Hello
I recently got into ASU as a Biomedical Engineering major. Do you think Ira A. Fulton school of engineering is better or Bourns College of Engineering. I’ve heard a lot of good things about ASU engineering and they are ranked higher than UCR in engineering. What do you guys think?
Not sure, but any thoughts on where you want to live/work upon graduation? I’m guessing ASU hires very well into Phoenix and UCR perhaps hires better in So Cal.
Arizona has severely cut its education budgeted including for ASU, whereas California funds it’s universities. Unless you also got into Barrett I’d pick UCR.
@MYOS1634 I thought that California cut UC budgets that’s why they are accepting more out of state students?
It did 10 years ago, but it’s been putting money back into the CA system. The issue is that the budget per student has not gone back to what it was 10 years ago. But this is unlike what’s happening in AZ, where the issue is dire (except for Barrett, which has been somewhat preserved).
Actually UC Regents has instituted a limit on OOS admits for the UC’s to give in-state California a higher priority. UCR still has room for OOS applicants but UCLA/UCB have been capped at their current limits.
UCR has a smaller Engineering program with smaller class sizes than ASU which is huge.
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-uc-limit-nonresident-students-20170306-story.html
Depending upon your financial situation and if you get into UCR, you cannot go wrong with either school but if you applied to Barretts Honor college and was accepted, then I would lean towards ASU.
I toured the ASU Fulton School of Engineering with my D19 and was very impressed. I definitely did not get any impression that they were hurting for money. In fact one item that impressed me was the “Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative” where they basically offer paid research opportunities to undergrads. The faculty is incentivized to offer these positions to undergrads because the faculty get additional stipends for doing so. https://furi.engineering.asu.edu/. I don’t know anything about the UCR program but I would not worry about funding issues with ASU engineering.
Also I know anecdotally of several instances of ASU engineering students who start out with Barrett Honors because of the perks like registration priority, but then decide as upperclassmen to finish without the honors component because it’s extra work (thesis, etc.) and they feel they have more than enough opportunities without it.
I really appreciated the smaller class sizes and personal touch as a UCR alum from back in the day. However, you cannot go wrong at either one. Best to take a tour of each to help solidify your decision.
@Gumbymom ASU engineering is ranked 38th in the nation while UCR engineering is 83rd. By these numbers do you think ASU might be a better choice?
Like I stated in my other post, you really cannot go wrong with either school. I am not a big fan of just using rankings to select a school. US News has ASU at 45 and UCR at 61 overall for 2018, so not that much of a difference. I would definitely visit each school and meet with students and professors from Engineering department to get an idea of their programs. You are trying to determine a good fit based on academics, finances and social scene so only you can decide what is best for you.
Congratulations on the ASU acceptance and if you are accepted to UCR, then delve deeper in making this decision.
Both schools are ABET accredited so their programs will be very similar in their teaching structure and content.
Thank you for your help.
@vandad: these rankings tend to be for grad school although peer quality in upper level engineering classes is likely to be better at ASU. If you’re admitted to Barrett it allows you to avoid the problems and pitfalls linked to the cuts (and once you’re in upper level classes you can just drop Barrett). If you’re not in Barrett there’s no advantage to one over the other. Abet accreditation ensures high quality content and high expectations. The first two years at ASU without Barrett would likely be tougher than at UCR. Look into support services (by request, on demand?) Tutoring, math center, writing center… As well as career center services.
General ASU tutoring info: https://tutoring.asu.edu/
Fulton Engineering Tutoring info: https://tutoring.engineering.asu.edu/courses-tutored-times
Fulton Career Center info: https://career.engineering.asu.edu/
As far as I can tell, the main benefits of Barrett for engineering are that you get priority in course selection, have access to honors only sections of certain courses, and you live in the Barrett dorms (and have the best dining on campus). The Barrett dorms will have students of various majors. If you’re not in Barrett, as a Fulton freshman you can live in the new Tooker House dorm which is all engineering students: https://engineering.asu.edu/livehere/
Apples to oranges as there are 71,000 students approx at ASU and 25,000 approx at UCR. There are going to be differences due to that in the department, campus life, and name recognition etc. If going on rankings alone
they were close 45 Arizona state and 61 UCR on Best Engineering 2018 from US News. That could be based on a number of factors. Where are you from and are costs all equal?
@readthetealeaves I live an hour away from UCR. If I get into UCR, I will probably attend because I will get in-state tuition.
@Vandad I hope you get in to UCR. It will be a fine choice and definitely worth it with in state tuition
@Vandad…I was also about an hour and a half away and took advantage of instate tuition when I was at UCR. Bourns College of Engineering is a great program! Best of luck on admission and keep us posted!