California resident here and am deciding between these two very similar schools for engineering. I’m huge on both schools’ great atmospheres (social scene, athletics surrounding area, school pride). I have heard that Michigan is considered at least a little bit better in terms of undergraduate engineering but I’m wondering how big the difference actually is in terms of the opportunities each would give me in the future, (“doesn’t matter where you go, it matters what you do there” kind of thing) and if that difference is worth the extra out-of-state tuition. I don’t yet have a feel for the specific engineering I’d want to study (applied to chemical at UCLA and the general, first year program or undecided at U of M). Also I’m not sure how much I would feel the effect of the UCs being broke as a student there.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
UCs are not broke. I think these schools are similar, I would say it comes down to money. How much do you have to pay for each school.
about 35k for LA, close to 60k for Michigan
Sure sounds like you’re leaning towards Michigan the way you describe the schools. I think that’s the right choice for you.
I started off leaning slightly towards michigan only l because of the supposed rankings. I just don’t know the importance of those rankings for an undergrad degree compared to the extra 100k I’d have to spend. Then weather and the beach got into my head so now I’m just lost.
Michigan is not $100k better than UCLA in Engineering. Unless your family can easily afford the difference in CoA, I would go to UCLA. If your parents can easily afford the difference, and are willing to do so, then go for fit.
Are you nuts? Michigan at $60,000 vs UCLA at $35,000 for a CA resident who doesn’t know what type of engineering he wants to do ( and has some concerns about the price tag) ? This seems like a no-brainer…UCLA all the way! These are both reknown, flagship, public schools. I wouldn’t pay a $25,000yr premium for Michigan!
I would heed Alexandre’s advice. The UC system, and UCLA, aren’t anywhere near broke. They have certain state requirements that must be met. You must do the research to understand all of the strengths and resources UCLA offers that counter this. Michigan may have a slight edge in certain disciplines, but UCLA has other strengths.
A lot less money, a lot nicer weather and a lot closer to home - combine to make UCLA a lot wiser choice for your undergrad studies. UCLA all the way!
Another reason, perhaps, for Michigan. At the UC’s it is not easy to change majors even if you’re already a student in the College of Engineering. The UCLA website says (in bold red type) “Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee approval.” See http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/chmaj/within-engineering I strongly suggest the OP contact UCLA and ask what the gpa requirement has been recently to change majors.
Let me tell you the story of one UC engineer I knew. Out of HS he had good grades and scores and could have been accepted into any engineering major, but picked ChemE more or less at random thinking it didn’t really matter. The math and science courses you take lower division are challenging. He got B’s and C’s at the start of frosh year, then improved and was getting mostly B’s and some A’s. Doing decent for an engineering student, actually. Sophomore year he decided Electrical Engineering was what he really wanted. He applied to change majors but was turned down because they rank by gpa for the few changes they allow and he was below the cutoff.
Unless UCLA has changed the system and freely allows changing majors (which is why I suggest checking with them), the OP ought to expect that if he goes to UCLA he already has picked the branch of engineering he will study.
I agree with mikemac that it is not easy to change majors within the engineering department after you’ve started unless your grades are stellar, but you will get an outstanding education in any of the fields, and they do have a technical breadth requirement where you must take three eng courses in a different department than your own (all three in same dept though). The UC system has made some cuts that hurt because of budget, but I do not think it affects the school of Engineering much. They are building (another) building called Engineering VI right now, and UCLA works hard to attract outside donations for Eng.
I have no imput on Michigan.
Entry-level engineering is known to be pretty standard in pay from different schools out of college. You might get better connections at Michigan. But I wouldn’t bet 100k on such a bet. I’d recommend going to UCLA.
Looks like Michigan does not require particularly high GPAs to enter any engineering major besides biomedical:
http://advising.engin.umich.edu/declaring-your-major/
At UCLA, changing major within engineering is described here:
http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/chmaj/within-engineering
Presumably, GPA thresholds for admission to a new major depend on the popularity of the new major relative to departmental capacity.
However, the easier change of major at Michigan does come at a large additional cost for you. Would the extra cost require extra debt for you, or squeeze your parents’ household finances?