<p>Got into both for Computer Engineering. I think reputation wise, RPI is probably much more well regard in the field of engineering, especially when it comes to job prospects. </p>
<p>However the social life factor really holds me back. I'm not a party-all-day kind of person, but I'm just like so many other normal people, regular, balanced social life is needed. The comments and reviews for RPI i have been reading online, are really shocking. I don't want to be a complete nerd or having a social circle entirely based on males when i come out of uni..</p>
<p>Let me put it this way - far more people have San Diego as a vacation destination than Troy, NY. There is no way RPI could compete with UCSD as outside activities and weather. I say this as an RPI alum and a resident of Southern CA. When RPI was established in the 1820’s, Troy NY was a nascent manufacturing center. Now not so much. To its credit, RPI has made positive changes over what is does have control over - Performing Arts Center, Athletic Complex. There are plenty of clubs. NY and Boston are a few hours away. The Adirondack Mtns offer remote wilderness, whitewater, skiing, rock climbing and are only an hour or two away. There are many other colleges in the area that are less technically oriented and there are frequent mixers. You will have to seek out the “non-nerds” but they do exist. The new areas RPI is entering such as electronic arts and sustainability design should attract more. But you will have to work for a social life whereas at UCSD it would come with less effort.</p>
<p>My son was accepted but we have to turn it down as it was just too expensive. Maybe transfer in a year or two. It was not a first choice but I sense he is now a little disappointed about not going. That brings up another issue: money. Unless you are getting a good financial aid package from RPI, UCSD has got to be less expensive. I don’t know which one is better for CS. But what RPI is doing with Watson (the AI system that won on Jeopardy and was led by an RPI graduate) is awesome. There is also a state of the art chip fabrication plant being built nearby. Whether RPI is better than UCSD and if the difference justifies the extra cost is a value judgement. I would have trouble justifying a debt of more than 30-40 thousand dollars for any undergraduate degree. But that’s my judgement. On the other hand, RPI makes it far easier than any other place I’ve seen to get a dual BS. The dual BS in Mgt. (business at other colleges) and engineering is a good example. So this would cut the cost per degree in half. Also RPI’s career placement services were first rate for co-ops, internships and permanent jobs. UCSD being a large state school (I am just guessing) would not give the same attention.</p>
<p>If you are from Southern CA and you do go to RPI you will need to mentally prepare yourself for the weather. I would say March - April is the worst since everything is muddy or slushy and you are just sick of winter. On the other hand, when you do get a nice day in the fall or spring you WILL take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Bottom line: They are both great schools. RPI would be hard pressed to give the ambience of USCD (actually it couldn’t). I am more familiar with RPI and know it is doing some cutting edge work in data and decision systems. Consider the value between each.</p>
<p>Finally, I just can’t get over how much people are focused on school prestige. They are like teen aged boys in a locker room. Schools that are very selective are going to have graduates that are going to do well no matter where they went to school. I don’t know how much value the school adds. I would look at things like facilities and opportunities for reseach, projects, co-ops, internships and balance that against the cost to attend.</p>
<p>The new Chancellor for UCSD is well liked and regarded. He is from CMU. UCSD is an up and comer! I think UCSD is the much better choice. Here in Silicon Valley, UCSD is considered a better choice than UCB.</p>
<p>In CS UCSD is ranked 14 and RPI is ranked 47. That is too big a gap to ignore.(USNews)</p>
<p>The MOST important question is where will you thrive for the best ROI?</p>
<p>My DD attends UCSD and DS just turned down RPI for a more typical college campus with better merit scholarship package.</p>
<p>To be honest I’m an international student, so honestly it doesn’t make big of a difference whichever college i go in this case.
Btw, i’m going to Computer Engineering, not computer science :P</p>
<p>@OldEng: I hold no doubt on RPI’s greatness for Co-op, internships or jobs after graduate. At first, I am really inclined on going to RPI, but i heard Troy is a really crappy town, and the comments on the social life is terrible. Once again, not that I party much, just that i believe in the fact that going to college is not just about studying, its also about getting to know more people, broadening one’s social circle. It would be great if you can tell me more about the ‘easiness to obtain dual BS degrees’ tho, that sounds pretty tempting!</p>
<p>@MQD: YA! the ‘silicon valley’ is a factor for me to consider UCSD! (even tho its actually still kinda far from San Diego to Silicon Valley realistically)… you didn’t mention what does your DD major in, but it would be great if you can tell me more about the internship opportunities in UCSD… There is no doubt that RPI has a great Co-op system, therefore it would be awesome if you can describe me the average difficulty to get an internship if i attend UCSD. Also, how is the graduate prospect like…?</p>
<p>DD is a creative so in a different place. If SV is where you want to be then get on the West Coast. It is much much more than a geographic change … it is an attitude and UCSD gets it. 8 hour drive to Palo Alto. RPI is a boot camp and UCSD has a different California approach … more entrepreneurial. DS declined their offer because it seemed like a grind.</p>
<p>It really depends on you. </p>
<p>They are both good schools and you will be a good place at graduation from both.</p>
<p>two very different feels. Troy is a dump but close to Albany and 2.5 hours train ride to NYC. DS really liked his visit but decided against the grind and will consider for graduate school.</p>