Engineering: Pitt or JMU

[Anonymous]

We are leaning toward JMU. She was not intending on getting a general engineering degree. We are hoping the small size will offer more research and internship opportunities and most importantly job prospects in the DC area. It is a risk but not sure if it is worth paying the $$ for an OOS school that was not her first choice. There are definitely pros and cons in selecting JMU but fingers crossed she will be successful and employed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are leaning toward JMU. She was not intending on getting a general engineering degree. We are hoping the small size will offer more research and internship opportunities and most importantly job prospects in the DC area. It is a risk but not sure if it is worth paying the $$ for an OOS school that was not her first choice. There are definitely pros and cons in selecting JMU but fingers crossed she will be successful and employed.

She will love JMU. I agree that it's simply not worth the OOS price tag for Pitt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they would have no problem getting a job in the DC area going to JMU instead of Pitt.

This.

I work for a tech company and we only spend efforts recruiting at local schools. Many of our new hires are actually GMU graduates
Starting salary around 70k. We usually end up paying for graduate school. If I think of 2021 interns we had JMU, catholic, GMU(3 kids!), UVA, and 2 from VT. Most of those kids got job offers

[Anonymous]

I don’t think they will have a problem getting a job with a general degree. Engineers are in demand and the alumni network is impressive.

[Anonymous]

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Pitt is a good school but I would choose JMU for in state.

[Anonymous]

what kind of engineer, building bridges and stuff or computers

[Anonymous]

She is unsure what she wants to specialize in at this time. We thought JMU might be good because of that and it is in state and in our budget. Just hoping she would be fine getting a job if she decides to go into a specific area with a general degree.

[Anonymous]

Pitt is 2-3 times more than VA in state. In this case I would pick JMU.

[Anonymous]

Unless you're going somewhere like M.I.T., is it really important where you go to engineering school? I feel like co-ops are more important.

[Anonymous]

I think some universities are paying $$$ for, it will depend if you feel Pitt is worth it and if it will translate to better job opportunities vs JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is unsure what she wants to specialize in at this time. We thought JMU might be good because of that and it is in state and in our budget. Just hoping she would be fine getting a job if she decides to go into a specific area with a general degree.

No, JMU is not the school if she is unsure what kind of engineering she wants. And I don’t think you know what specialization even means. You might elect Electrical Engineering and then specialize/concentrate in power systems, microelectronics, signal processing, etc. You need to look up the curriculum at JMU and decide if that is for her.

[Anonymous]

OP, curious to know what your child decided!

[Anonymous]

Like JMU a lot and it is in state but very nervous about the general degree and small size of the department. Undecided but leaning toward Pitt and seeing if we can make the out of state tuition work.

[Anonymous]

Heard good things about JMU and that the program is growing.