college-time (or life)? In that case (assuming you’ll stay in the engineering area), I’d guess you’re much better off at GT. There you have top-engineering programs in almost all areas, whereas Minnesota is less competitive …</p>