Thoughts on UMCP engineering vs Purdue

[Anonymous]

You should be aware of recent law passed in Indiana gives Governor more control of state Univeristies and massively weakening tenure.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/25/indiana-lawmakers-indiana-university-control-mike-braun/83265418007/

I agree both schools have strong engineering programs so it's a question of the school setting and the state.

CP ism't a dump, lots of improvements in the area over the past decade and access to DC and Montgomery county will improve with the Purple Line which is finally making noticealbe progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purdue. CP is a dump.

Actually Maryland is a beautiful campus with nice architecture. Was not impressed with Purdue when we visited. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere Indiana. All I remember about Purdue are dark brown cookie cutter brick buildings everywhere and a not so pleasant looking strip mall in front of their campus which I guess was the the student "city" hangout area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purdue. CP is a dump.

Yep, CP is ugly. Even the CP IKEA is a dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be aware of recent law passed in Indiana gives Governor more control of state Univeristies and massively weakening tenure.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/25/indiana-lawmakers-indiana-university-control-mike-braun/83265418007/

I agree both schools have strong engineering programs so it's a question of the school setting and the state.

CP ism't a dump, lots of improvements in the area over the past decade and access to DC and Montgomery county will improve with the Purple Line which is finally making noticealbe progress.

+1 this is enough to go straight to umd

[Anonymous]

I don’t know UMD but Purdue is very impersonal. You likely won’t interact with the professors and can’t usually understand them if you do. The weather is unpleasant and the campus is not attractive. My cousin was glad to be done with Purdue. His good memories are all about frat parties- not the education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know UMD but Purdue is very impersonal. You likely won’t interact with the professors and can’t usually understand them if you do. The weather is unpleasant and the campus is not attractive. My cousin was glad to be done with Purdue. His good memories are all about frat parties- not the education.

MY DS took a tour of Purdue and was like "not for me". Unattractive campus. Flat, cold and in the middle of nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Purdue. CP is a dump.

Yep, CP is ugly. Even the CP IKEA is a dump.

Huh. I was there just a couple of weeks ago, walked away in disbelief as to how much the campus has changed for the better. Naturally, still concerned about non-AC dorm assignment but everything looked spotless, new, and lively

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be aware of recent law passed in Indiana gives Governor more control of state Univeristies and massively weakening tenure.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/25/indiana-lawmakers-indiana-university-control-mike-braun/83265418007/

I agree both schools have strong engineering programs so it's a question of the school setting and the state.

CP ism't a dump, lots of improvements in the area over the past decade and access to DC and Montgomery county will improve with the Purple Line which is finally making noticeable progress.

Yeah this sounds bad.

[Anonymous]

DC’s roommate is in engineering at UMD. His internship opportunities every summer have been incredible. He already has offers for after he graduates. Hasn’t had any issues getting the classes that he needs. Lots of apartment options right off campus that are closer to the classroom buildings than most of the dorms are.

[Anonymous]

Purdue is the clear choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know UMD but Purdue is very impersonal. You likely won’t interact with the professors and can’t usually understand them if you do. The weather is unpleasant and the campus is not attractive. My cousin was glad to be done with Purdue. His good memories are all about frat parties- not the education.

MY DS took a tour of Purdue and was like "not for me". Unattractive campus. Flat, cold and in the middle of nowhere.

My kid said the same. We toured and it dropped off the list. He also noticed the expressions of the students as they walked in the terrible cold wind (last week- not winter) and noticed that they were completely expressionless and unaffected by the wind. As if they have accepted the constant misery and just continue on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC’s roommate is in engineering at UMD. His internship opportunities every summer have been incredible. He already has offers for after he graduates. Hasn’t had any issues getting the classes that he needs. Lots of apartment options right off campus that are closer to the classroom buildings than most of the dorms are.

+1 DC is a dual math/CS major at UMD. They got into honors, and got into Pyon Chen their first year. That dorm is newish and pretty nice. Second year, they lived off campus but since all of their classes are STEM and concentrated in one area on campus, their dorm is closer to their classes than when they were living on campus.

It's a very large campus, to be sure. IMO, the purple line is going to make going to places off campus a lot more easier. They also go into DC on the weekends, or takes the bus to NYC. The surrounding area isn't that great, but the location itself is great. Lots of different places to go to on the weekend.

Neither of my kids want to be in the middle of nowhere.

That said, Purdue is cheaper for oos. And the reputation is similar to UMD. So, go to Purdue if your DC doesn't mind being in the middle of corn fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be aware of recent law passed in Indiana gives Governor more control of state Univeristies and massively weakening tenure.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/25/indiana-lawmakers-indiana-university-control-mike-braun/83265418007/

I agree both schools have strong engineering programs so it's a question of the school setting and the state.

CP ism't a dump, lots of improvements in the area over the past decade and access to DC and Montgomery county will improve with the Purple Line which is finally making noticealbe progress.

I view the politics as a positive - sick of the ultra liberal colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CP is not a dump. Get off route 1 and walk around

We did admitted students day. Did not care for the crowds, moldy dorms or construction noise. It felt sort of dirty - I think the academics are good but we did not like the campus. But I see a lot of UMD boosters here so you will hear both sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CP is not a dump. Get off route 1 and walk around

We did admitted students day. Did not care for the crowds, moldy dorms or construction noise. It felt sort of dirty - I think the academics are good but we did not like the campus. But I see a lot of UMD boosters here so you will hear both sides.

lol at "did not care for the crowds".