I’ve gotten acceptances from both unis for CS (I’m so thankfullll) and I’m currently debating between these two universities. As an intl’, Rutgers will end up costing around 11k more per year.
I’ve heard from some friends in US that purdue has more prestige, but also people say that rutgers has a equivalent program and is also well known in some parts of US.
I’ve heard, however (I haven’t been able to find exact figures) that Purdue as a high drop out rate for CS, and that the course is hard. Also with the issue of not having as much direct (physical) access to industries at Purdue compared to rutgers. My father is also on the fence about the decision, as we have very close family friends who live near Rutgers, whereas he has some close colleagues who live in Chicago, which is a few hours away which might make it inconvenient in case something comes up.
I’m not too sure which one to decide upon. Any insight would be extremely helpful!
Congratulations! You will get a great education at either school. I don’t think you should worry about prestige as both schools are very well known and respected in the US.
CS will be challenging no matter where you go. They wouldn’t have accepted you if they didn’t think you could succeed. The important factor in your success will be how much you take advantage of the opportunities and resources that are offered to you. These are big schools and you will have to work hard to go to office hours, supplemental instruction sessions, tutoring, and join clubs. There will be so many options but no one will make you do anything. If you are proactive, you will succeed.
While Purdue has a lot of international undergrad students (12%), it is majority white (63%). Rutgers has a similar proportion of international students (10%), but fewer white students (36%). So the ethnic diversity will be markedly higher at Rutgers.
West Lafayette is a nice town, and I like it a lot. It is pretty rural and there is really nothing outside of the town. It’s an hour away from the nearest big city (Indianapolis) and is a couple hours away from the huge city (Chicago), but there are private shuttles that can transport you. Rutgers is not rural and is in a more convenient location for travel. There are closer big cities that are easier to access with lots of transport options (train, etc.). Some people like the rural setting of Purdue and feel safer, while others like the more cosmopolitan and convenient New Jersey.
Yes, Rutgers is closer to industries, but Purdue will also offer good networking and career opportunities. Do you want to stay in the US after you graduate?
Both are great schools and I think you’ll have good experiences at either. You can make your choice based on how much the price difference matters, and how you feel about the location of each school and their proximity to things that are important to you.
Would the extra $11K per year make a big difference to your family’s finances? If not, it sounds like you’re leaning toward Rutgers and you can feel good about making that choice! You can’t go wrong here, because they’re both great options.
The retention rate at Purdue is actually quite high (over 91%). I just answered another poster on another thread that while academically rigorous, Purdue has a ton of supports for students, you’ll just need to avail yourself of the help and it’s a very collaborative environment between students.
One of Purdue’s strengths is with their career center. They have many industry partnerships and one of the largest career fairs in the country. I’d encourage you to look through their website as there is great information there, along with links to career outcomes. https://www.cco.purdue.edu
Certainly people have location preferences, but the concern about the drop out rate and access to industry is unfounded at Purdue.