Berkeley or UCLA for Civil Engineer Transfer

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

Guys I need your honest advice! I got into both UCLA and Berkeley for Civil Engineering. I’m transferring from a California Community College, and have finished all major prerequisites, but have NOT finished all my GEs for either school. I am also a musician living in SoCal. I’ve been playing for 11 years now and am 20 years old. Though I enjoy engineering, I want to at least try to pursue my music career for a couple years around LA or so right after graduating. Thus I would prefer to graduate faster, in order for me to start pursuing my musical dream. I am planning on continuing posting music videos each month, so I’d want a school where I’d have a little more down time. I have a few questions.

Questions:

  1. How long will it take me to graduate when I transfer to either school?
  2. Which campus life is better and why?
  3. Because I grew up in SoCal, I want to ditch my car and be able to walk most places. Which is better and why?
  4. Which schools offers better engineering courses (i.e more interesting projects, more hand-on, ect)?
  5. Which school would offer me more time to work on my music videos?

Thanks!

2

Just go to Berkeley, it’s lit!!

3

Why are you even in engineering if you want to pursue music?

EDIT: Yeah, I absolutely understand. One feeds the hand, the other feeds the soul, right?

4

I think OP is one of those people that enjoys the concepts and has the engineering mindset, but also has a passion for music. I think he’d rather have a usable bachelor’s and be able to do something music-related at the same time.

5

Yes, you guys are right. I have the interest in engineering, and I’d like to come out of university with a useful degree. But my passion and heart stays with music.

Btw I’ve visited Berkeley since posting this and I’m slowly convincing myself that I like UCLA better

6

Yeah man, I got into Berkeley aswell (for mechanical engineering). I went up for the weekend, but honestly probably going to turn it down. It just didn’t feel right for me.

I’m from LA, so I might be a bit biased since it’s closer to home.