I can’t decide between the two schools! My intended major is either architecture/design or engineering. I like UCI for its prestige and educational rigor, but I’m not too sure I will enjoy the campus environment, or that it will be the right fit for me. UCI is also way too close to home. On the other hand, SFSU has my major, industrial design, and has a great location. However, I have been reading a lot of negative reviews about SFSU with its class registration, poor campus life etc.
I live about 15 minutes away and am not a fan of the university. It’s mostly a commuter school that I’d have a hard time recommending to someone unless they already lived in SF. It’s not a particularly pretty campus, and there’s absolutely no school spirit.
The area immediately around campus is residential except for a shopping mall next door. You have to hop on the Muni light-rail and head downtown (30-40 minutes) to find anything exciting to do.
During the 80’s and 90’s, I used to take a lot of night and weekend classes at SF State that were open to the general public, and they were pretty good. Around 2000, things started to change, Class sizes exploded, students weren’t engaged, professors seemed unhappy to be there, so I stopped going. I’m not sure how things have changed since then. The school did seem to be greatly affected by the budget crunch a few years ago, but my impression is that it’s getting better.
That said, their Industrial Design program does have a good reputation, and I work with a lot of SF State grads who are as good as anyone else I work with.
@simba9 Do you know if any of those grads liked SF State?
The 4-year graduation rate at SFSU is 13%. To a large extent it’s a commuter school in an incredibly expensive city. From both an academic and social perspective UCI is by far your better choice.
@fogcity Is this low graduation rate due to transfers?I know UCI is known for their engineering programs, but do you by chance know if their art school is any good?
There are many reasons why students don’t finish in 4-years, this at SFSU as well as at many other public colleges. Students work, sometimes even full time. Some are older married students with families. They take time off. Their priorities change and college may not be their top priority. Etc.
I don’t know. I’ve never heard any of them talk about their experiences there. They were all local residents, though, so they were probably commuters.