UC Davis or Univ of Minnesota (main campus) for EE/Engineering graduate?

College Search & Selection
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<p>(Hope this does not show twice, I seem to lost the message first time, trying again).</p>

<p>I am trying to decide between UC Davis and Univ. Minnesota (main campus, in Minneapolis) for doing graduate study in EE (or in Engineering in general).</p>

<p>Pluses for UC Davis:
1. Quarter system, which I prefer over semester system.
2. fees are little lower for me than UMN. (I am a California resident)
3. No snow, so easy to commute to school in winter, parking is easier at school.
4. Near the bay area, one hr away. Twin-cities seem to be a bit isolated.
5. no mosquito like in Minneapolis
6. Ranked nationally at 41 (US news), UMN is 61 But in engineering ranking UMN around 24 and UCDavis around 32 and in EE, UMN is 20 and UC Davis is 40.</p>

<p>negatives:
1. Rent more $$, no high rise apartments like near UMN.
2. Too hot in summer (but so is Minneapolis?)
3. small town, might be a bit boring to live in, but Bay area is only 1 hr away.</p>

<p>Pluses for UMN
1. Seems to be higher ranked in engineering.
2. Less rent $$, high rise apartments near campus, very nice.
3. cost of living overall, less than California
4. less heat in summer than Davis?
5. Live in larger town (Minneapolis much larger than Davis, which I like)</p>

<p>negatives:
1. Snow and cold in winter. Stuck in apt all winter can't drive?
2. Seem to be isolated up there, no big cities close by. only Minneapolis.
3. mosquitos !
4. Minneapolis less safe than Davis?
5. I read it is very hard to find parking at school or it can be very expensive? So must take the bus or walk. (Walk in freezing winter to school?)</p>

<p>So, I am not sure. I never lived in Minneapolis. UMN seems like a good school, may be even little better than UC Davis in engineering? But worried about Snow and cold, and feeling stuck there whole winter not able to go anywhere because everything will be shut down and driving on snow is not something I like to do.</p>

<p>Any one out there went to either school care to comment on which one I should pick?</p>

<p>thanks for any advice
hep43423</p>

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<p>Where do you live now? What weather are you used to?</p>

<p>While you may not be able to get to much if you are uncomfortable with snow driving, most cold-weather cities do not shut down when it snows because they are used to it and have the infrastructure to manage snow removal / road maintenance.</p>

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<p>Most cities out there are very good at clearing major roads. 95% of the winter all major roads will be clear and easy to drive on. Back roads might be more smow-covered/icy and can be tricky. The cold is something else but most natives just go about doing things as normal. You can get very used to anything 20 degrees. Below that and with wind added it gets tough and you just don’t go out unless you must. That might be a few weeks total out of the winter. Dowtown has a series of encloded heated walkways between all the buildings so you can go everywhere without going outside. Also have the Mall of America. UMinn sports are much better than UCD if you care.</p>