Hello!
I am trying to choose between Berkeley, UCLA, and Northeastern for mechanical engineering. With financial aid, they all will cost about the same. I have visited all of the campuses and like them all a lot. I know Berkeley is ranked highest, but I am a bit worried about the stress and competitiveness. I really like the co op and study abroad options at Northeastern and the smaller size, but I’m afraid the quality of education is not up to par with Berkeley and UCLA. Any suggestions? Thanks! May 1st is approaching too quickly for me right now.
It’s pretty clear what your answer is from what you just said.
Berkeley and UCLA hold similar prestige while Northeastern is way down there. Berkeley is very competitive and stressful. UCLA is right down the middle. I would recommend going to UCLA.
I’d agree on UCLA over Berkeley.
I would say that quality of education versus prestige is different. I don’t think you’re really going to get any sort of significant difference in quality at UCLA - they are both ABET accredited programs which are very standardized. UCLA is a big research university while Northeastern is more undergraduate-focused which could be beneficial.
If you plan to work on the east or west coast would be worth thinking about as well. Regional strength helps.
UCLA still may be the best choice for you given all that, but something to consider.
This may be a subjective question, but are there better companies for engineering (specifically mechanical) in the SF/Silicon valley area or in LA?
There will be a high concentration of companies in SF/Silicon Valley as expected, but going to school in LA or Northeastern won’t stop you from going there on an internship or co-op. There are also a good amount of tech in Boston and LA respectively.
UCLA engineering will be every bit as stressful and competitive as Berkeley engineering.