<p>I actually did apply to UCSD and got accepted, but I don’t really want to go there… I live by the beach myself, and I’m not too interested in the beach scene after 10+ years of it. I know UCSD is good for engineering but I don’t feel like it’s the right fit for me. Maybe I should reconsider? And I thought Berkeley was ranked 2 for its engineering school? According to USNWR anyways :P</p>
<p>I originally didn’t want to stay in California, but now that the choices are upon me, I know I will end up missing the weather and my family. USC would be an hour away from my parents, Berkeley would be 6-8 hours but at least it’s not across the continent.</p>
<p>I am currently an engineering student at USC and also was accepted to Berkeley for engineering. My decision came down to where I felt was the right fit for me. Visiting the campus really helped. My USC financial aid package was a huge plus. </p>
<p>Berkeley’s engineering may be ranked higher, but USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering is extremely challenging. I have also had many opportunities to supplement my classroom learning by being involved in research labs on campus, being an integral part of our school’s Engineers Without Borders’ water project, attending an awesome leadership retreat in the mountains hosted by the engineering school, touring engineering companies to learn about what engineers do in the “real world” (just last week my classmates and I traveled to an offshore oil platform), and obtaining internships through Viterbi career services. I feel extremely prepared to enter the workforce next year after developing strong engineering, communication, time management, and leadership skills at USC.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how it is at Berkeley but USC’s engineering program is a 4-year program.</p>
<p>Good luck with your college decision and make the most of your college experience wherever you choose to go because it flies by!</p>
<p>Wow, thanks so much that was extremely informative!! I’ll actually be a pre-med student, so I won’t be joining the workforce immediately upon graduation, but the work you’ve done as an undergraduate really interests me! I definitely think that I will be choosing USC if the FA package is decent, though I kind of doubt it will be (still hoping though!)</p>