<p>So far, accepted into ME at UCLA and USC for fall '07. Have yet to hear from UCSD, USB and UCD. </p>
<p>Between USC and UCLA, for now, what would you say the differences are and which would you say is "better?" I know there are some big differences in culture, $$, neighborhood etc., but how about the engineering programs?</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts.</p>
<p>USC has it going on. They are bringing in many exceptionally bright students from all around the country. That, coupled with a growing (and extremely successful) engineering department that gets money thrown at them makes USC have one of the best engineering programs (top 5, in my opinion) in California. </p>
<p>Hands down, USC for ME and/or AE.</p>
<p>If money wasn't a factor, USC. But USC certainly isn't worth the premium.</p>
<p>M S is up for a half tuition scholarship, which makes it cost about the same as UCLA, assuming of course that he can keep the right GPA (and that's a debate for a different time).</p>
<p>I'm wondering how EXACTLY USC's money makes it better than UCLA? Did scholarship buy better students? ME Lab equipment X that UCLA could never afford? 5 hrs/week tutoring for all students? ??</p>
<p>Tks.</p>
<p>US News and World Report 2007 ranks UCLA ahead of USC for undergraduate Mechanical Engineering, as well as undergraduate engineering in general.</p>
<p>"US News and World Report 2007 ranks UCLA ahead of USC for undergraduate Mechanical Engineering, as well as undergraduate engineering in general."</p>
<p>yeah, because you want to allow USNWR to make your decision for you.</p>
<p>i've been to both campuses. i have friends at both. i've sat in on classes at usc but not ucla....but i still feel that i have a fairly good grasp of both schools.</p>
<p>listen, when in doubt, if the money is the same, go with usc. my brother went there for premed and i remember my parents being blown away at how personal the school was even though it is a very large school. they have a lot more capital per capita and allow their students access to great resources (i have a friend, D.R. who is the head of the rocket lab over there) that you can only find at a few institutions in the US.</p>
<p>and if your kid wants more personal attention, SC.</p>
<p>I'd say if money matters, go to UCLA for undergrad because engineering there and USC for undergrad are not that much different. Grad school definitely USC.</p>