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college options

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by 113tac, Aug 11, 2010.

  1. Aug 11, 2010 at 2:48 PM
    #1
    113tac

    113tac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    okay so i am entering my senior year of high school and it is time to look at colleges. I visited the University of Georgetown the other day and it was awesomeee...Anyways the point of this thread was to see if anyone here has went to any of the colleges i am looking at and to see what their experiences were. I want to make sure i make the right choice for college.

    Here are my choices so far:

    UT Austin
    Virginia Tech
    Georgetown
    George Washington University
    California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo
    UCLA

    and thats about it i can think of for now...I will most likely be majoring in some sort of engineering just not sure what exactly. If someone has a suggestion for a school let me know im open for suggestions. Thanks for any replies!!
     
  2. Aug 12, 2010 at 7:49 AM
    #2
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

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    if you are going into engineering look into Clemson. they have a badass engineering department and the university itself is amazing. the most fun i've ever had in my life. you are within walking distance of lake Hartwell (which is one of hte largest lakes in the region) and very short drives from lake keowee and jocasse (jocasse is so clear you can see the bottom at 20 feet, and no, i'm not joking). there's nothing like being in the foothills and student life there is amazing. at least look into it.
     
  3. Aug 12, 2010 at 7:53 AM
    #3
    1337Taco

    1337Taco Well-Known Member

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    I haven't attended any of those schools, but I know a few people that go to UCLA. They aren't really known for engineering and going there from out of state would cost quite a bit, plus it is one of the hardest schools to get into in California.
     
  4. Aug 12, 2010 at 7:57 AM
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    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    All great colleges, good luck with the search. If you're looking at that calibur or school, might want to consider MIT. Do you know what type of engineering you want to go for?

    I'm a civil engineer from Clarkson University so if you want to go really far north I can give you some information on the school.
     
  5. Aug 12, 2010 at 7:57 AM
    #5
    scottri

    scottri Well-Known Member

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    San Louis Obisbo is an awsome area. The best part of California in my book. A great school as well. I'd take a hard look at that one. UCLA is in a cool area but it would get old after a while.
     
  6. Aug 12, 2010 at 10:15 AM
    #6
    Joehs

    Joehs Well-Known Member

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    Seeing as I just got done with school, I can offer a bit of help.

    My first idea, would be visit everywhere you can, even if it's a school near your hometown that you didn't think you'd be interested. You never know what a school can or will offer you until you are there. The only part of college that actually happens on campus is school and sporting events. Look at the city around the school. Does it have a lot of bars you would like to go to? Is the area good for expo/4x4 or any of your other hobbies? More time than you think will be spent off campus poking around, you would be wise to find an area that had things you enjoy in your free time.

    Keep in mind that you need to feel comfortable at a school. Part of the college experience is meeting people and learning some adult lessons the hard way. ( This is my opinion, but I don't know many people who would disagree ). Going to an area where you might be less inclined to make a ton of friends or spend time off of campus is going to taint your college experience.

    Consider what you want to study! Then basically forget about it. I've known VERY few people who actually stayed in the field they were originally enrolled in. I was slated to go into astro physics, then changed to computer science, then to mechanical engineering, and lastly to the subject I got my degree in, Philosophy. I would have never in a million years told you I'd get a Phil degree, but things change and very quickly when you enter the college life.

    After you figure in all of this, then consider the best school for what you are interested in, education wise.

    If you're dead set on engineering, I'd look into these schools:
    MIT
    Berkley
    CALTEC
    Stanford
    UT

    I ended up changing my mind on so many different things before I chose a school. Talk with your friends, parents, loved ones etc about it.

    College was the best time of my life, I only wish I could go back, don't waste it!
     
  7. Aug 12, 2010 at 10:32 AM
    #7
    c2thegreat

    c2thegreat Well-Known Member

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    Tech has an awesome engineering program and it would definately be the cheapest option since you live in VA. All of my friends who went there loved it.
     
  8. Aug 12, 2010 at 12:33 PM
    #8
    113tac

    113tac [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ill look into clemson. i didnt even think of that school but all that stuff seems pretty cool. that is also a good option considering it is fairly close to VA compared to other schools i am looking into.
    yeah it is really expensive. but im trying not to base my decision on price alone.
    i am thinking mechanical engineering or maybe biomedical. i am not 100% sure yet.
    yeah it is my top choice right now. it is a good price and nice area. i used to live in monterey and i think thats only an hour or so from san luis obispo and monterey is an awesome place.
    so far i have visited georgetown even though i most likely wont go there...but it was awesome. i felt very comfortable there. i am also visiting george washington this weekend hopefully it will go well also. the good thing about going to school in d.c. is that i will be very close to my moms work haha. at first though i didnt even think about things outside of school until i visited georgetown which made me decide to cross florida institute of technology off the list. it seemed cool at first but then i read reviews and saw that it didnt seem like there was much around it.hopefully i choose the right major because i want to go to the best school i can get into for that major.
    Yes it would be the cheapest option. i have heard different things about the school most good though. i know a few people who go there so ill have to ask them how they like it as well.


    btw thanks to all of you for your replies! rep for all of you
     
  9. Aug 12, 2010 at 12:43 PM
    #9
    steve o 77

    steve o 77 braaap

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    Well I go to New Mexico Tech majoring in mechanical engineering. I can tell you that it is definitely one of the best engineering schools in the country since they specialize in it, plus I'm actually getting paid to go to school there. The only thing is you are doing homework non stop and the town its in (socorro NM) is absolutely terrible. Look into it if your serious about getting a good job when you graduate, and saving some money while going to school.
     
  10. Aug 12, 2010 at 12:46 PM
    #10
    RPain

    RPain Well-Known Member

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    Arizona State University isn't on the list therefore I have no input :)
     
  11. Aug 12, 2010 at 12:55 PM
    #11
    steve o 77

    steve o 77 braaap

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    haha, not really the greatest school for engineering. Great for partying though! :woot:
     
  12. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:07 PM
    #12
    RPain

    RPain Well-Known Member

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    haha im there for business anyways. one of the top business schools in the country. and of course there will be lots of partying :D
     
  13. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:10 PM
    #13
    HusqyRider

    HusqyRider Well-Known Member

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    I've not been to any of those schools but I think you could use a different perspective. I attended several colleges as an undergrad, then went to grad school and am now a professor in SoCal. A few points:

    1. As far as engineering goes, there is little difference from one program to another, except in the top tier schools, some of which you have mentioned. So if you're accepted to only second tier schools, for example, then let other factors such as cost and location be guiding factors.

    2. If you get into a top tier program, be sure it is worth the price. The top tier schools also boast of an extensive network for alumni to help them land well paying jobs. You will find, however, that some second tier schools will land you in all the same positions at half the price. In other words, you might have co-workers whose loan payments are half your own. This isn't a big deal to many before or during school, but it will be after--Trust me!

    3. Politics. Whether you like it or not, it will affect you. The O administration has actually taken over the student loan industry. We don't know what this will mean yet, but there is talk of student loan crisis that rivals the housing market collapse. Economics should me more of a driving factor in your education than it has been for anyone else in the last 20 years. If the economy is stuck for another 5-10 years, you don't want huge loans hanging over your head...Unless of course you come from a wealthy family. But, if you do, why not go to a less expensive school and live BETTER there than scraping by at a big money school?

    4. When it comes to landing a good job, it has more to do with factors other than what school you went to. Sure, a well known school will open more doors for you, but getting through those doors depends on the kind of person you are, and what else you bring to the table.

    5. If you're going for engineering, I would recommend choosing a program that has a management/MBA hybrid (typically 5 years). This will put at the front of the line when it comes time to promote an engineer to management, provided also that you are good with people. This latter characteristic is rare in the engineering segment.

    Keep an open mind when you do check in to school. Your interests may change throughout your time there. I began as an engineering student, and now I'm a philosophy professor. go figure.

    good luck with your decisions.
     
  14. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:15 PM
    #14
    Caduceus

    Caduceus Well-Known Member

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    I went to UCLA for undergrad, with a biology degree. Hated every minute of that place. PM me if you want details why.

    That being said, my GF at the time was in their Civil Engineer program. She must have done well, since they gave her a full ride for her M.S. in CE.

    Do you know what kind of engineering you're thinking of?
     
  15. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:17 PM
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    The Philosophizer

    The Philosophizer Well-Known Member

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    nothing yet!
    i go to UCLA, it's awesome here. the school is great, im learning a lot and the people here are really cool too. the professors are very thorough and the life outside of school is amazing.

    honestly though, wherever you go to college it will be the best time of your life and will work out for you in the best of ways.

    hope i helped & make the right choice......

    go bruins!!
     
  16. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:19 PM
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    Iceman.USAF

    Iceman.USAF El Capitan

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    I went to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. Great undergrad program, especially engineering. If you're interested, feel free to message/email me. I graduated in 2008 so my info should be fairly recent.

    Iceman.USAF@gmail.com
     
  17. Aug 12, 2010 at 1:58 PM
    #17
    nd

    nd Radical Town. It's a hell of a place!

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    yeah, and its probably not on the same level as some of these other schools but it is a damn good program. my room mate is a ME major from there and has a job with Flour. He goes on assignment for years at a time (voluntary) and when he does he has a six figure income when everything is said and done. like i said, maybe not the same caliber but more than worth checking out. i highly recommend a campus visit (especially if you get to skip some school days to do so)

    some very good points in this response. Keep in mind to go for every single solitary internship/co-op you can find. the most frustrating thing in the world is graduating and applying for jobs cause they all want experience... ALL of them. you will need as much experience as possible, and as many happy professors as possible. also, networking and connections are every bit as important as the piece of paper you walk out with. make friends with everyone in your field you meet.
     
  18. Aug 12, 2010 at 2:02 PM
    #18
    Incognito

    Incognito No better friend, no worse enemy

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    X2 great advice. VA Tech has a great engineering program and is in-state, meaning you won't be paying twice as much to go to an out of state college. I have many friends that go to VA Tech and they love it there.

    Yes, I know what many of you are thinking... A shooting can happen anywhere, and it happened to be VA Tech.
     
  19. Aug 12, 2010 at 2:24 PM
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    macgyver

    macgyver Well-Known Member

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    Most employers could give a flying crap about what college you went to..unless its some garbage online diploma mill. They care that you went to college and have a degree. They also don't really care what grades you made in college. They care about REAL LIFE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, especially in this market. They want to know that you know how to apply what you learned in school to real life situations. Like he said ^^ try to get as many internships and co-ops as you can. The best experience would actually be getting your foot in the door in your field BEFORE you graduate.

    Network, network, network. NEVER BURN BRIDGES! Even your old boss who you think was a dick might actually help you find a job one day. Its all about who you know. EVERY job I have ever had was because I knew someone who got me in the door.

    Good luck

    VA-Tech is a great school. Two of my Uncles are VT grads and they both work for Dupont making great money. One is a chem-eng major and later went back and got his MBA and he is now a VP in the Agriculture division making a crapload of money. The other was a mech-eng major and works in their central engineering deptartment.
     
  20. Aug 13, 2010 at 1:23 AM
    #20
    USFCON

    USFCON Well-Known Member

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    What kind of engineering, did i miss this above?

    If aerospace I say Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Fl.
    Perfect location, although pricey out of state tuition.

    Good luck, don't drink too much and don't get anyone pregnant!
     

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