UCLA Engineering Q&A

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
61

<p>mikemac,</p>

<p>yeah i plan to visit both campuses before making any decisions. regarding the article, what does it mean that 1/3 graduate, as in 2/3 fail, switch majors, or a combination of both (the article link doesn't work for me). thanks :)</p>

62

<p>


I would choose UCB EECS, but that's just me. :rolleyes:</p>

63

<p>


You're not wrong... Even though UCLA may be ranked 23rd while UCB is ranked 3rd in undergraduate engineering, the difference in overall quality of undergraduate education between the top 5 and top 25 engineering schools isn't significant. Furthermore, all majors in both schools are ABET accredited; you'll learn the same core topics for your major at both schools.</p>

<p>By the way, can you send me a list to those rankings you referred to?
It's been a while since I've seen anyone post undergraduate engineering rankings. :rolleyes:</p>

64

<p>


UCLA doesn't offer an Industrial Engineering/Operations Research major... I can't answer your second question -- it's not like I can go around asking my friends which schools they were admitted to/rejected from four years ago. :rolleyes:</p>

65

<p>USNEWS Ranking (2006): Engineering.</p>

<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs: (At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate) </p>

<p>Rank/School Peer assessment score : (5.0 = highest) </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 4.9 </p></li>
<li><p>Stanford University (CA) 4.7
University of California–Berkeley * 4.7 </p></li>
<li><p>California Institute of Technology 4.5
U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign * 4.5 </p></li>
<li><p>Georgia Institute of Technology * 4.4
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor * 4.4 </p></li>
<li><p>Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 4.3
Cornell University (NY) 4.3
Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)* 4.3 </p></li>
<li><p>University of Texas–Austin * 4.2 </p></li>
<li><p>Princeton University (NJ) 4.1
Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison * 4.1 </p></li>
<li><p>Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.9
Northwestern University (IL) 3.9
Texas A&M Univ.–College Station * 3.9
Virginia Tech * 3.9 </p></li>
<li><p>Pennsylvania State U.–University Park * 3.8
Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY) 3.8
Rice University (TX) 3.8
Univ. of Minnesota–Twin Cities * 3.8 </p></li>
<li><p>Duke University (NC) 3.7
Univ. of California–Los Angeles * 3.7
Univ. of California–San Diego * 3.7
Univ. of Maryland–College Park * 3.7
University of Washington * 3.7 </p></li>
<li><p>Columbia University (NY) 3.6
Ohio State University–Columbus * 3.6
University of California–Davis * 3.6
University of Pennsylvania 3.6 </p></li>
<li><p>Harvard University (MA) 3.5
North Carolina State U.–Raleigh * 3.5
University of Florida * 3.5
Univ. of Southern California 3.5
University of Virginia * 3.5 </p></li>
<li><p>Brown University (RI) 3.4
Case Western Reserve Univ. (OH) 3.4
Iowa State University * 3.4
Univ. of California–Santa Barbara * 3.4
University of Colorado–Boulder * 3.4 </p></li>
<li><p>Arizona State University * 3.3
Dartmouth College (NH) 3.3
Lehigh University (PA) 3.3
Michigan State University * 3.3
University of Notre Dame (IN) 3.3
Vanderbilt University (TN) 3.3
Washington University in St. Louis 3.3
Yale University (CT) 3.3 </p></li>
<li><p>University of Arizona * 3.2
University of California–Irvine * 3.2 </p></li>
<li><p>Colorado School of Mines * 3.1
Rutgers–New Brunswick (NJ)* 3.1
University of Delaware * 3.1
University of Iowa * 3.1
University of Missouri–Rolla * 3.1
Worcester Polytechnic Inst. (MA) 3.1 </p></li>
<li><p>Clemson University (SC)* 3.0
Colorado State University * 3.0
Drexel University (PA) 3.0
Illinois Institute of Technology 3.0
Michigan Technological University * 3.0
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY) 3.0
University at Buffalo–SUNY * 3.0
Univ. of Massachusetts–Amherst * 3.0
University of Pittsburgh * 3.0
University of Utah * 3.0 </p></li>
<li><p>Auburn University (AL)* 2.9
Boston University 2.9
Northeastern University (MA) 2.9
Polytechnic University (NY) 2.9
SUNY–Stony Brook * 2.9
Syracuse University (NY) 2.9
Tufts University (MA) 2.9
University of Illinois–Chicago * 2.9
University of Tennessee * 2.9
Washington State University * 2.9 </p></li>
<li><p>Brigham Young Univ.–Provo (UT) 2.8
Clarkson University (NY) 2.8
Kansas State University * 2.8
Oregon State University * 2.8
Tulane University (LA) 2.8
University of Connecticut * 2.8
University of Houston * 2.8
University of Kansas * 2.8
U. of North Carolina–Charlotte * 2.8
University of Rochester (NY) 2.8 </p></li>
<li><p>New Jersey Inst. of Technology * 2.7
Oklahoma State University * 2.7
Southern Methodist University (TX) 2.7
Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) 2.7
Texas Tech University * 2.7
Univ. of California–Riverside * 2.7
University of Cincinnati * 2.7
Univ. of Missouri–Columbia * 2.7
University of New Mexico * 2.7
University of Oklahoma * 2.7 </p></li>
<li><p>CUNY–City College * 2.6
Louisiana State U.–Baton Rouge * 2.6
Univ. of California–Santa Cruz * 2.6
University of Kentucky * 2.6
Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln * 2.6 </p></li>
<li><p>George Washington University (DC) 2.5
Marquette University (WI) 2.5
New Mexico State University * 2.5
Ohio University * 2.5
San Diego State University * 2.5
SUNY–Binghamton * 2.5
University of Alabama * 2.5
University of Miami (FL) 2.5
University of Rhode Island * 2.5
Univ. of South Carolina–Columbia * 2.5
University of Texas–Arlington * 2.5
Univ. of Wisconsin–Milwaukee * 2.5
Utah State University * 2.5
Wayne State University (MI)* 2.5
West Virginia University * 2.5 </p></li>
</ol>

<ul>
<li>denotes a public school.</li>
</ul>

66

<p>Thanks, lovetocamp. I can't believe UCD is ranked so high... :rolleyes:</p>

67

<p>I'm not too sure if this applies exclusively to Engineering but I'll ask.</p>

<p>Can someone point me to all the GE's we have as a CS major?</p>

<p>Also for the Writing requirement, I read that either you pass the AP Lit test or get >= 680 on SAT Writing, you are screwed.. I never took the AP class, and got a 640 on Writing. What to do?</p>

<p>Will my 5 in the APUSH test, 5 in Comp Sci, 4 in Chem, 5 in AP US Gov (hopefully), and 5 in Calc BC (hopefully) help in reducing any classes?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

68

<p>yes, i am also wondering if AP tests can get rid of any GE courses and whether you need to get 5 on all of them</p>

69

<p>


You have to take the Subject A exam in May.
<a href="http://www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>


I'm not sure what credit the APUSH will get you (besides fulfilling the American History requirement), but you won't get credit for CS 31 anymore (the CS Department abolished CS 31 AP credit because of students testing out having learned only Java, then being unable to catch up to the C++ material in CS 32), and you'll get credit for Chem 20A.
<a href="http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/APCreditEN.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/APCreditEN.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

70

<p>Bah stupid essay test. Has anyone taken it tell me is it hard or not?
Well I took 7 classes at a local community college starting from summer before sophomore year to fall of my senior year. The classes were:
Intro to C
Intermediate C
Data Structures (in C)
Advanced C Programming
Intro to Java
(oh and I took AP comp sci here and passed the test with a 5)
C++ for C Programmers
and finally.. Advanced C++</p>

<p>Any hope of getting credit for these classes, or are they all useless?</p>

71

<p>


You have to ask the UCLA Undergraduate Admissions Office about this. They handle petitions involving community college credit on a case-by-case basis... in your case I think you probably would be able to skip CS 31 because it's an introduction to C++ and you're obviously familiar with it. :rolleyes:</p>

72

<p>Hey Flopsy I had a question a while back. Is it very likely to graduate in 4 years for electrical engineering in LA? Cause i was thinking of going to grad school afterwards. But if ucla is too competitive to graduate in 4 years, is it better to go to a normal UC like davis or sd and graduate in 4 years and then go for grad school or just go straight up for UCLA for undergrad and grad?</p>

73

<p>
[quote]
UCLA Aerospace Engineering is unusally strong because of its proximity to and investment from the federal defense contractors in Southern California. UCLA is ranked 12th, while UCB is ranked 18th and USC is ranked 21st.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>flopsy, where do these rankings come from? any way you can post the entire top 20?</p>

74

<p>My name is Parag, n i m a final year electronics and telecommunication engineering student from the Mumbai University....well i hav applied for MS in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Wireless Communications and Networking ...</p>

<p>Universities Admitted To: </p>

<p>1) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.</p>

<p>2) Carnegie Mellon University </p>

<p>3) University of California-Los Angeles</p>

<p>4) Carnegie Mellon University - INI</p>

<p>5) University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>6) University of Southern California</p>

<p>7) University of Colorado, Boulder</p>

<p>8) Polytechnic University, Brooklyn</p>

<p>University Applications Pending: </p>

<p>1) Georgia Institute of Technology </p>

<p>2) Cornell University</p>

<p>3) University of California- San Diego</p>

<p>4) Virginia Tech University </p>

<p>have a lot of questions in mind....if u could help me out, then it would be gr8...i am extremely sorry if i am disturbing you..but i am in a complete dilema..</p>

<p>At UMICH, I have been admitted for a Phd Program and haven't heard as yet about the aid decision. The fees are 32K tution for 1 year and including living nd stuff goes upto 45K. The climate is damn bad for a student comin 4m India, as in the cold. Although a minor factor but just stating it. </p>

<p>CMU is another great plc but even more expensive. It has the name and job prospects similar to UMICH but i have been offered no aid and a MS degree only.</p>

<p>Now UCLA's tution is 22K/ year and it's in California. However, standard of living is high again. Been admitted for a Masters Degree with no aid though. Job propects are equally good i feel at all three places but the climate is the best according to me at UCLA ( Correct me if i'm wrong. ) </p>

<p>Money is not a criteria for me nd I plan to do a job after graduation, maybe an MBA later on. Could you guys plz temme as to which uni I should select taking into account all the factors such as cost, climate, job prospects, possibility of assistanships etc. </p>

<p>Also consider the colls that i'm waiting to hear 4m.......All your suggestions are welcome and plz do correct me if i'm wrong in stating any point.</p>

<p>it would reallly gr8 if u guys cud help me in making a decision at this point...i am throughly confused...dunno whether i should take such a big plunge and get into any of these big colls and then repent my decision..... </p>

<p>thnx a lot ......Parag</p>

<p>DETAILS:</p>

<p>Name: Parag Bharat Mehta
College: Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering (Mumbai University)
Email: <a href="mailto:parag.b.mehta@gmail.com">parag.b.mehta@gmail.com</a>
Address: 3, Lovely Rose. Apts.,
Near Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple,
Juhu,
Mumbai 400049
Tel: +91-22-26202709
Cell No: +91-9820595969
URL: <a href="http://www.paragmehta.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.paragmehta.com&lt;/a>
Qualification: Bachelor of Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication </p>

<p>Percentage: 74%</p>

<p>Course Applied To: Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Specialization : Wireless Networking</p>

75

<p>


To be honest, no -- it is not very likely to graduate in four years from UCLA Electrical Engineering. Approximately half of EE undergraduates here graduate in four years -- the rest in five. When you've got ~200 units to satisfy in four years, you'd have to complete ~50 units per year, which is ~17 units per quarter, every quarter. This isn't feasible given that you won't always be able to enroll in those necessary ~17 units, so you'd probably have to supplement your regular academic-year courses with at least ~20 units worth of AP Calculus/Physics/Chemistry/English/GE credit and/or ~20 units worth of Summer Sessions major-requirement credit on the side. Depending on if you specialize in a field, there are some EE/EECE/BME courses that are so tough that it's not feasible to take two/three of them at once, which hampers things more... At UCSD and UCD the EE undergraduate curriculum is somewhat less rigorous, so you'll be able to take fewer mandatory courses/more electives and thus graduate on time more easily. However, you can always postpone grad school by one/two/more years, regardless of whether you can graduate in four years or not. Two of my friends are doing that so they can get work experience first and then pay their way through grad school. Most grad schools do look more favorably on UCLA EE than UCSD/UCD EE for undergrad though. :rolleyes:</p>

76

<p>


<a href="http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/usa/aerospace-aeronautical-astronautical-rankings.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/usa/aerospace-aeronautical-astronautical-rankings.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>U.S. News Rank University</p>

<p>1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2 Stanford University (CA)
3 California Institute of Technology
4 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
5 Georgia Institute of Technology
6 Purdue University-West Lafayette (IN)
7 Princeton University (NJ)
8 University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
9 University of Texas-Austin
10 Cornell University (NY)
10 Penn State University-University Park
12 University of California-Los Angeles
12 Virginia Tech
14 University of Maryland-College Park
15 University of Colorado-Boulder
16 Texas A&M University-College Station
17 Ohio State University
18 University of Washington
18 University of California-Berkeley
20 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
21 University of Southern California</p>

77

<p>


Can you tell me which graduate degree you are seeking -- an M.S. or a Ph.D. degree? Also, you told me that money is not a criterion for you but you kept mentioning the tuition, financial aid, and living expenses of attending each university... Are you sure that you are not concerned with cost, or is there something you're not being totally honest about? Also, if you're concerned about the weather/climate conditions I could probably eliminate half of the universities you've listed above in a snap. <em>cough</em> East Coast <em>cough</em> :rolleyes:</p>

78

<p>Hey thanks flopsy. I have a couple of more things to ask if you don't mind. Are the classes hard to the point were you have to study for hours over the weekend? Does going to a hard high school help in graduating in four years? Cause I go to Mission San Jose and people are saying that I'll do fine and I'll have a chance in graduating in four years. But I don't know if that's true. I saw this on the ucla site <a href="http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/curric05_06.html/HTML/eleccur.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/curric05_06.html/HTML/eleccur.html&lt;/a> is this guideline plausible to follow or is it too intense? I'm currently taking AP Stats, AP phyiscs B and AP calc bc. I already got a 5 on my AP bio exam. So does the AP Bio and stats credit count as GE credit or toward something else? And one more thing is the EE program at Davis or SD extremely bad compared to LA's?</p>

79

<p>


Yes, the EE classes are hard to the point where you will have to study for 6-10 hours over the weekend. Yes, going to a San Jose feeder-school will help you in graduating in four years because you're probably already acclimated to taking an above-average courseload and struggling with Asian competition. The recommended "B.S. in Electrical Engineering Curriculum" posted on the HSSEAS OASA site is feasible for the freshman and sophomore years, but the junior and senior years are quite unrealistically designed because you have to take four EE classes per quarter, which may be impossible to enroll in either because one or two of them fill up before your enrollment is available or because the lectures conflict (e.g. EE 102 and EE 103 are on Tuesday/Thursday mornings and usually overlap, making it impossible to take them both simultaneously as recommended by the OASA). Thus, not only is it too intense, it is also unfeasible for human beings. I think your AP Bio credit counts as a Life Science GE but your AP Stats credit doesn't count for anything. UCSD EE is very good, in fact, but UCD EE has no reputation whatsoever. :rolleyes:</p>

80

<p>UCD EE has no reputation whatsoever? I remember that it ranks quite high.</p>