Texas A&M or UC San Diego

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Greetings.</p>

<p>I got accepted to both Texas A&M (Computer Engineering - EE track) and UC San Diego (Electrical Engineering) and I am wondering which of the two universities I should go to.</p>

<p>I have not visited these universities, so I am unaware how the general moods of these universities are like. I also want to know how the city/town of the universities are like. All I am aware is that San Diego is a city and College Station has a rural environment.</p>

<p>I would also like to know which university helps you build experience and allows you to get acquire jobs easier.</p>

<p>If there are any other things I need to know about these two universities, I would love to hear them.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You left out perhaps the most important factors in your decision:</p>

<p>Your intended or possible major(s) and other academic goals.
The net price after financial aid grants and scholarships (not loans) at each school, and how much student loan debt you will need to have at each school.</p>

3

<p>Of course, besides those considerations, you need to know what type of environment you prefer. </p>

<p>UCSD is an academic type school with little school spirit in an upper-class enclave near the beach.</p>

<p>A&M is a conservative sporty school with strong school spirit 100 miles from three major Texan cities.</p>

<p>Both are in towns rather than cities. UCSD is a misnomer since it is not actually in San Diego.</p>

4

<p>I have never visited Texas but UCSD I have been to. </p>

<p>Contrary to the poster above, I do think San Diego has school spirit. But, it does have a laid back feel and a wide spread campus with great facilities (including a great sports center where Lebron James has hosted a clinic). Along with many other school spirited events, UCSD hosts many ways to meet people and have an amazing college experience. </p>

<p>I think if you want a laid back campus near the beach, UCSD is for you.</p>

5

<p>Definitely UC San Diego. It is much higher ranked and better location but its extremely expensive. So, the answer depends on your financial situation…</p>

6

<p>Hmmmm, let me think College Station or La Jolla by the beach? I think I just might take La Jolla.</p>

7

<p>I agree with the above poster that it all comes down to finances. But, depending on where you live, UCSD is not extremely expensive. </p>

<p>In State tuition is somewhere around $15,000 and with Extra expenses and housing it would be $30,000 which is still less than many private schools. With financial aid and loans, it would probably about $12,000-16,000</p>

8

<p>@sosomenza-So if your main critereon for picking a college is how long you can lay on the beach, then sure pick UCSD. </p>

<p>UCSD is a good school, however, A&M has the higher ranked engineering program:
A&M-16th
UCSD-23rd</p>

<p>UCSD would likely have the edge for Computer/Electrical engineering though. </p>

<p>Keep in mind, engineering weeds a lot of people out. A&M offers more majors, and has an undergraduate top 25 business school which would allow for minors and certificate programs. </p>

<p>Pick based on cost and fit. A&M has a rabid sports fanbase and a ton of school spirit. It’s in a small town, but with 50K students, there’s always something going on. A&M is a short drive from the Texas hill country leaving lots of opportunities for hiking, canoeing etc. A&M is 90 minutes from houston and austin making weekend trips to the cities fairly easy.</p>