<p>I have been guaranteed admission into the University of California, Irvine and I have been accepted in Cal Poly Pomona. :D</p>
<p>I was wondering, which one has the better engineering program?</p>
<p>I'd go with irvine.</p>
<p>Is there any particular reason why?</p>
<p>Irvine is much more selective, and thus the professors will challenge the students more. In addition, Irvine is ranked around #40 in USNews rankings overall. That's pretty high.</p>
<p>Do you happen to now how UCD and UCSD compare with it? I plan to be a chemical engineer and I'd like a good solid program (besides considering private schools). I know that UC Berkeley has the one of the best chemical engineering programs, but I am not secure in the idea of my getting in. So I'd like to have some options. :D</p>
<p>Good job!!!</p>
<p>I so far applied to two schools and am eagerly & anxiously awaiting the decisions...</p>
<p>A high ranking for a school can be very deceptive. The main problem is that in the field of engineering, all curriculum is standardized according to regional accreditation boards, thus, no matter where you go to school, you will learn the same stuff. Engineering is the same everywhere, and what you get out of it is what you put into it. I was in your position as well, I went to Cal Poly Pomona, but I was accepted at UCI. I chose Cal Poly because it is a "hands on" school where you learn by actually using the equipment you learn about in class. You don't learn about this nearly as much at UCI. Contrary to popular belief, cal poly may be more work than UCI because cal poly has a lab for just about every single science/engineering class that you take, and the labs are what will sap your time and energy. If your main concern is to be a good, practical engineer, go to cal poly. You will learn way more than people on this board would lead you to believe. If you want to be an academic/research type, go to UCI, because it is more suited for that. Most importantly though, realize that between those two schools, either one will bode well for your future as long as you put the effort in. Its not the school thats important, its how well you understand the material that they teach.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I plan to be a chemical engineer and I'd like a good solid program
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isn't University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranked pretty high in this department by USNWR?</p>
<p>where does does cal poly pomona rank?
probably 4th among CSU's?</p>
<p>how accurate or reputable are those US news college rankings?</p>
<p>they had regional west univ:
SLO/Long Beach/Pomona&Chico/Sonoma&FUllerton...
SDSU was comsidered a 4th tier Nat'l Univ</p>
<p>does USNWR explain what "tier" means exactly?</p>
<p>U of MN is ranked very high for engineering. Also, both my parents went there and they both have several friends who graduated with them and are now successful engineers. USNWR isn't everything, but it should definitely be a consideration.</p>
<p>"cal poly may be more work than UCI because cal poly has a lab for just about every single science/engineering class that you take"</p>
<p>This is true. I go to cal poly slo and the amount of labs we have is much greater than what my friends at UC's have.</p>