<p>I have been admitted by the departments of Computer Engineering from both UIUC and Bucknell. But I really don't know which to choose. UIUC is more famous for engineering and has cheaper tuition. Bucknell is a liberal arts college that is famous for engineering but cost much more. It has smaller class size and less people. Please help me~ Thank you.</p>
<p>we need more information, OP. what are the costs to you, including loans, for each school?</p>
<p>For me, UIUC is like 53000 dollars and Bucknell is like 61000 dollars.</p>
<p>Do you have other choices? How much debt would be required at each school?</p>
<p>Also, note that Bucknell is a small school with a majority of students in fraternities and sororities, so consider whether you would like going to a school where most of the social scene is fraternity and sorority based.</p>
<p>^ Thank you for your answers. Other choices are UCSD and Dickinson College w/ FA 20k. Since I am planning to study engineering, these two choices are not in my consideration. I think fraternities and sororities will not be a problem for me. What I really want is a great school for me to study engineering, help me go to a better graduate school and get a good job. BTW, I am a girl who wants to major in computer engineering.</p>
<p>Are you instate for UCSD? Why is it not a consideration for engineering? Do you want to be in sorority? UCSD ranks 11 in Computer Engineering and is an excellent school for female in engineering. See article below</p>
<p><a href=“Faculty Profiles | Jacobs School of Engineering”>Faculty Profiles | Jacobs School of Engineering;
<p>^ I am not instate for UCSD. I am an international student. I don’t want to be in sorority. I ask other students at Bucknell and they said that the sorority did not influence their life if they were not in sorority. I don’t think UCSD is a good place for study because it is in CA and the campus is so beautiful…If I go there, I will be thinking of having fun everyday…The computer engineering programs of UIUC ranks top 5. So I consider UIUC as an option.</p>
<p>Oh I see the reason. What do you mean by having fun everyday? Did you NOT know the acronym for SD is Socially Dead(jk). I would pick UIUC if you are international.</p>
<p>Both are very good for engineering. I would first determine if you can comfortably afford the price difference – if not your decision is made. If you can afford both, the determining factor should be the very different environments – size is the biggest difference. Other differences include things like Midwest v East Coast location, D1 sports v smaller scale sports…</p>
<p>I’d pick UCSD over UIUC, honestly. Otherwise, yes, UIUC over Bucknell if you don’t intend to join a sorority.</p>
<p>^ Thanks for all the replies above. They are really helpful. In fact, I have little knowledge of UCSD and it is not in my consideration mainly because compared to UIUC, UCSD is also a public school and has less reputation on engineering but has more reputation on biology. Maybe UCSD has better resources and internships opportunities but since I will go to a graduate school anyway, I will not consider resources at this time. </p>
<p>Buckenll is a liberal arts college that is the reason I consider it. I can have more opportunities to meet professors and blend in the community. The small class size is what Bucknell attracts me the most. I can afford all these colleges but my concern is that if it is worth costing money for me to go to one university instead of another.</p>
<p>To be honest, Bucknell is not known in CA for engineering so I wouldn’t know. However, I’ve worked with UIUC grads.</p>
<p>^ Thank you, DrGoogle. Some liberal arts colleges have less reputation than universities. I understand. I think to transfer next year is an option for me. My application is kinda failed because I applied too many schools and my personal statement perhaps did not show the real me. My grades and ECs are fine. But the results are out of my expectation. </p>
<p>I don’t know if I will have the energy and passion to apply for schools another time. Transfer really costs a lot.</p>
<p>This year admission is hard. I’m glad my kid applied last year. Good luck to you and your decision.</p>
<p>If you want a LAC experience and can afford it, then go for Bucknell. My D really wanted a LAC from the start of her search – she is at one now (not Bucknell so I can’t speak to that school in particular) and she is absolutely thriving on the small classes, close-knit community, great friends, knowing her professors well, doing research on campus as a sophomore, and getting involved in many different activities on campus. </p>
<p>Thank you so much DrGoogle. I think I worked very hard these years but when I see the classmates around me get better results, that really hurts. The application process is really a great lesson for me to learn. And I really appreciate this experience. </p>
<p>If you want close interaction with professors, then Bucknell, but be aware that Greek life dominates social life on campus. Sure, if you’re not Greek, Greeks won’t bother you, 
but your opportunities to socialize and party on weekends will be more limited. Then again it doesn’t sound like you want a very active social life and your goal doesn’t sound like it’d involve intense partying (in the US, “partying” is a euphemism for drinking lots of alcohol and doing loud/obnoxious things you wouldn’t do at other times). Bucknell is a serious university academically but check out the social environment - see what events are planned on campus for this weekend for instance.
Where have you been admitted beside UCSD, UIUC, and Bucknell?
Those three are impressive results by the way.
UCSD is a top tier UC UCSD is overall a better university than UIUC, except for engineering and CS which is superb, and Bucknell is a top LAC with engineering. Not many students would consider the good weather and excellent location a downside. :)</p>
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<p>Just FYI, both UIUC and UCSD are public schools… and both are good at CS/CE. Personally, I would choose between UCSD and UIUC rather than between Bucknell and UIUC… and I highly doubt that good weather, a nice location and a nice campus will result in you not studying, haha. Nevertheless, I’d choose UIUC over all 3… Bucknell in my opinion, doesn’t even compare.</p>
<p>Here is the thing about Bucknell. One of my sons visited there. It is a gorgeous school. Very small town, and the school is very oriented toward the frat/sorority scene. Bucknell is ranked high as an engineering school on lists of engineering schools without graduate programs. However, we found out later that this makes it appear more prestigious than it actually is. When compared to all of the engineering schools WITH graduate programs, it pales in comparison. Since it is more of a liberal arts school, we found out the engineering school has less to offer than universities with more of an emphasis on engineering. </p>
<p>So, you might need to do a little more investigating about their engineering program, since I am obviously no expert on this. Just wanted to offer this info and encourage you to find out more about it.</p>
<p>I recently talked to my counselor who is a big fan of liberal arts education. I am not a social girl or an outgoing girl. Perhaps a liberal arts can change me to a person I really want to become. I want to be a person with outstanding leadership. Some critical thinking skills and writing skills are what I can never get in a big research university. As a Chinese student, I can get in touch with more people who do not have same background as me. If I go to UIUC, I might still be hang out with Chinese students. </p>