Deciding between Georgia Tech and Northeastern

powercropper
Wed, 18 Mar 2020 22:18:47 +0000

What is travel distance from your home to each school? Living through a chaotic time now with my freshman at an OOS college, distance does play a part in the decision. Lots of parents are driving 15 hours straight through to pick up their kids this week. Luckily, my kid has a car and is only 4 hour drive from home. But something to consider.

Other things to think about…Atlanta is a major airline hub, so that is a positive. Ga Tech campus is part of downtown Atlanta. Like commuter rush hour morning and afternoon as you wait to cross several busy intersections just to get to class. This urban reality includes homeless population and some random muggings. Overall a safe campus, but reality of an urban campus means you need to decide what kind of campus is best fit for you.

Grad School costs…research to understand if your major is in demand enough to get scholarships or at least a teaching assistant paid position. If you know you will need to pay most or all Grad school costs, then that extra $40,000 for undergrad may not be worth it.

Also, are you sure your family can pay that extra money for all 4 years? Ask parents for a serious money talk. And do you have younger siblings? If so, maybe you consider the less expensive college so family has money for the younger ones too.

Where do you see yourself living after college? And which college reputation might be stronger in that region of the country? If you get ABET certified degree, after you have experience with first job after college, the name on your degree does not matter much.

Ga Tech has great co op and internship programs, and you might land a job from a co op. Are you okay with living in Atlanta after college?

I can only give advice about Ga Tech. A degree from Ga Tech is a golden ticket to get a job in this region. Very impressive on your resume. Not sure how national that reputation is, if it will get you hired in other areas of the U.S.

If your family has to go in debt to send you to Ga Tech, or if it limits your younger siblings in their college searches, do not choose Ga Tech.

Good luck to you. The world feels like a crazy place right now to all of us.