My son is down to two school choices and I thought it would be great to get some insight/opinions before the May 1 deadline. Thank you in advance for your help! Some details: he’s a South Florida resident, NM Finalist, high SAT/ACT score, lots of EC’s, Eagle Scout/community service. He applied to 11 schools and got into ten. He wants to study chemical engineering. Accepted into Purdue, Illinois, UF, UCF, GT, UT-Austin (Cockrell School Engineering), Notre Dame (EA), UVA, VT and Vanderbilt. Did not get into Rice but I believe that was a diversity issue based on his two friend’s acceptance (lower GPA/test scores, EC’s, but minorities). He received a University Achievement Scholarship and Chancellor Scholarship from Illinois but he’s not interested (although I know it’s a great engineering school). Full ride to UCF, not interested. Full ride to UF with Florida Incentive Scholarship, very interested. Presidential scholarship to Purdue, very interested. All other schools are amazing but we would pay out of state tuition. We are typical income earners that have to worry about college cost.
He’s between Purdue and UF. He loves Purdue. Purdue’s engineering program is top notch but it’s very far from his comfort zone of his home state of Florida and nice weather. He received a Presidential scholarship from Purdue and was accepted into their honors engineering program. We have visited the campus twice and their honors dorm will be brand new and ready for 2016 freshman. The people and vibe at Purdue is awesome! He would either co-op or intern at Purdue. The money for co-op makes up for the difference in tuition but he would graduate in 5 years. We would have no loan debt and he would have a small surplus left over from co-op. He also loves and feels very comfortable at UF. Many friends going there, etc. He would also plan to intern at UF. Because he’s a NM finalist, UF would be completely free, including transportation cost and computer. No need for FL pre-paid, no need for 529, etc. We have done the pros and cons for both schools. I know it’s really his decision but thanks again for your input and opinions.
Congratulations. Both are good schools for his chosen major, and the price is right for both of them. Some thoughts.
The male/female ratio at Purdue is 57/43. The same ratio for UF is 46/54.
Purdue has one of the highest percentages international students in the country, with 18 percent of the student body being Non-Resident Aliens. According to the following, NRA’s make up about 28 percent of Purdue’s engineering students.
Going the internship route vs. a Co-op will allow him to graduate a year earlier. In other words, a Co-Op would cost him a year’s worth of salary as a working engineer. That makes UF’s Full ride (FIS) very appealing.
Having that full ride also gives your son a lot of flexibility, in pursuing minors, study abroad, etc…
For example, He’ll also have the option, at UF, of completing a combined degree (BS/MS), by staying in school for one additional year (5 years in total). FIS would still pay, as he’s still an “undergraduate student”, and would be awarded both degrees at the same time (at the end of 5 years).
How badly does he want to leave Florida? Where does he want to live when he graduates (does he have any ideas)?
Purdue is a great school, but West Lafayette winters are harsh and long. He would need to fly in and out of Indianapolis which is a decent market but not like Chicago.
Unless he has a burning desire to leave Florida and do something different, I would vote for UF.
Your son got in to some amazing schools - WOW! Congratulations. I don’t know how you guys managed to narrow it down. Phew.
