<p>hey guys
I've been accepted to all the three schools for engineering, basically for computer/electrical engineering at all three places and I'm having trouble trying to decide between them. some points -
1. I'm international so cost isnt a deciding factor. (They all cost the same)
2. I won't be able to visit any of them
3. cold weather (in the case of michigan) isnt a negative point for me.
4. I see myself as not necessarily staying in the engineering field and i would like to do business for grad study
5. apart from academics, I'm not a huge party person but I'm not an introvert either. I love sports, movies, etc.. so good basketball, football programs might be a factor along with location, surroundings, etc.</p>
<p>So, basically, if anyone out there can help me out, I would appreciate it.</p>
<p>All three fit the bill. They are all excellent. Where does your gut tell you to go? I think Michigan’s student population is more affluent and worldly than Texas or UCLA, if that matters at all to you. Also, UCLA is located in a major city, Texas is located in a huge college town while Michigan is located in a mid-sized college town. You can’t go wrong. Let us know what you decide.</p>
<p>haha yeah. this is one problem I am very glad to have.</p>
<p>I am international but I have lived in Dallas for three years and I have been to Austin a couple of times. Don’t remember much about it but I do remember that I liked the city. Have been to LA once but only as a tourist and not been to Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>One question I have is because of the size of the university, is it difficult to get classes that you need to graduate in four years?</p>
<p>I am not sure about UCLA or Texas, but at Michigan, there is almost never difficulty registering for a class that you need. That being said, Engineers usually require one or two extra semesters to graduate due to additional curricular requirements. Are you going to come in with many credits (AP/A Level, IB etc…?).</p>
<p>UCLA has the largest amount of international students I believe among these schools if that is a factor for you. Texas probably has the least given its location.</p>
<p>“That being said, Engineers usually require one or two extra semesters to graduate due to additional curricular requirements.”</p>
<p>I am an engineer and I am graduating a semester early (with more credits than I need). I know at least two engineers graduating a full year (2 semesters early).</p>
<p>I am not saying that graduating early is the norm, but it isn’t hard to do. As long as you took a sufficient amount of APs/IB/A Level/etc. , do well on a language test (I got about 55/80 and still get 8 credits), don’t change your major, and plan your schedule, then graduating early shouldn’t be hard to do.</p>
<p>@Alexandre is that extra one or two semesters more of a Michigan thing or is it pretty common everywhere? and I’m sadly not coming in with any AP or IB credits. </p>
<p>and the number of international students isn’t a big deal for me</p>
<p>"@Alexandre is that extra one or two semesters more of a Michigan thing or is it pretty common everywhere? and I’m sadly not coming in with any AP or IB credits."</p>
<p>No, it is not a Michigan thing, it is an Engineering thing. That is why schools with large Engineering programs have lower 4 year graduate rates. </p>
<p>If you enter college with absolutely no credit, I think finishing in four years can be challenging at any university. As 777Blue77 points out, if you come in with enough credits, it is possible, but most students require an extra semester or two.</p>
<p>Most of the international engineering students I know came in with little or no AP/IB credits, and yet they graduated in 4 years without taking any extra terms. OOS tuition is just too way expensive to stay longer. Trust me, it can be done. I used to be a chemical engineering student too.</p>
<p>Definately go for UCLA. Awesome location. Great employment(one of the best in the country). And you can watch the LA Lakers games! Plus its higher ranked in everything!! Good luck. </p>
<p>and with regards to Berkeley, I have applied and I am waiting for the decision but I’ve heard lot of things about its cut-throat competitiveness and the inability to get classes you need so I’m frankly not looking at it as an option (even if I do miraculously get in)</p>
<p>Inability to get classes as an EECS major?! I’ve never heard that. You can search the Berkeley board and see how many are complaining about not getting classes and graduating on time - you won’t find much.</p>
<p>Berkeley gives credit for AP tests, so that can help waive some lower division requirements.</p>
<p>I would not be worried about getting classes at Berkeley more than at your other options.
I think Berkeley EECS is a stand-out program and if admitted you should seriously consider it.</p>
<p>I hear the terms “cut-throat competitiveness and the inability to get classes” on many of these CC posts (UM and other CCs). My boy is a second semester junior in Computer Engineering at UM and has never experienced any of these issues. Yes, the kids are all very bright (hi SATs. ACTs, GPAs) and high achievers or they wouldn’t have chosen the engineering field. Regarding class selection that has never been a problem. At UM and I suspect UT and UCLA as well the sequence of courses (program guide) is pretty much spelled out for you. You do, however, have to have an ideal of the track (e.g. embedded systems, chip design, computer architecture, etc) that you wish to pursue in your junior and senior years. He will graduate in 4 years but it hasn’t been a walk in the park </p>
<p>I used to think Michigan was cold, but then I moved. Trust me, there are places that are much colder, I’d trade what we have here for Ann Arbor winter any day. </p>
<p>I’d take traffic any day over what Michigan was experiencing when the polar vortex was happening.</p>
<p>I agree that you have great options OP, but I’d take a good look at UCLA. After you’re done doing engineering there, you could probably make a fairly easy transition to its Anderson School of Business. And if you want to work for a while afterwards, there are plenty of other great business schools in California including Marshall, Haas, and GSOB.</p>
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