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Hi all.

This is my dilemna: I've been accepted to both Georgia Tech and Kettering University as a transfer student. (I'm also waiting to hear from UW-Madison, U of Florida, & U of Maryland-College Park). I've yet to receive my financial-aid packet from Georgia Tech. However, I've already been awarded a pretty substantial scholarship to Kettering. According to them, I'm to get full tuition covered the first year followed by half tuition for the remaining 2 years.

My question is as follows: Given that Georgia Tech is unquestionably a better school (especially in Electrical Engineering), would it be foolish of me to pass-up on Kettering's Scholarship offer and opt for the more reputable GT? (Assuming GT doesn't offer me any significant amount of financial aid).

It seems to me that Kettering has too much of a "Vocational School" look & feel. Ofcourse there's nothing wrong with vocational education, but for a transfer student who's interested in serious undergraduate research followed by graduate work in EE and happens to be in a serious "time crunch," I'm begining to fear that Kettering's co-op program might slow me down on my path to a masters degree. Any thoughts?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By Mitguy (Mitguy) on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 - 07:52 pm: Edit

this sounds like a tough choice to me. i'm not very familiar with kettering but i do know that georgia tech is one of the best eng. schools in the country. hmmm...i guess it depends on how much aid gt offers. if it offered none, then I personally will probably go for gt and take a hit with loans and stuff. sounds crazy to pass up a scholarship...but sometimes getting into a top school is enough incentive.

just my $.02

By Collegeapplier (Collegeapplier) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 01:58 am: Edit

I guess it depends on how much you need the money. If you REALLY need it, then go to Kettering. Personally, I'd go for the best education and worry about money later.

By Uschicka (Uschicka) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 03:25 pm: Edit

Wow. I had pretty much the exact same problem. I was accepted to both USC and San Diego State. USC is undeniably the better school, and it has an amazing reputation. I got pretty much a full ride to SDSU though, and no money whatsoever to expensive private school USC. I didn't know what to do. I was afraid that going to SDSU would harm my chances in the future in getting jobs, etc, but I felt like turning the scholarship down would be foolish.

I ended up accepting SDSU, but I wasn't really happy with the idea, and always felt almost embarrassed to say where I was going to attend. I was constantly worried that I made the wrong decision. Then I got my fin. aid package to USC at the last minute. It was amazing, and now I'm going there, not regretting my decision for a minute. Basically, you shouldn't decide based on money alone, unless you cannot afford Georgia Tech. You seem like you like GT a lot more than Kettering. You need to go with what school feels right to you, and will make you happiest. I still feel a little guilty about passing up my scholarship to SDSU, but I am so happy at USC, and I know I will be well off in the future as well. Just go with where you will be most comfortable and happy. Good luck!

By Fricfrac (Fricfrac) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 03:29 pm: Edit

Well, I really do need the money seeing as I am as poor as dirt. However, I understand that Georgia Tech is a highly selective school and that many people would jump at the chance to attend if they were accepted. As for Kettering, I'm not very familiar with the school, nor do I know how selective it is. And I suspect that these supposed "scholarships" are really more of a price cut that many students probably get as an incentive to attend.

Perhaps my biggest concern has to do with the TYPE of education offered by these schools. With Kettering's co-op program, I'm looking at completing my last two remaining undergraduate years in four because you only study for 6 months out of the year. Because my aim is to get a Master's Degree in EE, I could finish both my BS & MS at Georgia Tech in about the same 4 years (maybe 5 tops).

I guess I tend to agree with you, Collegeapplier; go to the best school and worry about loans and fees later. But then again, I'd feel like a fool for passing up free $$$. I'm totally lost here. I guess if I knew more about Kettering, I'd be able to make a more informed decision...

By Chrisd (Chrisd) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 05:17 pm: Edit

Have you visited both schools? What you think of each campus can make a big difference. Pick the one where you feel most comfortable and the one where you think you'll get the best education for what you want to do--other people's idea of prestige should not make you decide one way or another. Both schools have good reps. in their field, you're not going to lose career opportunities with either one of these choices.

By Theplaymaker (Theplaymaker) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 05:47 pm: Edit

At least you get the option. No financial aid for international students means that I have to get a full loan. Fun huh?

By Fiza (Fiza) on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 08:30 pm: Edit

theres a website called GTSUX. Im sure you can search and find it easily. It was created by actually GT students.

From one senior to another, I suggest you take a look.It might make your decision a WHOLE lot easier!

By Dylan (Dylan) on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 12:51 am: Edit

"theres a website called GTSUX. Im sure you can search and find it easily. It was created by actually GT students."

Yes. And it says on the FRONT PAGE that it's a joke:

"Part 2: NOTHING ON THIS SITE IS TRUE. IT IS ALL FICTIONAL, SO LEAVE HERE NOW. BY NOT CLICKING THE 'X' IN THE CORNER AND CLOSING THIS BROWSER, YOU ARE AGREEING THAT YOU ARE AN ASEXUAL ALIEN FROM MARS WITH 3 HEADS AND NO EYES. "

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 09:41 am: Edit

I want you to know that Kettering formerly was called the GE Institute. It was very well known under that name and was definitely a powerful hook for jobs. My husband works and worked with and for many graduates of that program and it is regarded as top drawer.
I do not know why they changed the name of the program when it had such a powerful name recognition factor.
You seem to be want to go on to graduate school. I don't know if Kettering is as strong in preparing or encouraging their students in research endeavors. I can promise you that in the job market, they are very, very strong.
You should go and visit the school and see how you fit there. It is not a traditional college nor is it really a vocational school. It is really more like a BA/MBA program. The graduates I know stand equally to MBA holders in credentials. In this job market, a degree from Kettering is more valuable than from most schools because of the coop/ business aspect of the school.
On the other hand, EE majors seldom have to worry about finding a job. The only down side with engineering is that the oopportunities tend to plateau over the years as does pay increases as opposed to an MBA or equivalent where the opposite occurs.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 03:47 pm: Edit

I gave you erroneous info. Getting old. I mixed up two programs--the GE Financial Management Program which is a MBA equivalent and the old GM Institute which is now Kettering.
However, Kettering though not as big of a name is still a big draw in the job market and is not as limiting as an engineering degree. Do look into its programs.

By Studiousvegetar (Studiousvegetar) on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 08:38 pm: Edit

Are you talking about Kettering in Mi?

By Fiza (Fiza) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 02:41 pm: Edit

DYLAN: No, Im right.

Look at this post "Georgia Insitute of Technology and TAMU . ? > ?" created recently. Another poster verified my information and then some.

By Zephyrmaster (Zephyrmaster) on Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 02:56 pm: Edit

"theres a website called GTSUX. Im sure you can search and find it easily. It was created by actually GT students."

Yes. And it says on the FRONT PAGE that it's a joke:

"Part 2: NOTHING ON THIS SITE IS TRUE. IT IS ALL FICTIONAL, SO LEAVE HERE NOW. BY NOT CLICKING THE 'X' IN THE CORNER AND CLOSING THIS BROWSER, YOU ARE AGREEING THAT YOU ARE AN ASEXUAL ALIEN FROM MARS WITH 3 HEADS AND NO EYES. "

Actually, here is an interview with the creator:
http://cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/technique/issues/fall2002/2002-11-15/12.html

He really doesn't like it.
" I wanted to transfer my freshman year. From the first week I was here I knew I wanted to leave." Some is exagerrated and some may be fictional, but the creator is/was? in the process of transferring.

Technique: What made you decide to create the website?

Creator: It was [my] overall disappointment with the quality of the school and my experiences during my freshman year. When I started the page, I set a goal of 10,000 [hits] and I got that in like two weeks. But the reason I picked 10,000 was because I wanted to reach a good number of the students here.

TQ: What did you think Tech would be like before you decided to come here?

C: From the way they made it look at FASET, it looked like it'd be a whole lot more fun than it really was.

By Vsage3 (Vsage3) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 04:30 am: Edit

From what I hear from my friends that go there, a lot of what is contained on the site is true, including the REALLY LOW class averages and brutal bell curves. I wouldn't completely discount the site but a lot of it is pretty funny. Love the virtual tour. It hasn't really deterred me from transferring because I know I'm going there to work my ass off and sacrifice a good bit of social life. </resurrect>