thatguy94

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to make a final decision for college by the May 1 deadline. I've narrowed it down to Georgia Tech and the University of Maryland for computer science. I'm from out of state at both schools. I don't qualify for any financial aid, but I did get a $12,000 scholarship from Maryland. Money is an important consideration, but my family will be able to pay for either one.

Maryland is much closer to home. Maryland is a 3-hour train ride/drive away, but I would have to take a plane home from Atlanta.

I also feel that Georgia Tech is academically stronger and would provide more opportunities for research and internships.

I've visited both schools, and liked both of their campuses.

I got into the scholar's program at Maryland, but I did not get into the Honors Program at Georgia Tech.

Which one do you think would be better for me?

JamesMadison

For undergrad, Maryland is fine. Save the money.

GLOBALTRAVELER

U-Maryland College Park is great for undergrad. Plus, if you decide to do work for the federal agencies in the DC metro area (either as govie or contractor), both schools are essentially the same as recruiting goes. GT because of name/rep and U-Maryland because it is local and also has a good rep.

aegrisomnia

Go with Maryland. It's a great school.

ChrisTKD

UMD College Park has a very nice campus. DS is planning to major in CS and was accepted to UMD and GT as well but decided against attending either. I thought UMD would have been a great choice but it's too close to home. He's still trying to chose between Rose-Hulman and Virginia Tech. You are not alone in struggling with the decision.

vblick

I graduated CmpE from GT and I would say that MD seems like the right choice since it's closer and cheaper. For undergrad it won't matter that much between the two schools. GT would be a harder program though. I work with a bunch of MD grads and one of the most difficult things they had to overcome at MD, as engineering students, was that they were in the minority. What I heard from them was that it was challenging to get all your work and studying done because most of their friends weren't in those types of programs and hand MUCH more free time to go out at night and on weekends etc. The one thing I liked about GT, which was great for a "stay focused" mindset, was that engineering/cs was in the majority. So everyone seemed to have a full plate and there were definitely less distractions. That being said, it didn't make for the traditional college atmosphere. Not as many parties and the greek system isn't big compared to other schools. It's definitely a study first school/atmosphere.

Apollo11

Geogia Tech will help you out in the long run. The professors and academic excellence is insane. Also, part of college is venturing out into the world. Georgia Tech also has campus job fairs where people get recruited for some of the top jobs in the country. Lastly, Atlanta is a very friendly and modern city; a great college town.

1214mom

My son is deciding between RPI and Georgia Tech, even though we are In State so UMD would be much cheaper. GT sounds like a great place and the coop and internships, plus study abroad, all sound great. UMD does have all the federal agencies close by, though. UMD has about twice as many students, I believe.

ChrisTKD

Familiarity breeds contempt - - it seems like many in-state kids want to go out-of-state because it's different. DS also considered RPI, GT and UMD and it seems like all of the colleges have coops, interships and study-abroad.

aegrisomnia

Both are fantastic schools; you won't go wrong with either.