Did I make a wise college choice?

[Fox5]

I could have gone to basically any school I wanted, including Ivy Leagues. In addition, I could have had $20,000/year in scholarships to virtually any school I wanted. I chose to go to a state school, and I actually get around $500 back a semester due to having more scholarship money than the cost of the school.
An alternative would have been to go to a roughly $40,000/year school. I had around $50,000 in savings for college, so I would have had to come up with another $30,000 in the end to pay for college.

My major in electrical and computer engineering, though my personal interests and aptitudes are more towards computer science (which I'm attempting to minor in). Well, I'm apparently also good at creative writing, but it's not a big interest of mine.

It was both an economic and a personal decision for me to go to a state school. I'll come out of college with >$50,000 in cash, while I would have owed $30,000 at other schools. That, and I wasn't the hardest worker in high school, and didn't view myself as a typical MIT "I've successfully designed and built a helicopter" type student, and I didn't know if I'd be able to hack it, or if my education / experience would be $80,000 better. I didn't want to waste money on a chance.

So as it is, I'm going to a state school, majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering, tentatively minoring in Computer Science (though, physics seems to be a more natual fit for the field from what I've seen, much less classes too), and with an Honors concentration. It seems I will also have a 4.0 GPA as of the end of the first semester, and I'll graduate with >$50,000 in cash.

So, did I make the right choice or no? Any comments?

 

[MSCoder610]

How does $500 a semester => graduating with $50k?

 

[Mrfrog840]

yes explain pls

 

[LtPage1]

you won't know until you start interviewing for jobs/grad schools in three and a half years.

 

[Aquaman]

I think his scholarship is $500 greater then what he has to pay and he has $50K in the bank for college.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I decided to go to a state school too, and I don't regret it. I think the people at state schools are a lot more real than some of these stuffy privates. Then again, I plan on going to a private for law.

Which state school? There is a big difference between Michigan or UCB compared to say.. Cal State LA.

 

[mwtgg]

Which school? tCNJ?

 

[Reckoner]

At most Ivy League schools, all you're doing is buying the name. It's like comparing Levi's to A&F Jeans.. no real difference, except brand distinction.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
How does $500 a semester => graduating with $50k?

I had around $50,000 in savings for college,

 

[darkxshade]

Go to a state school just to save money is unwise imo.

After graduation, you'll have to find a job if you went to an ordinary school... go to an ivy league and jobs look for you. I'd much prefer the latter.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Which school? tCNJ?

His profile says Rowan.edu


At any rate.. ask some upper classemen how their job search is going.. as sad as it is a lot of the opportunities I've had were presented to me solely because of the reputation my school has.. taking it from opportunity to the real thing is up to the merits of you yourself.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
How does $500 a semester => graduating with $50k?

I think his scholarship is $500 greater then what he has to pay and he has $50K in the bank for college.

Yep, that's it.

And I'm going to Rowan University. I actually don't have much idea on the quality of their engineering program, they were ranked #3 for chem eng in some report, but I have no idea how those reports are done. Their engineering department is about a decade old. Anyhow, I was under the idea that it's not really so much about the school you go to, as it is about what you do with/towards it. If I'm lazy and fail (in life) at the state school, I likely would have done the same at a private / out-of-state school. If I succeed, maybe I would have done a bit better at a different school, but most of the importance is going to be on how much effort I put towards my education and towards things like internships and what not.

 

[sash1]

job interviewer:
to you: okay, let's see, you majored in EE from (your state school here)? I'll call you back
to MIT grad: you majored in EE from MIT? very impressive, you're hired.
(you never hear back)

College DOES make a difference. People do care where you go to college. Sure you're saving money now, but will you be earning money later? Perhaps not as much had you gone to a better school. Just consider it. A Brown education will get you a lot farther than a state college education. A friend of mine who went to Brown: making $75,000/yr out of college in San Francisco, another friend of mine (just as smart) went to the University of Maine and is not even making half as much.

In the end, it's your decision, but IMO, a better education will do you a lot of good in the long run.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Kauru
job interviewer:
to you: okay, let's see, you majored in EE from (your state school here)? I'll call you back
to MIT grad: you majored in EE from MIT? very impressive, you're hired.
(you never hear back)

College DOES make a difference. People do care where you go to college. Sure you're saving money now, but will you be earning money later? Perhaps not as much had you gone to a better school. Just consider it. A Brown education will get you a lot farther than a state college education. A friend of mine who went to Brown: making $75,000/yr out of college in San Francisco, another friend of mine (just as smart) went to the University of Maine and is not even making half as much.

In the end, it's your decision, but IMO, a better education will do you a lot of good in the long run.

Wow, that sure makes me feel less sure about my decision.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Kauru
job interviewer:
to you: okay, let's see, you majored in EE from (your state school here)? I'll call you back
to MIT grad: you majored in EE from MIT? very impressive, you're hired.
(you never hear back)

College DOES make a difference. People do care where you go to college. Sure you're saving money now, but will you be earning money later? Perhaps not as much had you gone to a better school. Just consider it. A Brown education will get you a lot farther than a state college education. A friend of mine who went to Brown: making $75,000/yr out of college in San Francisco, another friend of mine (just as smart) went to the University of Maine and is not even making half as much.

In the end, it's your decision, but IMO, a better education will do you a lot of good in the long run.

Who would want to work with an employer which is that shallow in their thinking?

 

[mugs]

Woah... that's quite a summer job you had there. NJ state schools are pretty good.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Kauru
job interviewer:
to you: okay, let's see, you majored in EE from (your state school here)? I'll call you back
to MIT grad: you majored in EE from MIT? very impressive, you're hired.
(you never hear back)

College DOES make a difference. People do care where you go to college. Sure you're saving money now, but will you be earning money later? Perhaps not as much had you gone to a better school. Just consider it. A Brown education will get you a lot farther than a state college education. A friend of mine who went to Brown: making $75,000/yr out of college in San Francisco, another friend of mine (just as smart) went to the University of Maine and is not even making half as much.

In the end, it's your decision, but IMO, a better education will do you a lot of good in the long run.

Who would want to work with an employer which is that shallow in their thinking?

I was just making up a situation. If two people had the same credentials, but one went to MIT and the other went to a state college, who the hell are you going to hire? Unless the MIT grad is a complete ass, I doubt you'll choose a state schooler over an MIT grad. It makes a difference.

 

[Vinney]

Do you plan on getting a graduate degree? If so, it's far more important where you go for graduate school.

 

[ManSnake]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: MSCoder610
How does $500 a semester => graduating with $50k?

I think his scholarship is $500 greater then what he has to pay and he has $50K in the bank for college.

Yep, that's it.

And I'm going to Rowan University. I actually don't have much idea on the quality of their engineering program, they were ranked #3 for chem eng in some report, but I have no idea how those reports are done. Their engineering department is about a decade old. Anyhow, I was under the idea that it's not really so much about the school you go to, as it is about what you do with/towards it. If I'm lazy and fail (in life) at the state school, I likely would have done the same at a private / out-of-state school. If I succeed, maybe I would have done a bit better at a different school, but most of the importance is going to be on how much effort I put towards my education and towards things like internships and what not.

How do you figure to get an internship if none of the big name companies recruit at your no name state school?

To a majority of companies, name recognition of a university is extremely important when hiring fresh grads. It makes a HUGE difference in your job choices if you attended UMass instead of MIT.

 

[Soccerman06]

Originally posted by: Fox5

Originally posted by: Kauru
job interviewer:
to you: okay, let's see, you majored in EE from (your state school here)? I'll call you back
to MIT grad: you majored in EE from MIT? very impressive, you're hired.
(you never hear back)

College DOES make a difference. People do care where you go to college. Sure you're saving money now, but will you be earning money later? Perhaps not as much had you gone to a better school. Just consider it. A Brown education will get you a lot farther than a state college education. A friend of mine who went to Brown: making $75,000/yr out of college in San Francisco, another friend of mine (just as smart) went to the University of Maine and is not even making half as much.

In the end, it's your decision, but IMO, a better education will do you a lot of good in the long run.

Wow, that sure makes me feel less sure about my decision.

Dude, for one, if you want to be an EE, apply at IBM, they pay great out of college wages, something like $50k, no matter where you graduated. Obviously they pay more for the better qualified, but honestly, do you really want to waste 4 years of your life at a college full of prepy snooty rich kids who think theyre better than everyne else, or do you want to have fun with the great friends at a state school?

Also, if you go get a masters or phd, you can go to whatever college you want that offers your subject and graduate there. Employers wont care where you got your BS if you have a Masters or PhD from an Ivy league school.

I would chose fun or the name.

 

[Plasdom]

As someone who goes to a "big name" University, darkxshade has it right. Companies come and look for you at big name schools whereas at "no name" schools you have to be more aggressive. However, there is also stiffer competition and more academic rigor at ivy schools. You can still get ahead and get a well paying job. Make sure you retain excellent grades and be a bit aggressive about summer internships

 

[gopunk]

were you accepted to MIT, ivys, or are you just hypothesizing?

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Plasdom
As someone who goes to a "big name" University, darkxshade has it right. Companies come and look for you at big name schools whereas at "no name" schools you have to be more aggressive. However, there is also stiffer competition and more academic rigor at ivy schools. You can still get ahead and get a well paying job. Make sure you retain excellent grades and be a bit aggressive about summer internships

I don't buy that at all. Employers may look at the Ivy Leaguers a little harder than State Schoolers, but to say that students have more academic challenges at the former is asinine.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Vinney
Do you plan on getting a graduate degree? If so, it's far more important where you go for graduate school.

Yeah, I do plan to go for graduate school.

To a majority of companies, name recognition of a university is extremely important when hiring fresh grads. It makes a HUGE difference in your job choices if you attended UMass instead of MIT.

Ha, I know a Massachusetts girl at my school who's always talking about how good a school UMass is compared to Rowan.

do you really want to waste 4 years of your life at a college full of prepy snooty rich kids who think theyre better than everyne else

Are Ivy League kids really like that? I've run into my share of snobby kids at Rowan, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern to who they are. Rich, poor, dumb, smart, hard working, lazy, reclusive, party-going, it doesn't matter, there are snobby kids of all types.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Which school? tCNJ?

His profile says Rowan.edu


At any rate.. ask some upper classemen how their job search is going.. as sad as it is a lot of the opportunities I've had were presented to me solely because of the reputation my school has.. taking it from opportunity to the real thing is up to the merits of you yourself.

Didn't bother looking at anything besides state.