Is this the right decision?

[jjmcray]

Just want people's thoughts on this.

I was accepted into Baylor University, and it's a pretty reputable and (world?) renowned college.

I want to be an engineer, but Baylor's engineering school isn't very big, and it doesn't even offer the particular engineering degree I want. Baylor is also better known for it's medical school.

Recently I was also accepted into Colorado State University's engineering program, which DOES offer the particular engineering degree I want, AND they are better known for their engineering school.

So my question is, would it be a bad decision to turn down a very reputable school for a less reputable school, just because it doesn't offer the particular degree I want? Or should I just change my degree? (For example I want to be an environmental engineer, but Baylor doesn't offer that. However they do offer mechanical engineering)

[Sage]

Reputation smeputation. If you are really interested in that which you pursue, you'll find yourself learning more than what they teach anyway.

[2D]

Pursue what you want. Reputation is just stupid. You'll learn more if you want to learn, rather than forcing yourself to get what you don't want to get.

[INFERNO]

If you want to go and get a Master's or Doctorate, then as long as you go to a university that isn't a shithole it doesn't matter that much. Reputation may be taken into consideration but if you get good marks in the university, then the reputation isn't that big of a deal. If you want to go Colorado State or Baylor, then there are factors to consider other than merely reputation, such as cost both of tuition and if you have to move somewhere closer or on campus.

You could also pick whichever one, such as Baylor, do first-year there and see how you like engineering at a university level. Chances are if you don't like it at a decent school, you're not going to like it at a better school. Furthermore, perhaps you find you do still like engineering but a different type. I know the engineering programs are all known for having little flexibility but I assume that first-year is the same for all engineering programs, with maybe an added course or two for the specific branch of engineering.

So my view is consider more than reputation before you pick one. It seems like you're settled for engineering either way and people aren't going to care where you got your engineering degree from as long as it was from a decent place. If you get a Master's, Doctorate or professional certifications, all of those go beyond your Bachelor's and so people aren't going to care that much. As long as you perform well, get good grades and are happy with it, the reputation shouldn't be the first thing that is considered.

[jjmcray]

Well Colorado State is cheaper than Baylor, which is another reason I want to go there instead.

But see I've also heard of companies just throwing out applications from people who earned their degrees from the "less reputable" colleges...

Here in Texas everyone knows what the top colleges are, like A&M, UT, and Baylor. We also know what all the bottom colleges are, like Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, etc.

But since I don't live in Colorado I have no idea of what CSU's "status" is.

[Kahn]

A. Colorado State is cheaper.
B. Colorado State offers the degree you want.
C. Colorado State has (Like you said) a better engineering program.

That should answer your question.

[jjmcray]

Yes, but for some reason I feel like the fact that I have no idea of it's quality of education/reputability outweighs the rest of those factors.

[AncientCatastrophe]

Pursue the one that most interests to you...Even if you study in a highly reputable school but you aren't much interested in what your studying, you'll have a hard time with it so pick the one that you are likely interested to make your studying fun,enjoyable and quite easy. :plane:

[INFERNO]

Well Colorado State is cheaper than Baylor, which is another reason I want to go there instead.

But see I've also heard of companies just throwing out applications from people who earned their degrees from the "less reputable" colleges...

Here in Texas everyone knows what the top colleges are, like A&M, UT, and Baylor. We also know what all the bottom colleges are, like Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, etc.

But since I don't live in Colorado I have no idea of what CSU's "status" is.

Employers may reject one's degree based on where they went to, however, I think this is mostly if you went to a rinky dinky university or college.

Yes, but for some reason I feel like the fact that I have no idea of it's quality of education/reputability outweighs the rest of those factors.

One of the things I used to help my decision was to get a copy of McLean's magazine and in it it rates universities of Canada on numerous scales and later does a one-by-one analysis with feedback from current students on the pros and cons, along with other statistical information. I'm sure the US has some version of this.

[Ballin2much]

based on the fact that they are in two different climates, which do you like, warm or cold. how do you think im gonna make my decision between northwestern and duke?

[jjmcray]

I grew up in Colorado and moved to Texas... I can handle either climate. I can't seem to find any information on the net about CSU's status or "ranking" and when I do, it's different from the other statistics I see on different sites...

[Obscene Eyedeas]

Reputation is over rated. Over here at least i know its bout ur drive and ur ambition over some course that drives u in life. Reputation is nothing its the grades u achieve in ur chosen course that determines peoples opinion of ur degree. Remember that its nt the colleges name they look at its hw well u did in ur course