Need Help deciding...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
1

<p>Hi guys, First of all just want to say im new here, and glad to be apart of college confidential. Little bit bout myself: HS senior, 28 ACT, 5.53 gpa out of 5, currently in calc bc, got a 4 on AB ap test junior year.</p>

<p>So, here's the deal.
I got accepted to UIUC Civil Engineering, and UIC Computer Science. To be honest, i'm not sure what engineering i want to do. I originally applied to UIUC Comp Sci, but they said there weren't enough seats, so i got moved to Civil engr. </p>

<p>The problem is that i might want to even minor in business, and i was thinking about post-grad. I know it's a long way, but i thought that UIC, since it is in Chicago, would have higher number of opportunities for me. But i know that it's not that known for its engineering and that UIUC is better. The thing is though, that i feel that UIUC is really competitive and that it might be more tough to be a better candidate for jobs,intern,etc. Can anyone that is going there, or that has gone there give me a better idea of the school. I always thought that i would go to a better engr school, UIUC, but now, I'm thinking UIC would be a better choice. (more opportunities, easier for me to switch majors). But people say that it's not a good school. I'm getting really frustrated choosing between the 2 schools, and need better opinions on this. Thanks guys:)</p>

2

<p>UIC is a good school, but Urbana is the state flagship university. Their engineering school is top notch, taught by top professors, and internationally known as one of the top engineering schools in the world. Firms know this. They recruit there nationally. If you decide to go on to graduate school recommendations from most UIUC professors will carry much more weight than those from UIC. Even a 4.0 in engineering from uic, while impressive, will not garner you the same gravitas as a UIUC engineering degree regardless of your gpa. Recruiters will wonder why you didn’t go to the state flagship, even if they attend a UIC job fair. If you have been admitted to Urbana Engineering, you should go there and challenge yourself. It’s an opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up. I am not denigrating the quality of an engineering education at UIC mind you, but it just isn’t valued as highly as an Urbana Engineering degree is. I hope that helps.</p>

3

<p>To be honest, im not sure if im looking at this the right way, but here’s how i look at it. I’m trying to be honest with myself, and i know that from my act score, i was one of less competitive applicants. (i think the recommended minimum is 30-32), i didn’t even secure a spot in CS. i know i can switch later, but it’s not guaranteed, and with UIC, i feel that I would have more choice basically. i don’t know, i think im just getting all of the, “UIUC is really tough” reviews really into me…</p>

4

<p>Look, my daughter’s ACT composite went up 4 points after tutoring of only 16 hours…That tells you that doing well on the ACT means practicing to the test. It is a very poor measure, in my opinion, of your achievement level in high school. You got into UIUC because of your GPA, and your GPA is not a mistake. It took you 3 years to achieve it afterall, as opposed to a 3 hour ACT test. They wouldn’t have admitted you to UIUC Engineering if they didn’t think you could make it. You likely didn’t get into CS because they were overbooked. As Drusba says, its an impacted major. You did make it into Engineering, however, so go with it.</p>

<p>Is it hard? Absolutely, and that’s good. Can you do it? UIUC Engineering thinks so. Why don’t you? You’ll be challenged, and you’ll have to work hard, and in different ways than you did in high school most likely by using your professor’s and teaching assistant’s office hours, study groups, and time management will be absolutely necessary. While other students will have more time than you most likely, you won’t be a slave to study, and you’ll, as most engineers do, have plenty of time for other activities.</p>

<p>If you hold up your grades, an intra-college transfer into CS is much easier to accomplish than a transfer between colleges. And frankly, if you were to stay in Civil Engineering, UIUC has always been highly ranked in that discipline. Do you realize how many bridges, roads, dams etc have to be rebuilt, repaired, replaced in this country?..</p>

<p>You’ll always be able to transfer into UIC, and/or into another college at UIUC, but to be down on yourself because of a three hour test is ridiculous. Show them, and much more importantly, you what you can do. I don’t know you, but unless you were bribing your teachers for that weighted GPA, then you have the discipline that it takes to push yourself to do well in college, and you’re taking the math classes that you need to take to do well in engineering. So, decide to do it, and then carry out your plan. It’s as simple, and as difficult, as that.</p>

<p>One other thing. I’m not sure what you’re talking about by more choice at UIC. After college, it’s who chooses you. Also, if you get an engineering degree, those graduates are sought after by many business investment and consulting firms. You’ll also have the ability to obtain a one year masters in business technology. I’ll post a link in a sec…</p>

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<p>See: [Home</a> : MSTM Program : University of Illinois](<a href=“http://www.ms-techmgmt.illinois.edu/]Home”>http://www.ms-techmgmt.illinois.edu/)</p>