<p>Stuck with a decision, with 45K towering over me.</p>
<p>if you are comparing it to UT Austin, id probably stick with UT. But honestly, what are your OTHER options?</p>
<p>Depends on what you are comparing it to. UCLA is proud to point out they are revamping their engineering curriculum to require more breadth. This will give them a better background for engineering in multiple disiplines, and make them quite desirable for grad school. This also means that after 4 or 5 years of undergrad they will have less classes in their major subject than previously required and may be less employable than BS graduates from some other universities. So, the 45K per year undergrad is just a start.</p>
<p>My options are pretty limited. I got into UT however in the natural sciences department. I also got into A&M, and still waiting on other decisions.</p>
<p>I would not pay $45k/year for UCLA engineering...or any engineering for that matter...unless you're rich and can handle the expense without incurring debt.</p>
<p>UT and A&M will provide just as good of an engineering education, if not better. You'll get similar job offers and pay. Don't go into huge debt for an engineering degree.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance...very few OOS students are admitted to UCs.</p>
<p>I'll take A&M over UCLA. In general, state universities have great engineering program. UCLA OOS state is only $27K not $45K, see link below.</p>
<p>^ With housing, total cost per year is pushing $45k for the UCs.</p>
<p>Maybe Hobbie is piling on room & board, etc. to get the $45K figure. As a UCLA grad when it was $435/qrt in-state and $1700/qrt OOS, I can say today-- do the A&M for a fraction of the cost. If you want LA later do UCLA or Cal Tech for grad school. Don't spend the $25K-$45K for about the same education you can get at a fraction of that cost.</p>
<p>Is money an issue for your family?</p>
<p>Getting into UCLA out of state is a HUGE achievement. If your family can afford to help you out with the costs, it's worth considering.</p>
<p>If money is tight for your family, UT and A&M would be more logical choices.</p>
<p>Money may be an issue, I'm not sure yet. It's more of "I REALLY would like to attend this school" with cost the only hindrance from immediately accepting the offer.</p>
<p>I agree with UCBChemEGrad. UT and A&M engineering are better than UCLA, unless you want to work in California.</p>
<p>IMHO he UC system is not worth 40-45K/year. These estimated costs, BTW, come right from the UCLA page UCLA</a> Undergrad Admissions: Fees, Tuition, and Estimated Student Budget While the UC system is a great deal for in-state students, for that amount of money you can attend a private with much smaller classes and more personal attention and counseling. Or, as the OP can, you can attend an in-state school for much less.</p>
<p>I'd also add 2 things, since the OP is interested in engineering. First, engineering programs are nationally acredited by ABET. So what you learn is much more standardized across the country that with, say, history or english. Within a given tier of schools, you'll learn pretty much the same no matter where you go. Second, the drop-out rate in engineering at most schools is well over 50%.
[quote]
the majority of engineering undergrads drop out or flunk out of the curriculum within the first two years. With a few notable exceptions, U.S. engineering schools typically have attrition rates hovering between one-half and two-thirds.
EETimes.com</a> - If I'm happy, can this be EE school?
[/quote]
While nobody can predict what will happen to the OP, given the odds I'd give serious thought to a lower-cost alternative to the $40+K cost of attending UCLA.</p>
<p>Also, since UT and A&M are in Texas, I believe these schools have much better recruiting by engineering firms (oil, energy, computer, etc).<br>
Since the aerospace industry left L.A. in the early 1990s, L.A. is not the engineering hotbed it once was.</p>
<p>I didn't make engineering at UT, i made natural sciences. Also, A&M is not very appealing to me. I guess I'll talk this over with my parents. Thanks for the advices.</p>
<p>One more question, does it matter which undergrad you go to if you're gunning for a masters degree?</p>
<p>^ Yes, I've heard A&M has a very strong school spirit, that does not mesh with lots of people...</p>
<p>Do you have any other options? </p>
<p>Is it possible to eventually transfer into engineering at UT?</p>
<p>
[quote]
One more question, does it matter which undergrad you go to if you're gunning for a masters degree?
[/quote]
Not so much...your grades, GRE/GMAT scores, and recommendations will matter more.</p>
<p>Heck, if I were you, I'd do geology at UT...</p>
<p>Oil companies are hiring geologists and they're making huge money out of college...of course, 4 years from now there are no guarantees...</p>
<p>Did you get rejected by UT engineering and bumped into natural science? That doesn't sound right since you get into UCLA OOS and you are in-state for UT. If you applied to sciences by mistake, can't you appeal for transfer?</p>
<p>UT engineering is a much better deal than UCLA engineering IMO.</p>
<p>@Sam Lee: Yeah, i got rejected by UT engineering and got grouped into natural sciences (undeclared)</p>
<p>@UCB: I'm also waiting on michigan and johns hopkins, but they are as pricey if not more than UCLA, although they have better engineering programs. We will see.</p>
<p>Yes, Michigan will be just as expensive as UCLA. But, I do agree with you that it has the better engineering program.</p>
<p>JHU, if you get in, may be more generous with financial aid...</p>
<p>I'm kinda surprised you got rejected by UT Engineering and you got accepted by UCLA OOS, too. </p>
<p>I still think UT will be the best deal for you...is there any way you can transfer into the engineering program once you're at UT?</p>
<p>Yes, i would have to maintain a certain gpa.</p>