<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I am studying CompSci right now and have the opportunity with my current college for a guaranteed transfer into Georgia Tech’s engineering dept. The only thing is, I’ve already been in CC for well over 2 years, and in order to fill the reqs, I will have to be here for most likely another full year. This will make it take easily 3-4 more years for just my bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>The plot thickens: I am 27 years old, and I really want to get started with a real career. Do you think it could make a big difference in my professional career if I go to Georgia Tech than a third or fourth tier Uni? For instance, I would like to go to MIT grad school but i was a screw up in HS and didn’t even take SATs/ ACTs. </p>
<p>What would you do in my situation? Take the extra classes for guaranteed admission?</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>Talk to your transfer counselor in the CC. </p>
<p>One year for such a strong program is worth it, imo. You will be better positioned for such a competitive grad program. It would be very difficult to get the same opportunities at a 3rd or 4th tier. So you are talking 3 to 4 years vs 2 to 3 years and you will be nicely set up for grad school or jobs. I’d try now to do something researchy or internship during summer if you aren’t taking too many classes. </p>
<p>First of all, the desire to go to MIT should not be a consideration in your decision. Lots of things could happen between now and your application to graduate school that might change your mind about grad school or MIT. Or MIT might turn you down. So focus on the present and finishing your bachelors. At 27, the sooner you start making an engineer’s income, the sooner you can get on with the other things you want to do in your lifetime. </p>
<p>BrownParent: Thanks for the input. You are right. I need to start doing some projects!</p>
<p>jkeil: That is true. MIT shouldn’t be my goal. I guess what I should mean is the MIT sort of feel. I don’t even necessarily want to go to grad school. I just want to build awesome tech. Best place to start is on my own i suppose! </p>
<p>I want to start my upper level courses but I will not be able to do the transfer with Georgia Tech if I go to the upper level school I was admitted to (florida international university which is definitely 4th tier). I am wondering if I should hold out an extra year at my CC and jump to GAtech or does it really matter? Thanks! </p>
<p>What is the job placement for Comp Sci out of FIU? Have you investigated that?</p>
<p>Have you received a course evaluation from FIU yet? If not, see if you can get one. You need to know how long it will take you to complete your program there. I gather you are in-state in GA. In the long run, it may be easier on your pocket if you complete your degree in GA.</p>
<p>You need to sit down with the advisor at your CC, and carefully work out which classes remain before you would be able to transfer. Do you have enough for an AA or AS but just not enough for the guaranteed transfer in the major you want, or is it that you’ve been taking classes part-time all these years and you’re still pretty far from graduating? Would you need to be a full-time student for a full year at your CC next year, or is it that the courses you need can’t all be fit into this summer and next fall?</p>
<p>This is a guess, and only a guess, but I would guess that the extra income which comes with the Georgia Tech pedigree would quickly make up for an extra year or two of education. FIU simply cannot compare, in any way, to Georgia Tech. Did you know that GT is ranked as the 11th best engineering and technology college – in the world! Look at this website:
<a href=“Subject Ranking 2013-14: Engineering & Technology | Times Higher Education (THE)”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2013-14/subject-ranking/subject/engineering-and-IT</a></p>
<p>Georgia Tech clearly has an MIT feel. I can hardly think of a good reason to skip an opportunity to go to GT, unless you simply think you cannot afford it (are you a Georgia resident?)</p>
<p>If you believe that you can thrive at GT, and that it will cost you no more than FIU, then you might be doing yourself a serious disservice to not go to GT.</p>
<p>Ask the guidance counselor or GT how many students who transfer from your school graduate from GT.</p>