UT Austin ECE VS Purdue EE

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For better community input, please provide the below details about your college offers:

Net price per year at each college, after applying scholarships and financial aid grants.

Purdue COA: about 45k

UT Austin: about 22k

But my family can easily afford both schools with no sweat so money is not a factor

Maximum parent contribution per year.

They are paying for my full college, and they told me money is not a factor as they already had more than enough money set aside for my college

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

UT: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Purdue: First Year Engineering (Purdue has you choose major in second year)

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

UT: main campus

Purdue: main campus

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

I want to do Electrical Engineering and then pursue my masters in Electrical Engineering, along with my MBA

If not a frosh admit finishing high school, indicate status (e.g. sophomore level transfer, junior level transfer, frosh after gap year(s)).

Freshman Admit about to finish high school

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).

Domestic student from Texas

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

The biggest factors I am looking for are which one has better study abroad opportunities, research opportunities, which on has better quality of education, which one has better job placement after graduation and internship opportunities, and which campus is more welcoming and easy to get involved in.

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.

I was able to visit both colleges, and I have to say that UT is a lot bigger college with a stronger campus culture, better robotics program, and more open community.

Purdue on the other hand is a lot more quiet, but also very open and very very strong in the research department with plenty of engineering resources and a focus on engineering. The people there are very nice as well.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?

I applied to UT Austin because of how strong the robotics program is and their awesome social scene and culture, along with study abroad opportunities.

I applied to Purdue because of their top notch overall engineering program, job placement, and amazing campus vibe and people, along with their study abroad opportunities and research opportunities.

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As far as academics, UT ECE since they are peers (perhaps UT ECE has slight edge), I do not see a need to pay higher. For other fit reasons or to go away from home you like purdue better then it is your personal choice.

3

These are very much peer schools for your intended major. Have you done a deep dive into the four year plans of study? Looked closely into the offered electives, concentrations/minors? You can also look at career outcomes, companies that recruit on campus, starting salaries, etc…

In terms of study abroad, Purdue has GEARE - GEARE : Our Programs - Office of Professional Practice - Purdue University which combines study abroad with internships which is really cool but I don’t know if UT has something similar.

I have a Purdue engineering grad and I can share that the things that swayed her were that she loved being at a STEM focused school where the center of their universe revolved around engineering, she was a big fan of the well supported co-op program and how many engineering students participated (over 30%), the big recruiting fairs (one of the biggest in the country), the overall strength of the career center (and just in general the career readiness focus), the hands on classes from day one, and she really didn’t want to be in a city. It was the perfect fit for her.

Only you can decide which is the better fit for you!

PS. Happy to answer any Purdue specific questions.

4

Research can be done most anywhere. For an MBA, you’ll work for a few years first. Where you go isn’t relevant. Abroad - you heard about Purdue, I linked UT. I also linked career outcomes.

I’d choose UT. But only for this reason. You have a major. At Purdue, you’re not assured the major you want although some are easier than others to get. I like the sure thing.

5

You may want to find out how competitive EE secondary admission at Purdue is if you do not meet the automatic admission 3.2 college GPA.

6

EE is not a capacity capped major at Purdue. As long as the student has above a 2.5, they should be able to get their first choice.