I have an admissions offer from florida tech and erau for spring 2012 and the fee from both is 34K and 33K usd (I have scholarship of 14k frm FLTech n 6k from ERAU). I have a decision to make but finances is an issue for me. If i go to either right now i will have to loan 20k a year. my major is aerospace engg and i am an international student. we do not have aerospace schools in my country.
the dilemma is that all that i have read on the internet it seems that FLTech can provide me with another need based 10k while as ERAU won't. Then the co-op program is an issue. I can't find enough details about co-ops at erau. while as FLTech website says that co-ops can earn me 30k. I talked to erau officials and students and they said that it is not possible to increase to scholarship amount and on campus jobs are less too. I am really concerned about the research options available since i will surely attend a graduate school and i want that to be a big school.
Now the worth of erau is known to every one. This is where i can't find any comparisons to fltech on the internet. nobody compares their programs and their prestige. Prestige wise ERAU seems much better but i have a consideration of finances and i plan to enroll in graduate school ryt after undergrad and believe that i will maintain a good gpa at college, my target is not less than 3.7. I plan on a graduate school from CalTech, MIT,GTech and likes.
Please help me choose. i am really getting confused