Top grad mediocre school or middle grade great school?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>In terms of job and earning prospects, is it better to graduate near the top of a mediocre engineering school (eg, in top 40) or in the middle of a world class engineering school (eg, MIT, Caltech, UCB or Cornell)?</p>

<p>My son will face this decision next year. He should have no problems getting into our state uni with full tuition scholarship and be part of the honors college. Given his stellar GPA and HS record, he may also get into a top school. We can partially finance the top school along with getting some help with loans. From a long-term career standpoint which makes more sense?</p>

2

<p>first im not really sure what you mean by middle</p>

<p>but i would say go into the world class engineering school because these schools have a lot of value on them when you go for a job and for some careers they are considered target schools where employers really want students from there</p>

<p>Also if your son gets into a top engineering school then i wouldn’t assume he will be in the middle :smiley: one thing about UCB is that they don’t give much financial aid help as compared to privates.</p>

<p>In the end i would say find the college that has what you and your on are looking for in engineering and offers good financial aid because to be honest to the top 40 schools in itself is very prestigious and he’ll do fine wherever he chooses. Best of Luck to both you and your son. Early Grats as well.</p>

3

<p>What makes you so sure there won’t be other students at the Top 40 school who also chose there due to financial concerns?</p>

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<p>Many of the “world class” engineering schools (like MIT) don’t rank their students at graduation, so what’s the point? Also, I don’t know why you consider an engineering program in the top 40 to be “mediocre”. Anywhere you go, engineering is going to be a difficult major, and if a program is ABET accredited, that levels the playing field as far as quality of curriculum.</p>

5

<p>Thanks to all of you for your thoughts. Maybe “mediocre” was too negative a term for a top 40 eng school. And you are right; I’m sure that school (state uni) will have some students who chose not to attend an expensive private or OOS school due to economic reasons. My son will actually receive a full tuition scholarship to the state uni, but we’ve saved/invested for a private. In the end, it’s all about where they’ll be happy, right?</p>

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<p>No “mediocre” school is ABET-certified.</p>