Tough Decision: UCLA vs UT Austin Electrical Engineering

<p>I recently learned that I got into both programs. I am actually having a hard time picking between the two. I am still undecided and am not biased to either. Want to get an outsider's perspective on what I should do! </p>

<p>I would be considered OOS for both, so I'm not looking at the money factor. I also did not get any scholarships from any of them.</p>

<p>My background is I'm planning on majoring in EE and hoping to apply for medical school. I realize both Cali and TX have some decent medical schools, but I surmise the underlying undergrad institution in this case does not play a large role on "improving my chances" for medical school as they "cancel" each other out</p>

<p>My opinion is that both schools have close rankings for EE. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>You should probably choose based on where you’d most like to live for the next 4 years or so. </p>

<p>UCLA - Very nice weather, beaches, Westwood, LA.</p>

<p>Austin - Not so nice weather, no beach, Austin.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in med school, why would you pursue EE? You have the potential for a lower GPA when you take an engineering major due to the harsher grading and a lower GPA might make it tougher to get accepted to med schools.</p>

<p>^^ agreed. dont take engineering for pre-med. you might impress someone if you keep a 3.8/3.9+, but if you fall under no one is gonna care come app season.</p>

<p>if you’re into asian girls, ucla for sure</p>

<p>Yeah too bad you’ll be bitter since you won’t have any time for them.</p>

<p>my brother’s in UT Austin, I’ve been there and i really liked it alot. I had been planning on going there for like 2 years but somehow i’ve chosen UCLA. It was a very very hard decision for me. Austin is a nice place, not too big but its not like you feel stuck in some college town. I disagree with the weather thing, I felt it was nice.</p>

<p>thanks for the inputs thus far</p>

<p>Also, btw, I’m not so much interested in the surrounding environment or what each city has to offer (outdoor activities, clubs, etc).</p>

<p>I’m actually more interested in discussing strictly academia, rankings, etc… pro’s and cons with these lenses on…</p>

<p>^I’m actually more interested in discussing strictly academia, rankings, etc… pro’s and cons with these lenses on… </p>

<p>And what folks are telling you is to change these lenses. You are wearing the wrong lenses, having wrong factors, to evaluate potential entry into a med college. While you are wearing wrong lenses, you have taken off hearing aid also, so you are not listening either. Net-net:L it does not matter where you go.</p>

<p>I don’t know about Austin, so I won’t comment on it. If you are an OOS, UCLA is too expensive and over-rated. You should have applied to USC. You would have gotten a decent engg degree, and they would have advised you better for pre-med. Also in terms of EE department, it is one of their more arcane departments, not kept up with modern research. Slowly, they have been moving faculty to other cross functional areas. It is also relatively easier to get into EE (everything at UCLA is tough but EE is relatively easier in terms selectivity). </p>

<p>But back to what others have commented. Here is info from ucla admission blog:
Many inaccurately think, “If I go to UCLA as an undergraduate and earn my bachelors degree there, I am more likely to get into their professional and graduate schools.” Well know that they are completely separate processes. Being at UCLA, like any other applicant, is part of your strengths and qualities, and very few schools at this level guarantee admission to their graduate and professional schools. Thus, you will be considered largely on grades, admissions test performance, life experiences, and application/interviews. So in fact, if you do want to get into UCLA Law, UCLA Medicine, etc, being an undergraduate here won’t give you an added edge–it falls on the shoulders of the individual to be a well-rounded applicant.</p>

<p>

They’re both good colleges and can provide an excellent UG education for you so you won’t go wrong with either one. They both have lots of majors to choose from should you decide EE isn’t for you and they’re both well-respected. Even though you’re OOS for both I assume there’s a cost differential so if nothing else you could choose based on cost. </p>

<p>However, there’s more to college than academics and realize that it’s a place where you’ll be spending the next 4 years or so of your life. As such, as long as you don’t plan to be a hermit, the non-academic aspect of the environment should be considered.</p>

<p>btw - My comment on Austin’s weather was in comparison to the weather at UCLA. Relatively speaking, most people would prefer UCLA’s weather. But not everyone cares about the weather.</p>

<p>

so you plan to lock yourself in your room to study 24/7/365 and only venture outside to goto class?</p>

<p>if you truly like both equally, then location/environment/cost should be the determining factor. if you TRULY dont care about that at all, then just pick whichever is ranked higher and be done with it.</p>