University of Texas at Arlington or Dallas (UTA or UTD) for Geophysics?

Question

Details: I am down to the wire - I have finished my two years at community college, I have a GPA of 3.9 and I've been accepted at both UTA and UTD ... the commute to either school is equal and I'm going for a degree in geophysics ... which is the better school for Earth Sciences?

Any advice, please! I have to register in the next week. :)

This is from Dallas, Texas.

Answer 1

At this point I have read some of your profile and other questions so I understand that you may have other life situations that dictate why you are considering those two schools.

The best advice I can give you, if you must stay in DFW, is to go to either of those two schools that you consider will be best (I still would give preference to UTD), and do your best. The critical degree in Geoscience will be your Master's degree. Getting into a graduate school depends on having good grades as an undergraduate, having high scores on entrance exams, having excellent letters of recommendation from your undergrad professors, and most of all finding a graduate advisor at your intended school who wants you in his or her program as a student. I can't stress enough how important contacting and getting to know your potential graduate advisor will be to gaining admission to the graduate program of your choice. When you get to that step, don't be surprised if you don't get admitted to schools where you have submitted an application but don't have a personal contact with a professor. The professors really do choose who gets into grad school. Where you get your graduate degree is much more important than an undergraduate degree in the field of Geoscience. While job opportunities outside of the oil industry are available for BS, even in environmental and hydrology, and especially in any research related work an advanced degree is often needed if you ever intend to be promoted.

It is NOT true that there are very few positions available in the oil industry, as one answerer has suggested. (I get cold calls from my employer's competitors regularly) If you have good credentials, there are abundant entry level positions. I've been trying to fill a position for almost a year now. Many companies are now in the position of having to hire new graduates because they can't find any more mid-career geoscientists. This may give the impression to those who hope to change from environmental to petroleum that there are few positions, but the truth is the companies often don't want to deal with the elevated compensation they would have to give a geoscientist who is switching fields at the same time they are retraining that geoscientist. As a new graduate you will have an advantage over experienced geoscientists who are trying to switch fields, at least from my perspective. As a female, you also have at least a perceived hiring preference advantage, especially with the majors who are much more sensitive about these things.

In comparing the curricula of the two schools you have named it seems that Dallas is much better suited for your goals.
Here is the curriculum for Arlington:
http://www.uta.edu/catalog/courses/course-catalog.php?subject=GEOL
Here is the curriculum for Dallas:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/ugcurrent/ugprograms/geos.html
You should note that there are two senior level classes related to geophysics in Dallas that you will not be offered in Arlington. If you are serious about geophysics, this seems to be a good indicator of your best choice.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I have not heard that either school is distinguished in Geophysics. UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) has good programs in Geophysics and Earth Sciences. Hey, El Paso is only 600 miles away from Dallas!