UCLA Engineering Q&A

[dodgerfan365]

<p>I've seen on here the rather high rank of UCLA's aerospace engineering program. I'm wondering if you know how it compares with UCSD's aerospace program?</p>

[flopsy]

<p>

@liyana179

just a question i want to clarify before giving advice: flopsy, do you know if the single rooms in the plaza buildings are considered plaza rooms, or suites? cuz then people wanting a single in those buildings should put "single" and the corresponding room type to get the best shot, right? because technically there are no single plaza rooms... just suites IN a plaza building (aside from the double/triple suite rooms in hitch/saxon), right? sorry for the confusion but this has been bugging me for a while... xD

I think those single rooms are still considered plaza rooms, but I'm not sure -- the only plaza I've lived in was De Neve, which doesn't really have singles to speak of. :rolleyes:</p>

[flopsy]

<p>

@dodgerfan365

I've seen on here the rather high rank of UCLA's aerospace engineering program. I'm wondering if you know how it compares with UCSD's aerospace program?

Sorry, I'm not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to the Aerospace Engineering rankings. All I can tell you is that the graduates of UCLA's Aerospace Engineering program are heavily sought after by the Southern California defense contractors who visit UCLA for its quarterly career fairs. :rolleyes:</p>

[flopsy]

<p>US News Graduate Engineering Rankings 2008</p>

<p>Overall: #16</p>

<p>Chemical: #26
Civil: #28
Computer: #13
Computer Science: #15
Electrical: #13
Mechanical: #15</p>

<p>More rankings will be posted when they become available to me. :rolleyes:</p>

[BoelterHall]

<p>How would you say a 3.3 GPA is for an engineer student after his/her first year? (not projecting my scores)</p>

[flopsy]

<p>That's above-average. :rolleyes:</p>

[moldau]

<p>really? that makes me feel better.</p>

[double_deux]

<p>how competitive is it to switch from LOS to Samueli to a computer engineer also is gpa the sole determining factor of getting in. If so, what would be a safe gpa</p>

[flopsy]

<p>A GPA of 3.70 or above is a safe GPA to switch into CS/CSE. :rolleyes:</p>

[grark]

<p>well I'm screwed, thanks
I guess I'll drop crypto/physics honors/fiat lux now
: D</p>

[MadeInChina]

<p>woah it's grark!</p>

[pituoe]

<p>I'm an accepted senior who plans to major in Chemical Engineering, but I think I'm now hesitant about going through with my plan because I'm afraid that I won't survive in this field. I'm one of those hard-working students who can study all night and still not be able to surpass those who are lazy, but who are analytical and mathematically-talented enough to "ace" the test. </p>

<p>Also, I don't think I truly understand what it means to be in ChemE. I might have an idealistic view of what chemical engineering may be, and I might be actually more interested in chemistry as a science, rather than as a sect of engineering. </p>

<p>So, my question is this : are all engineering students so geared toward math and science that only the top of these students do well, or can students with stronger English and language backgrounds still hold their own in engineering, even if it means working a bit harder than everyone else?</p>

[grark]

<p>: D JoHo? is that you?</p>

<p>lol I disagree. Although the "talented" could excel in high school, I think it's the hard workers that succeed in college.</p>

[moldau]

<p>grark i disagree</p>

<p>some things, no matter how hard you work, you won't be able to do.</p>

<p>talent and hard work combined, or just talent if you have enough</p>

[vaav]

<p>Is it possible for entering freshman to change major from CSE to EE ? What's the process and how soon can this be done ? Is it possible to do it during orientation ?</p>

[flopsy]

<p>

@pituoe

So, my question is this : are all engineering students so geared toward math and science that only the top of these students do well, or can students with stronger English and language backgrounds still hold their own in engineering, even if it means working a bit harder than everyone else?

First of all, let me say that a lot of engineering students have gotten 700+ on their SAT I Writing, so it's not like they're English-challenged and can't read or write as fluently as a CL&S major. Yes, less-gifted students definitely hold their own in engineering through hard work. In every Computer Science class, there's a few Good Will Huntings who don't take notes in lecture or go to discussion because they just get everything, but there aren't enough of them to occupy all the A/A- grades, and that's where the hard workers fit in. Anyways, more and more grading emphasis is being put on "lab reports" and "presentation/oral communication skills" due to ABET requirements, so you may see syllabi with grading schemes in your favor by the time you hit those upper-division courses. :rolleyes:</p>

[flopsy]

<p>

@vaav

Is it possible for entering freshman to change major from CSE to EE ? What's the process and how soon can this be done ? Is it possible to do it during orientation ?

Yes. Talk to your assigned Engineering orientation counselor at orientation, and he'll take care of it. :rolleyes:</p>

[hiker]

<p>How feasible is study abroad for engineering majors (specifically ME)? Is the major too prescripted to manage it? Are there any approved programs, maybe to an English-speaking place with engineering classes?</p>

[MadeInChina]

<p>Also interested in the studying abroad question - seems like studying abroad for engineering majors is not recommended?</p>

[solace2718]

<p>How soon can I transfer to L&S from Engineering? If I plan on going to graduate school would it be wise to transfer into a major where a high GPA is more attainable than in engineering?</p>