Engineering: Pitt or JMU

[Anonymous]

We are in the same boat and know Pitt is more established in engineering. Live in VA so not sure if it worth all the money as she wants to eventually find a job in the DC area. Not sure if her general engineering degree will be competitive in this market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat and know Pitt is more established in engineering. Live in VA so not sure if it worth all the money as she wants to eventually find a job in the DC area. Not sure if her general engineering degree will be competitive in this market.

What do you mean by this? I am aware that Pitt is more established in engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat and know Pitt is more established in engineering. Live in VA so not sure if it worth all the money as she wants to eventually find a job in the DC area. Not sure if her general engineering degree will be competitive in this market.

What do you mean by this? I am aware that Pitt is more established in engineering.

You guys are killing me. “Pitt is more established…”. It’s a full fledged school of engineering with a half dozen or more programs. It is established. It’s not up and coming. It’s been here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they should be fine getting a general engineering degree from JMU.

Not if they are interested in Civil, Industrial, Chemical, Petroleum, Electrical, or Biomedical Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat and know Pitt is more established in engineering. Live in VA so not sure if it worth all the money as she wants to eventually find a job in the DC area. Not sure if her general engineering degree will be competitive in this market.

What do you mean by this? I am aware that Pitt is more established in engineering.

You guys are killing me. “Pitt is more established…”. It’s a full fledged school of engineering with a half dozen or more programs. It is established. It’s not up and coming. It’s been here.

We know that. But not everyone can afford an extra $20,000/year, especially if loans are involved. That would be a dealbreaker for us on cost alone. So compromise is necessary.

Personally, I think OP's kid should try to go to GMU or VT for engineering instead.

[Anonymous]

I think you will have to weigh if paying an extra $20k a year being out of state is worth it. JMU is an excellent school. It would help to know if their engineering grad's have fared well in the job market with a general degrees. Our friend said they have lots of opportunities for research and internships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you will have to weigh if paying an extra $20k a year being out of state is worth it. JMU is an excellent school. It would help to know if their engineering grad's have fared well in the job market with a general degrees. Our friend said they have lots of opportunities for research and internships.

I do think JMU is excellent in several disciplines, but not engineering. As you said finances will be up to OP and their family to decide if it’s worth it.

[Anonymous]

We were waitlisted at our first choice VT and narrowed it down to these 2 schools. Pitt is definitely on par with VT in this department. Just trying to see if it is worth the pricey out of state tuition.

[Anonymous]

If money is a factor, I would pick JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were waitlisted at our first choice VT and narrowed it down to these 2 schools. Pitt is definitely on par with VT in this department. Just trying to see if it is worth the pricey out of state tuition.

JMU is a fine school but Pitt is at least one notch higher. For engineering probably two notches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were waitlisted at our first choice VT and narrowed it down to these 2 schools. Pitt is definitely on par with VT in this department. Just trying to see if it is worth the pricey out of state tuition.

This is our situation but kid never thought to apply to JMU for engineering. Neither did I so applied to VCU instead. Wasn't expecting the WL from VT but here it is. So it's VCU or Pitt. I think Pitt is better but with no merit, is it 25k better?

[Anonymous]

Same predicament, did not expect to be on the VT waitlist. We are considering going to JMU with the option of transferring to VT to keep in state tuition. Hard to justify Pitt with no merit and the high cost.

[Anonymous]

No question Pitt is better for engineering if that’s all you are considering. I also think the city is better and an overall better college experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No question Pitt is better for engineering if that’s all you are considering. I also think the city is better and an overall better college experience.

Pitt may be better for engineering, but I disagree Pittsburgh is an "overall better college experience." If you want urban, sure. Many kids do not. JMU is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley - lots of hiking and outdoor activities available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whats the financial impact? Im from PA and would say Pitt but not at full price vs in state JMU. I will be honest, no one outside of VA has heard of JMU and they HAVE heard of Pitt, but that all vanishes after job 1.

Do you have any idea just how many OOS students are at JMU? Plenty of people outside of VA have heard of it.

Kids in New Jersey think JMU is in-state.