<p>Hello all i am really in need of some help here. I am going to try to pursue a degree in computer science next year and i have got two options. Pursuing it at San Jose State University or UC Santa Barbara. I am really leaning toward SJSU, it's a bit cheaper, less than a hour away from home, but i will be living on campus.Also have a few relatives at SJSU. I've heard so much about it being in the heart of the silicon valley and was wondering is this a legit claim? I really want to know if me going to SJSU instead of UCSB is really a detriment to me finding a job after graduation? Please help thank you</p>
<p>P.S-Is the whole UC>CSU theory prevalent here?</p>
<p>Please explain why the OP would regret SJSU? </p>
<p>Yes, SJSU is in the heart of Silicon valley, look on a map. SV companies hire quite extensively from SJSU, it’s engineering program has a good reputation. I’ve hired, and worked with many SJSU grads, some were good, some not so good. Just like any other school. I think the biggest difference is that the CSU programs are more hands on and less theoretical than the UC programs, I like this myself. I suppose it depends on what kind of engineer you want to be. If you want to go into research then the theoretical education is better. But most engineers don’t do research, most design new products based on known technologies. Maybe 5-10% do actual research. </p>
<p>My personal opinion is that your job prospects will be slightly better with SJSU due to the proximity to employers. If people disagree I’d like to hear why. I’m a hiring manager, and I don’t care if the candiate is from Cal, SJSU, UCSB, etc. Convince me you are the right person for the job and I’ll hire you, I don’t care where you went to school (as long as it’s a legit 4 year program, not a buy-a-degree school).</p>
<p>I’m currently interviewing for an entry level test engineer. I did phone interviews with 2 UCSB students, didn’t like either one. They didn’t present themselves very well. I always ask “why should I hire you” which is an easy question IMHO. Both of these guys stumbled badly and couldn’t come up with a decent answer. At minimum they could have said “I’m a hard worker, I like to learn new things, I’m really smart and I’ll apply myslef to the job, I’ll always get teh job done, I am very dependable, I have high standards for myself, etc. etc.” Seriously sell yourself a little. Yes it’s a small sample size. So what’s your counter argument?</p>
<p>After the first year on the job nobody cares what school you went to. Job experience is king. 1 year of good on the job training trumps just about any 4 year degree.</p>
<p>Go to SJSU. Want to save more money? COMMUTE THERE. It’s such a waste of money to live on campus if you’re less than an hour away. You’ll get a job soon.</p>
<p>If you wanna stay cheap, go to SJSU. If you wanna go to a better school and have a WAAY better college experience, go to SB.</p>
<p>Simbot - You just interviewed 2 bad candidates. The UCSB curriculum was obviously not to blame for them not being able to answer a simple question.</p>
<p>Depends on your goals. If you want to get into research/grad school, UCSB would be the superior option. If your only goal is find employment after you graduate, then I would stick with SJSU. They have a well regarded engineering program around Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>Yes I agree that I had 2 bad UCSB candidates. My point is that going to a particular university alone will not get you a job. You have be able to sell yourself, and prove to the employer that you will be able to do the job they want you to do. The school you attended is secondary to this. Therefore choosing one school over another because of perceived “prestige” or ranking should not be the primary reason to choose a school. </p>
<p>I agree that UCSB will provide a better college experience. Its right on the beach in a beautiful area. Who would’nt prefer that over downtown San Jose? That’s not the same as getting a better education, or making yourself more desireable to employers.</p>
<p>All these questions about should I go to this school or that school seem kind of silly to me. People put way too much emphasis on choosing a school based on it’s ranking. Many schools will give you a good education. It’s up to you, the student, to get a good education not the school. It is what you make of it. </p>
<p>I do agree that if you want to go to grad school, or specialize in some cutting edge field of study, then your choice of school is more critical. If you want to get a BS and start working ASAP as a rank and file engineer, then a state school will serve you just fine.</p>
<p>Yeah i want to get to work and start collecting experience and maybe get a job where they would help me also pursue a masters at the same time. thank you all for the replies</p>
<p>As far as employers visiting the career centers of universities goes, UCSB may have more prestige, but SJSU is local to “Silicon Valley” employers. Being local means recruiting is convenient and cheap compared to traveling to recruit. UCSB’s prestige level may not be as high as that of some other universities that companies travel to recruit to (e.g. UCLA, USC, UIUC, UTexas, MIT, CMU. etc.), so it would not be as high on the list when companies are doing “away” recruiting.</p>
<p>There have been several threads re: Should I go to SJSU or UC__? A number of good points have been made, but here’s a different angle to think about. My son is a third year ME major at UCLA. He’s been able to get all the classes he needs, and will graduate in 4 years without any problems. His best friend from high school is a third year ME major at SJSU. He’s had tons of trouble getting his classes, and it’s going to take him somewhere between 5 and 6 year to get his degree… Something to think about…</p>
<p>I’m an EE at SJSU. This year my classmates and I are getting interviews like the flood gate’s just opened. And don’t worry about class size, I have 10 people in one of my elective classes.</p>