<p>Much to my surprise, I've been accepted at UCSB for Computer Engineering and I'm having a difficult time choosing between UCSB and SJSU and I was hoping I could get some second opinions.</p>
<p>I like SJSU as it's close to where I live, it's in the heart of the Silicon Valley, its got a strong Computer Engineering program from what I hear, it's got an accelerated MS program for CE, and its got lots of company connections being in the Silicon Valley and all which leads to better chance of finding a job after I graduate.</p>
<p>For UCSB, it's a UC so it's a more well-known school, and it's got a strong engineering program. As for other properties, I don't know too much about it which is why I'm on these forums. </p>
<p>My main concern I guess is being able to find a job upon graduation.</p>
<p>My question: Computer Engineering, SJSU or UCSB?</p>
<p>A concern I have regarding UCSB is that its often talked about as a party school and I am what you can say, a reclusive kind of person and I prefer just hanging out with my friends and quietly studying… I’m not a party kind of person. The concern is the fear I get dorm-mates who are party people and start hosting parties and whatnot in the dorms. Can anyone address this concern?</p>
<p>just go to SJSU it’s cheaper, u already mentioned reasons why you’ll like the social life in silicon valley. reputation is pretty much even no? SJSU might even have an edge if u plan on seeking work in silicon valley. SJSU has cheaper tuition</p>
<p>it’s not like ur giving up berkeley, MIT, or even UCLA to go to SJSU.</p>
<p>I currently go to SJSU, although not in the engineering department.</p>
<p>Obviously you’re finding a lot more pro’s about SJSU than UCSB. I hear the engineering program is good here, but I think what is better are all the other factors you’ve considered.</p>
<p>It’s cheaper. You know about an accelerated master’s program. You are definitely in the right area to get connections. It’s close to home for you. It’s definitely NOT a party school.</p>
<p>I think your reluctance lies in that it’s a state school, and that as one, it has a reputation as being inferior. Maybe the buildings are a little old and we have some very strange homeless people walking around on campus, but you gotta get over the myths that it’s an inferior school for superficial reasons.</p>
<p>I looked up some facts on UCSB and I see USNews has consistently ranked it decently high in a list of the nation’s best engineering colleges, with schools like MIT, CalTech, and UCB in the mix also.</p>
<p>I’m not leaning more towards one or the other right now… I’m trying to find as much as I can about each school before choosing. Money saved (not trying to sound snobby or anything) is not much of an issue… I feel more concerned about quality of education at each school for CE. Accelerated MS at SJSU is a plus but I am more than happy to go for a BS and then MS and UCSB is I end up picking UCSB.</p>
<p>In addition, my counselor tells me for finding a job after college, SJSU might not have an advantage as I thought it would. She told me many employers will read colleges and start having “first impressions” which effect your chance of being hired. She says UCSB, one of the top 6 UC schools which has national/international recognition with a wlel known engineering program will give a more positive vibe compared to SJSU a state school. Is this true?</p>
<p>UC Santa Barbara is certainly a powerhouse engineering school… it’s ranked #35 on the US News Undergraduate Engineering schools and does have a great reputation. UCSB also has a combined BS/MS program:</p>
<p>As for campuses, I think the two are completely different. SJSU is more of a commuter/local campus set in the middle of a downtown metro area. UCSB is a residential campus set next to a college town. Have you visited the campus? If not, head down there and walk around campus and Isla Vista and decide whether you can see yourself living there the next four years. Do you think you’d grow by being far away from home, or would you prefer to be closer to family? Think of all these questions and it might be easier for you to make a decision.</p>
<p>I would choose UCSB unless your really concerned about cost. UCSB has the better engineering program, location, social life, campus, weather, and probably a lot more goodies. I visited San Jose, and although it has a decent engineering program, i don’t think it compares to the top half of the UC’s. I don’t know if you’ve been to sjsu, but it’s a big commuter campus and I don’t think it has a good feel to it. If your worried about how hard it will be to get a job after graduation, email career services from both schools and ask for the job placement data. My guess is that UCSB has better placement rates, even though sjsu is in silicon valley.</p>
<p>Well here’s the thing about first impressions on schools as employers see it…
you also seem pretty determined on a masters, regardless if it’s in an accelerated program or not. Couldn’t you just take SJSU in undergrad and jump to some ‘prestigious’ college for a masters. Most employers, once you have a masters, can care very little about where you went to college for your undergrad degree.
Since money isn’t an issue, you do still need to put a good amount of weight on the overall vibe of the college. Being that you aren’t a ‘partier’ and you’ve got a little issue with dorms and rowdy roommates, you could be in a little bit of a culture shock at UCSB. It’s a party school, and it’s a party college town. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to vouch for SJSU because I go there, but sometimes it seems the college gets a bad rap when the other options also have their faults.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies guys, keep them coming! Seems like its still somewhat of a tossup between the two.</p>
<p>I have one more question however: I talked with my counselor today and she said CSU’s have a more hands-on approach compared to UCs, which deal with more research and theoretical things. From what I gather from this, CSU graduates seem to be more proficient in current technologies while UC’s are more researching and developing… is this true? I ask because I hope in the future to get a job that helps develop future technologies like CPU’s and graphics cards at like Intel or nVidia and it seems UCSB would be the winner in that case?</p>
<p>I think that would be true if you were comparing cal poly to a UC. Cal Poly is known as a more hands on school, but I’ve never heard that for CSU’s in general. Maybe that’s true, but I haven’t heard it. Honestly, I don’t think its a tossup at all. UCSB is the clear choice in my opinion, unless your strapped for money. And I’m pretty sure you fill out a form or something so you get matched up with roommates that are similar to you. I wouldn’t worry about the party scene too much.</p>
<p>^ the rumor is sort of true. UC’s and CSU differ in the fact that in general UC’s are there for grad students and to prepare ugrads for graduate school/phds. CSU’s are more for bachelor degrees as terminals degrees. This is a generalization especially as SJSU has the accelerated masters but I would opt for UCSB as its more prestigious and more opportunities to do research.</p>