I am CC student in California
I got accepted to UIUC for EE, with no financial aid ( would be paying $50,000/year ). Also I got an early transfer and would be starting as a sophmore in fall 2015.
I can wait for one more year at CC and go to UCB or UCLA. My counselors have told me I have really really good chances for UCB next year. I would be starting as junior at any UC I transfer ( therefore would be missing 1 year of research work and exposure to a world class university if I want to stay in California ).
Can anyone guide what should I do. Also if we don’t consider the money difference if there too much difference between UIUC and UCB engineering. I mean UCB is considered as good as satnford and MIT by almost everyone, whereas it is hard to find many people who would say the same about UIUC.
thanks for all your suggestions.
UIUC for three more years would be $150,000 at list price.
CC for another year and UC for two more years would be about $70,000 at list price, less if you get financial aid.
Any extra semesters would also be more expensive at UIUC than at a UC.
How much does $80,000 matter to you and your family?
@ucbalumnus but in terms of education is there too much difference between the colleges.
What do u think are the chances of getting scholarships and grants if I can be in my top 5% of my class.
Scholarships are usually offered upon admission to entice admitted students to matriculate. If you were not offered any at admission, it is unlikely that you will get anything later (maybe some very small ones are available to compete for, but nothing that will bridge the $80,000+ difference).
Counselors at UCB have assured me that I would have to at UCB for at least 5 semester, cause many lower division courses are not offered in CC and I would have to complete there. So I would end staying at Berkeley for 1 more year, 1 semester at least.
Doesn’t that add at least 20k to my UC tuition.
I just want to get into that university research environment as soon as possible.
@ucbalumnus thanks for helping me
Even with an extra semester, or even an extra year, another year of CC + 2.5 to 3 years at Berkeley would cost less than 3 years at UIUC. Also, have you checked on UIUC’s transfer credit articulation whether your CC courses are sufficient to allow you to graduate in 3 years?
However, if you do get into Berkeley CS or EECS, then it is usually recommended to take CS 61A (plus another useful course like CS 70, or CS 61B if you have some knowledge of CS from non-articulated CS courses at CC, or EE 16A) in the summer before your junior year. These are typically available during summer sessions at Berkeley. This will make it easier to graduate in four more semesters.
Stay in California. What is your parent income bracket?
UIUC is no better than UCSD, UCLA.
I definitely understand the difference between the tuition I would end up paying. I just want to have best chances to get into top grad school and have enough at any university to build relationships. I just want to ask u guys as per ur experience what would be the value of UIUC EE degree in long term if I choose to go now and paying full fees.
I know no matter what I would up paying atleast 50k extra if I choose to go UIUC.
I talked to the counselor at UIUC and he told me ( looking at my transfer credit articulation ) I can graduate in 3 years and maybe 2 and half.
My parents income bracket is 120k-150k ( my mom doesnt work ).
Plz help me guys @ucbalumnus @coolweather
You would pay about $23K - $25K a year if you go to UCB assuming your parents don’t have other assets besides their home. In the worst case you will pay $32K a year.
https://saservices.berkeley.edu/calculator/Dependent.aspx
You will have as the same academic opportunities for graduate school application as at UIUC if you go to UCSD, UCLA, and UCB. People from other states pay out of state tuition to attend UCLA, UCB.
What do your parents say about the extra $60,000 to $90,000 that UIUC would cost?
Given their income level, it likely means a lot to them, even if they won’t tell you that.
@ucbalumnus @coolweather
my dad is saying its my decision cuz he not going to pay the loan, he is going to ask me to pay for
it. I just want great education and start my own company I really dont care about how much of my salary would be going to loan payments
I just feel that its always better to transfer out of CC as soon as possible. I seriously would be wasting one year in CC, cuz I am almost done with my junior year requirements. Plus UIUC is good school, so it might be worth it is the end.
I don’t know its so hard so decide.
An extra $60,000 to $90,000 in debt on you is a bad idea. Plus, Berkeley is geographically closer to startup-land than UIUC is. Also, founders of startups tend not to take that big paychecks at the beginning, so if you do take a lot of debt, you probably won’t be in a financial position to found a startup until after you pay off your debt. Also, most startups are not highly successful.
Also, debt that large will require a co-signer, usually your parents. Not a good idea, if they are even willing to co-sign.
What’s make you think that going to UIUC will guarantee graduate school admission? You don’t know for sure. You may end up with low GPA and will not be able to go to graduate school.
I know people its a really big decision, but its really hard to stay in CC for one more year. I am almost done with my UCB requirements.
If I go to Illinois I will try to get big internships that pay around 15k and would try to join paid research groups.
@coolweather @ucbalumnus
What are your other options. If you graduate from top 100 colleges, you should be ok for grad schools. Graduates from UCSD as an example, get into MIT and Stanford. It doesn’t have to be UIUC. They also get paid more than $15k for internship.
Those paid internships (which may be harder to get from a distant school like UIUC if you are aiming for Silicon Valley companies) still won’t cover the out-of-state price difference.
I know but would be really hard for me to get those internships if I start as a junior at UC’s compared to a student who has been from freshman.
Whereas at UIUC, I would be starting as a sophomore and would have more time to fight for those internships.
I know its lot of money
@ucbalumnus @DrGoogle
The internship won’t come close to paying for the extra debt.
Also, you can seek internships this summer or next summer while you are still in California (at the CC).
Post #16, I have to read your posting history to get an idea of where you are. You will have no problem getting jobs and internships as a transfer, in fact it’s very hard to get internships as a sophomore. So the kids that came in as a freshman doesn’t have a leg up on you. My kid knows lots of kids with good GPA and have not found internships after sophomore year. After junior year, most students with decent grade get jobs. Plus I think you just came to this country, give yourself time to learn things, there is no need to rush. You get better grades, better interview skill, once you are familiar with the system. I personally wouldn’t go OOS if you were my kid, especially if you don’t have the money to spend $150k.
People I went to UIUC 4 days ago and it was amazing, but no weather like San Diego. I really want to thank you guys for answering my every question and looking out for me. I still talking to my father because I still have time to decide, as we haven’t paid any money yet.
One think i was thinking was i would feel so bad if I don’t get into Berkeley next year. I mean next year would feel like a waste for me. Berkeley is my dream school (more than Stanford), if not for UG i will go there for grad school definitely.
@DrGoogle @ucbalumnus