Transfer from Mt San Jacinto
Major: Electrical Engineering
GPA: 3.65
Major Prep: All completed after Spring
Accepted : CSULB,CPP,UCI,UCD,UCSD
Denied: SLO, SDSU
Waiting for UCLA
Was recently accepted to UCSD and I’m considering the opportunity. At the moment i have a three way tie between engineering schools. My picks being Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
I like CPP because of the hands on approach, but it turns out in my case that UC’s will be cheaper than cal states. Also scared it will take long to graduate.
I like UCI because I have two friends, who were admitted electrical engineers, planning to attend so that accounts roommates and study partners. One look at indeed shows over 500 engineering internships so the industry is definitely there.
At UCSD, i like the social aspect of the school and its engineering ranking is amazing.
Can anyone give me some insight on UCSD or even some opinions on my situation.
I’d say UCI. Few of my friends think UCI is the best UC 
If you exclude Berkley and UCLA then I’m inclined to agree with you.
Their higher average financial aid, good surrounding industry, surrounding area is beautiful, rent is cheaper than ucsd, and ranking is good.
Only downside I’ve seen is that it is a commuter school
@laccstudent
Why do you say it is the best?
I’m in the same position, Pomona didn’t give as much aid as I had hoped. You would think UCSD would have a better engineering program, but I’ve heard a lot of good improvements have been happening to UCI with the new President being chosen back in 2013. Unlike UCSD, which has an over-enrollment problem in its engineering department.
Woah! didn’t hear about the over enrollment at UCSD. Truthfully, was trying to avoid that cuz at CPP I have to join honors to hopefully graduate on time.
One thing I saw that made me excited for UCSD was their ECE hands on classes. That sounds pretty neat. Still Im checking out UCI tomorrow. UCI is looking better and better so we will see how I feel about it.
The overenrollment is an issue for UCSD if you’re not already in the major. Since you’ve already been accepted to ECE you’ll have little trouble getting classes you need, access to professors, and opportunities for research or internships. The Jacobs School of Engineering is world-renowned. As far as the area surrounding the campuses goes, UCI itself is pretty but Irvine is suburban strip malls; UCSD is a bit more eclectic but La Jolla and San Diego are breathtaking.
Don’t let your friends pressure you into attending UCI, if that’s a risk. You’ll make new friends, roommates, study partners no matter whether you go to Irvine or SD. There are also a literal shitton of companies that recruit for ECE from both Silicon Valley and San Diego itself (the latter, particularly, are biomedical device and aerospace companies that want electrical engineers). That said, the rent is probably cheaper in Irvine
Thanks man! really liked this answer. Went to see Irvine and thought it was really amazing, but was given a deadline by my friends to go for UCI since they are going for graduate housing. I’ve decided to just let them move on ahead and make my decision on my own time. Definitely going to transfer day to see why UCSD is ranked higher.
@dicehead happy to help! Lmk if you have any questions in the time being, my girlfriend is a transfer so I could help you out with that lifestyle too