<p>So I'm a graduating senior this year living in Northern California (San Jose area) and I have a couple options for my education in the future:</p>
<ul>
<li>UC Berkeley: My parents really want me to go here because it is ranked the highest of all my colleges in MechE (2nd) but from what I've heard, the environment is really intense and there is a lot of competition in engineering (something I've had to deal with alot in college). I'm not bad in that type of environment but I would rather have to deal with less stress.</li>
<li>UCLA: Although it isn't ranked nearly as high in MechE, I only hear good things about their engineering department. Also, the culture seems to be more vibrant than UCB's and LA has more going on than Berkeley.</li>
<li>Michigan: also ranked very high for MechE (5th), it is closeby to the automotive industry (somewhere i may be interested in joining after graduating). I also have a close friend who's currently studying there and he loves it there.</li>
<li>CMU: After visiting in August of last year, the campus and city of Pittsburgh made me feel at home. Their MechE program is also ranked high at 11th. The campus is also small and would probably give better personal attention.</li>
</ul>
<p>My parents want me to go to UCB b/c of its ranking and proximity to my house (about a 1 hour drive) however I'm leaning more towards the other three because it would give me a chance to live on my own away from home (personally, I'm quite tired of the environment in NorCal). Also, I do not entirely trust the US News Rankings... Money is not a concern to our family either so they don't mind paying CMU's tuition.</p>
<p>After graduating, I would like to pursue an MBA or an ME. I'm also interested in the progress of electric cars in our society as well as robotics and aerospace.</p>
<p>So the question is: Which of these schools should I spend my next four years at?</p>
<p>Your parents are obviously very wise and you should listen to them. ;)</p>
<p>
Umm, not really. I’d argue that Berkeley is a college oriented town and a more intellectual environment. Berkeley is centered around the student and more pedestrian friendly than Westwood. Also, football is played on campus (except for this upcoming season while they renovate Memorial stadium).</p>
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Umm, not really. I’d argue that Berkeley is a college oriented town and a more intellectual environment.
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<p>I agree that Berkeley is more college oriented. </p>
<p>More intellectual? UCLA is probably more jock oriented, and therefore your statement has some truth, but not by much, I would think. </p>
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<p>I’d agree. LA is a bigger city, but this could be a good thing, as UCLA students can mix with non-Bruins to prevent that insular feeling of only meeting people from your school. </p>
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<p>Why is Cal playing in AT&T? The Bears should play in Oakland Coliseum…much better fit – Cal and Raider fans have so much more in common. See the bikers and gang-bangers rushing after the raider games to catch BART. ; )</p>
<p>Is Cal more intellectual? I’d say so, but there isn’t a material difference in this trait – the way you state things is such as to denote a large diff. </p>
<p>Who says UCLA students have to hang with other college students? There are young professionals all throughout the Westside.</p>
<p>As I purposely avoid any baseball references…</p>
<p>That the students shouldn’t fall prey to these people, whom you consider illigitimate, or that you think these are the predominant “professions” of the Westside, or… </p>
<p>Anyway, you’ve seen Cal’s median family income shoot up quite quickly in just the last two or three years.</p>
<p>Both schools are trying (and succeeding) in bringing in full-tuition payers…which would then mean higher limits to daddy’s supplied charge cards.</p>
<p>There are plenty of people at both schools that can experience the “good life” at both schools, not everyone of course.</p>
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I’m leaning more towards the other three because it would give me a chance to live on my own away from home (personally, I’m quite tired of the environment in NorCal).
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<p>Even though UCB would appear to be the right choice academically, I cannot stress any more how important this should enter in the final decision.</p>
Why do you try so hard debating subjective statements regarding how some people feel LA is better than the Bay Area?</p>
<p>What you described, college town & intellectualism, does not necessarily equate to a “vibrant culture” nor does home football games necessarily disprove that “LA has more going on than Berkeley”. There is plenty going on in both San Francisco and LA that isn’t going on in the other. For example, we have the Staples Center and the Lakers. </p>
<p>The descriptions are actually very vague and there really is no premise for an argument.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would chose UCLA. From semi-personal experience, my brother was making almost the exact decision last year and he chose UCLA. He loves it there and the rigor is perfect. He doesn’t get too stressed, and feels if he was as UCB he wouldn’t be as happy. The fact is, is that all four of them are great schools, but since you’re from Cali, you can potentially get an extremely good education for more or less a third of the price (of cmu and umich). The opportunities you get with UCLA are fantastic, I’d go for it! The program may not be as good as a couple others, but it’s like choosing between Harvard and Princeton, in the end it won’t really matter THAT much, you’ll still be going to a great school either way.</p>
<p>Also, why would you want to be in PA or MI, or even Berkley if you could have LA weather!?</p>
<p>thanks for all the responses. I still have some questions though:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Out of my choices, I have a feeling that Berkeley’s MechE program will be the toughest to go through (something I had to deal with in high school anyways). I know that engineering itself is a tough subject to study through but I’d rather spend my time pursuing other interests as well with some free time. Which of my schools has the “hardest” Mech E program?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it worth me visiting UCLA?</p></li>
<li><p>When I went to visit CMU in August, the city and campus just felt like home to me… should I take this as a sign and just go for it?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it too late to apply for financial aid? my mother didn’t apply earlier because she thought it would hurt my admissions chances.</p></li>
</ul>
I think we went over that the latter point really only bothered you in the ‘Why does everyone hate UCLA?’ thread. lolz</p>
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There’s nothing to lose. While you may not be as excited over the university, it’s not like a visit to UCLA takes as much effort as a visit to Northwestern or Carnegie Mellon either. </p>
<p>It’s only a half day’s drive over from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and you could always write off the visit as a day trip to LA if you don’t like the university.</p>