Georgia Tech ECE or UMCP Robotics

[Alok Rao]

So I have got the following admits:
1. Georgia Tech Fall 2016 in ECE, and I plan on taking up systems and controls

2. UMCP Masters in System Engineering, and I plan on taking Robotics.

 

Now I plan on pursuing  a career in robotics (I aim to do a Ph.D in Robotics). Keeping this in mind, which of the above should I take. Please keep in mind the following:

1. Degree and College Reputation.

2.Internship, RA and TA opportunities.

3. Which degree would strengthen my chances of securing a good Ph.D program.

4 Job Opportunities 

Kindly also leave an explanation.

Thanks

[blacknighterrant]

Georgia Tech should be better for everything. 1. Based on ranks alone, Georgia Tech is more highly ranked in every single type of engineering. It is also has more relevant research (Georgia Tech papers are cited more often) and has an extremely well regarded robotics and electrical engineering program. In addition, an ece degree is more marketable than a systems engineering degree (systems and control vs systems engineering are totally different; systems and control is very specific and is considered a lot harder, systems engineering is very broad) (also someone with an ece degree can get systems engineering jobs, but it is much harder for a systems engineer to get ece jobs. 2. Unpaid internships are useless and based on research do not really help you get jobs or relevant experience, co-ops are more useful and GA Tech has a stronger co-op program. In terms of RA and TA opportunities, you can already email professors and try for them, but if you didn't get them to start with don't hold your breath and expect to get one/make your decision based on the idea that one will come your way (hopefully it will, but it is never guaranteed); That said GA Tech has a higher overall research expenditure than Maryland, but a lot more students. By comparing the numbers it seems that it would necessarily have to be harder to get an RA or TA at GA Tech. 3. Honestly your master's gpa, rec letters, and research experience will matter a lot more than which of the two you chose. That said the professors at Tech are more highly regarded overall so you may have slightly better chances of getting good rec letters there. An ece systems control degree would look better than a systems engineering degree and what you learn could be far more relevant depending on what you want to do related to robotics. 4. They are probably both fine in terms of job opportunities, it is nicer to live in Atlanta though and you could get a job there more easily if that is where you wanted to stay, in terms of employment at major companies not near the two schools, both degrees would look good with Tech probably coming out slightly on top. Honestly the school reputation will play less of a role there than the degree type and the ece degree would go a lot further. GA Tech also probably has a stronger alumni network considering the sheer number of students that have studied there and the quality of the program.