Purdue vs VA Tech (Engineering)

[Anonymous]

DS was in the same position last year. He chose Purdue. If you are OOS for both, Purdue is the obvious choice. We spoke with numerous practicing engineers, and they all said Purdue was the better school - the engineers they worked with from Purdue were outstanding and the reputation is phenomenal. In comparison to Virginia Tech, Purdue’s reputation is stronger.

Your DC’s acceptance is to the college of engineering. It is a direct admit program. Students declare their specific engineering discipline in the second semester of freshman year. Nearly all first years get their first choice. The only students who do not are those that want mechanical or aerospace and have poor grades. DS and everyone he knows got their first choice.

DS is having a wonderful experience so far. He accepted a paid co-op with a chemical manufacturing company that begins his sophomore year. He had multiple offers as a freshman. So many companies come to campus to recruit.

DS enjoys his classes, has many study groups, and finds most everyone very nice. He’s very happy with his choice.

[Anonymous]

No opinion (other than VT if you are in-state), but thank you for correctly spelling Purdue. They're not the chicken company!

Good luck to your daughter in her decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No opinion (other than VT if you are in-state), but thank you for correctly spelling Purdue. They're not the chicken company!

Good luck to your daughter in her decision.

+1. Yes!!

[Anonymous]

No lie - my engineering son has an internship at Perdue and attends Purdue… the irony

[Anonymous]

For football, it’s Purdon’t.

[Anonymous]

My niece was deciding between these two last year, from Maryland, and really enjoyed both accepted students days. In the end she like all the support for women engineers at Purdue and went there. Having an amazing time, very challenged, but lives in the Women in Engineering LLC and they all study together in the lounges since they are all taking basically the same classes.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you again for all your kind replies.

Forgot to mention that as we live in VA, VA-Tech would be in-state tuition rate while Purdue would be OOS, but hope is to receive some form of financial support which would at least partially bridge the gap. If the difference is around $5k per year and Purdue is considerably better, we could swing that....understanding that extra distance would also increase transportation expenses to/from Purdue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You didn’t raise it, OP, but my aerospace engineering kid had these choice plus GA Tech and UVA. He chose UVA (great engineering program! Don’t listen to the naysayers who don’t know what they are talking about) Anyhow, I raise it only because your DC should be in a place where they can transfer out should they decide to do so. Engineering is a tough major. Our DC switched out of aerospace engineering to college of arts & sciences at end of first year and is now in a T3 law school coming well. 80 percent of students change their major at least once. My advice is to pick a school that offers the most flexibility

Your kid doesn't know Purdue's history, clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you again for all your kind replies.

Forgot to mention that as we live in VA, VA-Tech would be in-state tuition rate while Purdue would be OOS, but hope is to receive some form of financial support which would at least partially bridge the gap. If the difference is around $5k per year and Purdue is considerably better, we could swing that....understanding that extra distance would also increase transportation expenses to/from Purdue.

Use of terms like “considerably better” or “much better” are way overdone here. Rankings are ordinal, not interval.

Purdue is not objectively “considerably better” than Virginia Tech for engineering. It could be subjectively better for your kid. But the same could apply to most any other school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC also admitted to Purdue, VA tech trying to decide we will visit Purdue late March. Mine lean to CS and it is direct admit at Purdue.

+1 Purdue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You didn’t raise it, OP, but my aerospace engineering kid had these choice plus GA Tech and UVA. He chose UVA (great engineering program! Don’t listen to the naysayers who don’t know what they are talking about) Anyhow, I raise it only because your DC should be in a place where they can transfer out should they decide to do so. Engineering is a tough major. Our DC switched out of aerospace engineering to college of arts & sciences at end of first year and is now in a T3 law school coming well. 80 percent of students change their major at least once. My advice is to pick a school that offers the most flexibility

It is a tough major. Not for the faint of heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you again for all your kind replies.

Forgot to mention that as we live in VA, VA-Tech would be in-state tuition rate while Purdue would be OOS, but hope is to receive some form of financial support which would at least partially bridge the gap. If the difference is around $5k per year and Purdue is considerably better, we could swing that....understanding that extra distance would also increase transportation expenses to/from Purdue.

Use of terms like “considerably better” or “much better” are way overdone here. Rankings are ordinal, not interval.

Purdue is not objectively “considerably better” than Virginia Tech for engineering. It could be subjectively better for your kid. But the same could apply to most any other school too.

Not true. Purdue is considerably better. Are you a practicing engineer? Do you hire engineers? Engineering has tiers and Purdue is in a tier above VT.

[Anonymous]

Purdue has a lower minimum GPA to get your major of choice within the COE- just something to consider.

Flights in/out of Indianapolis are expensive. Columbus is cheaper if your student makes friends from that area who can take you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For football, it’s Purdon’t.

And we like it that way. There's no fall from glory.

[Anonymous]

Purdue is the better engineering school overall but VA Tech has a solid program. You will not likely get aid from Purdue. Purdue is very competitive and its also priced about 20K lower than most flagship state uni's for OOS. So you will find aid very hard to come by, just to set expectations. It does not matter if you are 1600 straight A student if you are applying to engineering or CS, they all are.