Hey guys,
I was recently accepted as a transfer student in mechanical engineering to UCLA, UCSD, and UM. I am a Californian so the UCs would obviously be cheaper for me, but since I am only going for two years cost is not as big of an issue.
I haven’t heard much about UCLA’s engineering program and so I am kind of worried about this option. However I really like UCLA as a whole. I know UCSD has put a lot of funding into their engineering department, and that they are considered more of a technical school, but I recently visited and am not that excited.
UM obviously has a great engineering department and it is an awesome school but it will be twice the cost and so I have my reservations about it.
Any advice would be great! I am really stuck here. Thank you!
I don’t think you should have any reservation about UCLA engineering if you prefer it to UCSD. How would you have heard much about UCLA engineering? are you in the field now or a parent is? HS kids don’t know engineering schools like employers do. Engineering firms don’t care as much as you think they do. Paying twice the cost for UM is not something most people are able to do because most have need for putting money in retirement, a house, other kids etc and that is a lot of money. But if you have a fund with cash just sitting there for you to have choices then sure, it would be a great program, great experience to go OOS. I wouldn’t but it is your dime. If that would involve any borrowing you would not be wise to go that route.
Thank you for your quick response!
My dad has worked in the biomedical field at the hiring and management level for 30 plus years. Cal Poly was my top choice for transfer because I have consistently heard that Cal Poly engineering graduates are hired over any of the UCs – as Cal Poly’s program is more centered around applied learning and field work. In the companies that my dad has worked at this was certainly the case. Unfortunately they took less than 5% of mechanical engineering transfers this year.
I don’t have expendable funds, but because I chose to go to a CC for the first two years of my education my parents (whom I am very appreciative of) are encouraging me to look less at the cost and more at the fit of the school. However, I still realize that cost is still an important factor.
I was worried about UCLA because from what I have been told about the UC engineering programs is that they are largely theoretical and many undergraduates go on immediately to obtain a graduate degree before employment. I am hoping for a more career-oriented experience from which I could immediately begin working after obtaining my degree. Because SD puts a lot of focus and funding on their department I figured this would be more attainable. UM has a 97% retention rate for engineering undergraduates which is also promising. However this still leaves me in the dark about UCLA.
And as of today I add UVA to the mix. Not sure what to do about these schools!
UVA is not known for engineering.
You may want to check your transfer credit in comparison to your major at the following:
UC transfer credit from California CCs: http://www.assist.org
Michigan transfer credit: http://www.ugadmiss.umich.edu/TCE/Public/CT_TCESearch.aspx
Virginia transfer credit: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/undergrad/pdfs/transfer_equivalents_2014.pdf and http://saz-webdmz.eservices.virginia.edu/asequivs/
If a given school requires you to take a lot of catch up courses due to not accepting your current school’s courses as equivalent to its own, then consider that needing to take those catch up courses could result in needing extra quarters or semesters to graduate. This can be especially risky at Michigan, due to its high cost for you and its reputation of being stingy with transfer credit (another poster mentioned that a student with calculus 1, 2, 3 credit from a California CC was denied subject credit at Michigan Engineering and had to start over in calculus 1).
What school are you currently at?
You can’t go wrong with either UCLA or UCSD. Cross out Michigan because it’s too much money. Save your money and stay in Cali. At this point, it’s down to personal preference and you just need to decide which school you like better.
I second Virginia is not known for engineering.
If that’s what your dad (who I’d bet has a degree from a CSU campus) tells you then the actual state of the world is unlikely to change your mind.
UCLA for the win! Yes, it’s very theoretical, but UCLA job prospects are very good especially if you want to live in SoCal in the future. UCSD is very technical and will teach you things you can use on a day-to-day basis, so it’s a very close second in my opinion. Good luck! You’re in a very lucky position right now since you get to decide which one to go to. Others have no choice! xD
@mikemac my dad actually went to Berkeley but sure.
Thanks everyone else for the advice! It sounds like I can’t go wrong with the either of the UCs.