<p>Well so much for the american dream then… its not all its made out to be. </p>
<p>…That was probably too harsh, but all well. I understand that my EFC hurts me. That was made abundantly clear within the first page. But due to my career choice, I ONLY have large colleges. ABET approves nuclear engineering at:
Air Force Institute of Technology ,OH, United States<br>
University of California, Berkeley ,CA, United States<br>
University of Florida ,FL, United States<br>
Georgia Institute of Technology ,GA, United States<br>
Idaho State University ,ID, United States<br>
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ,IL, United States<br>
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,MA, United States<br>
University of Massachusetts Lowell ,MA, United States<br>
University of Michigan ,MI, United States<br>
Missouri University of Science and Technology ,MO, United States<br>
University of New Mexico ,NM, United States<br>
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ,NC, United States<br>
Oregon State University ,OR, United States<br>
Pennsylvania State University ,PA, United States<br>
Purdue University at West Lafayette ,IN, United States<br>
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ,NY, United States<br>
South Carolina State University ,SC, United States<br>
University of Tennessee at Knoxville ,TN, United States<br>
Texas A & M University ,TX, United States<br>
United States Military Academy ,NY, United States<br>
University of Wisconsin-Madison ,WI, United States </p>
<p>None of these are slouches to get into and notice how NONE are in VA (which is Ironic as hell because The Navy is here, Areva is here, their are several reactors used within the state, and we have the largest undeveloped uranium mine in the U.S.). I’m applying to Florida, GT, Illinois, MIT, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, TAMU, and Wisconsin. A lot of people will probably criticize me for it, but, from the list, those are the ones I liked most and they represent a relatively broad range of difficulties.<br>
However, due to the financial dillema that has clearly been laid out and critiqued, I probably wont be able to afford any except for MIT. But I wont get in there 99.9% of the time anyway. That is why I am also applying to VCU. Its a local college that has absolutley no respect on the national level for engineering but they have presented me with an interesting situation. The local power company is beginning to use nuclear reactors and is pressing them to start up a “nuclear tract” within their mechanical degree(non ABET approved of course but whatever). So if I graduate (I KNOW I can get in there) from VCU I would have an excellent chance with the local power company. It will be my safety valve. I don’t want to stay in VA for the rest of my life but it sure as hell beats the alternative of applying to all of the bigger schools and not going at all. I’m also of the opinion that taking a non approved ABET school beats any “CC and transfer” scenario since I would have a hard time transferring from a CC in VA to an OS, ABET approved, school for one of the hardest fields. </p>
<p>So in the end its a go big or go home (literaly) scenario. Scenario 1 is I get into and afford OS school. Or Scenario 2 is I go to a college 20 mins down the road and work with the local power company the next 10+ years. Both options are “successful” and good. I understand that. I just don’t want to stay here in central VA for the rest of my life with a degree from a college that only people in VA would care about. I’m sure yall understand that. But thats what I’m doin. Thats my plan. </p>
<p>O and just in case I haven’t mentioned… I can get in-state at GT due to a clause that nuclear engineering isn’t “distinctly” offered in VA. I never really cared for GT because of the student life I have heard/read about and the ratio of guys to girls is rediculous. But If I can afford there then I will by ALL means go there and not VCU. I can suffer through 4 years of testosterone for a top rated engineering school.</p>
<p>Any comments, questions, critiques, concerns, or jokes about it, then fire away. I’m all ears when it comes to my future.</p>