Best University for Engineering?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone,

I’ve been super stressed out about which university is the best option for either Computer or Electrical Engineering…
I have narrowed my options down to the University of Washington, University of British Columbia, and University of Florida. Which one do the employers (internationally) particularly like to see, and which one carries the most prestige?

I’m looking for a college that is fun and as low-stress as possible, but at the same time well-known.
Just what is the best school overall and why?

Thanks for any responses!

2

Have you been accepted to all of these?

Have you figured out what each of these would cost you?

3

I’ve been accepted to Florida but still waiting on the other two. I am confident though, because Florida is supposed to be harder to get in to…

Cost isn’t an issue since they all cost relatively the same in my situation.

4

UW but I doubt employers outside of the local area of the school will distinguish between them.

Pick based on fit and where you plan to live and work.

5

Anything specific about the universities? :slight_smile:

6

Anything helps…

7

Go to the UW and UF forums and post any questions you may have, but first, browse through the post, you may learn a lot. It’s best if you have specific questions (culture, stress, housing, job placement, program, etc.)

Are you an international or Canadian student? Otherwise, why are you interested in the University of British Columbia?

8

I’m a dual citizen of Canada and the US, so both options are reasonable for me. I’ve calculated the costs of going to each university and they are nothing outstandingly different price-wise.

Thanks for the suggestion about posting on the UW forum. I’ve moved this discussion there so I’d appreciate your responses there: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-washington/2058930-best-school-for-engineering-p1.html?new=1

9

Are you sure costs are similar? As I understand, if you are Canadian, your cost for UBC is something like $9,000 Canadian Dollars. That’s a big difference from going to UW or UF OOS/Foreign, which will cost you more than $30,000 USD for tuition alone.

And are you sure UF is harder to get into than UW’s Engineering school?

If you are looking for international reputation, check out the WSJ/Time world university ranking. UW stands out.

10

With admissions it’s very difficult to compare UF to UW, as they have very different methods and prioritize different factors. For example, UF’s holistic admissions puts much more emphasis on non-academic factors, and admissions is done to the university and not to the college. UF freshman can choose any major, after being admitted to the University.

I wouldn’t use UF’s acceptance as any predictor for UW. :slight_smile:

Good Luck!

11

Actually the domestic tuition for UBC is $5000 Canadian per year, which in comparison with in-state schools in the US, is dirt cheap. I am a Washington resident, and for Florida I get in-state tuition because my dad lives there, and I would live in an apartment that my family already owns in Gainesville.

So aside of all that, cost isn’t really an issue for me. I’m mostly worried about the reputation and college experiences between these schools.

12

Lucky you … got 3 affordable options with 3 world class institutions.

I stand by my previous statement on world reputation. UW first, British Columbia close second, Florida distant third.

13

Thanks. You’re right I am fortunate that I’ve got so many options for college.

That ordered list of colleges is exactly what my parents told me :))

Does anyone have any specific experience/advice of what it is like going to any of these schools? How do you make friends, get good grades in large classes, etc.?

Again, all responses are greatly appreciated and I will do my best to respond to each one.

14

Seattle is very hot in computer science right now. It will likely be easiest to get Microsoft and Amazon internships there.

15

I am aware of this, but I would not want to live in Seattle apart from university studies simply because I live here now and really dislike the area. In the future, I see myself living and working in either Canada or Europe.

16

Wouldn’t UBC or another university in Canada be more heavily recruited by employers in Canada?

17

For sure, that is why UBC is one of the three universities I am considering.

At this point, I am still really just learning about the universities so any advice or personal experiences about what engineering at UBC, UW, or UF are like would be super helpful to me. What did you wish you knew before you started?
What did you like, what didn’t you like?

Thanks so much.

18

In Canada, engineering is a professional degree, and requires formal qualification. If you want to work as an engineer in Canada, your best bet is going to UBC, or else it could be a hassle to get re-certified with a foreign degree to work as a professional engineer.

19

True…but are you sure they cause much trouble for engineers that study in American schools?

20

Not an engineer myself, but I went to UBC. Everyone I knew who did engineering + co-op there landed a great job, Likewise with friends who did co-op at UofA. In Canada, the co-op is crucial. Most people land jobs with firms they did co-ops with. On the other hand, I also know people who didn’t do co-op. It was very difficult for them to land their first job. Canada is still a conservative hiring environment. Relevant job experience is key. If they can’t predict how you’ll fit into the company, it’ll be hard to get an offer. Honestly, a US degree just isn’t super valuable in Canada. Prestige in Canada is UBC, McGill, etc. unless you’re going to MIT or Stanford, recruiters just don’t really know how the (albeit good) state schools in the US stack up.