<p>So i have a decision to make.Right now I'm majoring in comp sci and I am debating between UC Irvine and Cal Poly Pomona. UC Irvine is the more prestigious one but I will have to pay $9372 out of my own pocket so I will probably need to get loans. If i go to cal poly pomona I dont need to pay anything at all by myself and my mom said she will pay for my car insurance. what im really unsure of is if the student loan debt is worth going to UCI.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to both UCI and CPP as well as several other schools. In your major, CPP really holds its own and has excellent internship and job prospects. I think that you are jumping to a conclusion that is somewhat incorrect when you say that UCI has a better reputation than CPP particularly in your major I know a number of CPP grads that went on to excellent corporate positions or grad schools with no problems at all. You will never have to defend your degree with anyone based on the reputation of the school. My assumption is that the $9372 that you are talking about is a reoccurring annual expense. If that is the case, you will be close to $40,000 in debt after four years at UCI. Please keep in mind that it can take five years to graduate in your major so the cost will be even higher. If I am wrong and the total bill after four years will be only $9372 than that is a different story and of far less significance.</p>
<p>What I suggest is that you decided not based on money, but your learning style and professional goals. CPP will give you a hands on practical education that will prepare you for a job as a working professional sooner than a UC. The school specializes in preparing you for a career and many employers prefer that over the general education offered by a UC. They do such a great job at it that certain employers recruit heavily from CPP. There are many CPP grads at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California Edison, Honda, etc., etc.</p>
<p>UCI is more oriented towards being a research institution and preparing you for grad school than practical application in the workplace. UCI has great connections with the OC business community and I do not want to mislead you by saying that UCI will leave you totally unprepared to work. That is absolutely not the case. However, the focus will be more on general education and research as opposed to CPP. The two schools have a dramatically different approach to teaching methodology and the choice will be very easy once you understand the distinction between the two schools and realize which one is a better fit for you personally.</p>
<p>I would evaluate the actual programs themselves, the effectiveness of the career services centers with internships and jobs and base the decision on that. If you choose solely based on money you may regret it later on.</p>
<p>From my perspective CPP is the superior choice for your major if you want a practical hands on education and ample internship and job prospects. If reputation is still an issue for you, then apply for CPP’s Kellogg Honors Program and that will boost your resume dramatically and give you access to many extra classes and perks (including priority registration). It may be too late to apply now, but you can always apply once you are on campus.</p>
<p>If you want a more research based education with more GE requirements and plan to go immediately on to grad school rather than getting a job, than UCI will be a good choice too. Hope this helps. </p>
<p>A downside of CPP is the 4-year graduation rate (10-11%). Granted, it’s because they educate engineers who generally nede 5 years to graduate, but it’s still pretty low. </p>
<p>Are the $9372 at UCI the total contribution you and your family are expected to make, or is it ON TOP OF what your family would contribute? Because this looks like the Expected Student Contributions at UCs: Typically, you’d take on $5,500 in federal loans, work during the summer and during the year ($3,500) and the rest would be from expected student savings. However if your parents can contribute, it could be less for you. But if it is on top of what your family is expected to contribute, go to CPP, try to get into the Honors College (apply now, see if you can get in right away; if not, apply freshman year) and take the 4-year pledge so that you aren’t among the kids who need 6 years to get their BS.</p>