Hi all! I just wanted some input on whether I should choose UCLA or Johns Hopkins based on my circumstances. I’m interested in pursuing medical school in the future, but I would also like an undergrad degree that could get me a job just in case I am no able to be admitted to medical school. I have no preference for location and weather.
UCLA
-Major: Physics (Can I switch to engineering? Heard it’s impossible…)
-Estimated Cost of Attendance: $9,500 (received a lot of need-based aid)
-One hour away from home.
Johns Hopkins
-Major: Mechanical Engineering
-Estimated Cost of Attendance: $63,000 (received very little aid)
-On the opposite coast.
I don’t know anything about UCLA but let’s do some math: assuming costs remain the same (which won’t happen), then your numbers imply Hopkins will cost you $214,000 more over four years.
See the thread on the UF vs JHU posted more recently than this thread. It is the same discussion and I would select UCLA for financial reasons. If you’re receiving need-based aid then money is a factor and there is no need to risk financial ruin when you can get an awesome education at UCLA (and there are PLENTY of jobs for UCLA grads).
I think JHU is the way to go. You will regret it later on if you choose UCLA. Think about it this way, it’s easier to transfer out of JHU into UCLA than it is the other way around. I recommend enrolling at JHU and seeing how it goes your first year or first semester. JHU even gives you covered grades first semester so you can adjust to college life and the workload.
Unless you (or your parents) are filthy rich, then UCLA is a no-brainer. On top of the significant cash savings, the weather, sports teams, school spirit, city location, and access to internships and other work opportunities are better. IMO, Hopkins only beats UCLA in having smaller class sizes, pre-med prestige, and perhaps undergrad research opportunities. Congrats on getting accepted to both schools!
You’ve probably already made a decision by now, but just to throw my hat in the ring…
We should probably establish that, as far as I know, it is in now way easy to transfer to UCLA from any school. And since the UCs give preference to CCC students in transfer admissions I don’t think that’s the way to go.
For me it comes down to two things
- Can you reasonably afford Hopkins tuition? If not then take UCLA. It’s a great school and you can do very well there.
- What do you want to study. Physics and MechE are two extremely different fields. Where MechE is the stereotypical engineering discipline (focuses on practicality and applications) physics is rooted in theory. Both are great and it is more than possible to be interested in both fields, but you can’t really study both. So if you do choose UCLA you should definitely look at the changing major process.
I don’t think you can transfer to UCLA after one year. @ucbalumnus probably has more information
^this is also true. I’m pretty sure they only accept junior transfers.
Thank you to everyone who provided me their helpful. I really appreciate all of you. Just wondering, if the cost of Johns Hopkins was lowered to around 38K/year, would you all still stand by your decision? Thank you again for your insight!
If you mean comparing $38k Hopkins tuition to ~$9k UCLA tuition:
My answer was not straight “yes/no”, but I would say that the lower the tuition at Hopkins is, the better an argument for going to Hopkins will become. However it all still comes down to what you can reasonably afford.
If it is $38k vs. $9k, I would still definitely stick with UCLA as the savings is still $120k, which is money that can be used for grad/med school in the future. We know a number of students at both colleges and they are generally glad to be where they are, but UCLA students seem to be a bit more engaged in campus life and a bit less stressed out overall.
He already chose hopkins, the better school