<p>I got admitted to EE programs at both UCLA and Georgia Tech for MS.
I'm having a very hard time deciding between these two. Financially, it is the same either way since I don't have any kind of assistance.</p>
<p>How do the reputations of these two schools compare for electrical engineering?
I know that Georgia Tech is ranked a little higher, but UCLA has a stronger reputation overall as a school. And I like UCLA's location/campus a little more, but also at Georgia Tech its pretty easy for ECE masters students to continue to Phd, by just passing the qualifying exam. At UCLA, I would have to reapply... and there are no guarantees.</p>
<p>Anyway, does anyone have any ideas on which university will open more doors for me?</p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD and pursue some kind of research as a career.</p>
<p>Thanks,
James Madison, Jr.</p>
<p>Graduate School Electrical Engineering Rankings</p>
<p>USNWR
6 — GT
13 – UCLA</p>
<p>NRC
7 — GT
8 — UCLA</p>
<p>It appears that their is not much difference in the quality of the graduate Electrical Engineering programs at these two schools.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that UCLA has a better overall reputation. That said, this will be more of a personal decision that no one can make for you.</p>
<p>What do you want to do? GT is a no-brainer for microelectronics, bioengineering and power, but others might be a wash.</p>
<p>I’m more interested in digital VLSI, with maybe a little Computer Architecture thrown in the mix. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the replies, so far. I am leaning towards GT, mainly because they make it easy to progress from MS to PhD. That is probably the most important factor, at this point since they are both good schools.</p>
<p>Any other opinions about how these schools compare in their engineering reputation? What the job prospects are? How they are viewed in academia?</p>
<p>(And to a lesser extent, factors like how nice the campus is, etc)</p>
<p>GT grads are very well represented in most major semiconductor companies, while UCLA probably puts more people in academia. Even in engineering, which is typically thought of as meritocratic, people with hiring power like to fill the ranks with their own, and so it’s really up to you to decide whether you’d like an industry or academic job. That isn’t to say that GT grads don’t get academic jobs – two of my professors in undergrad (Florida) were from GT – but the mindset of the ECE department is definitely more industry-oriented.</p>
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<p>This does seem to tip the balance, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Yeah, I think so too.
At GT, I just take the qualifying exam and if I pass, I’m a Phd student. That is freakin’ sweet.</p>
<p>Well, thanks a lot guys. I think I will stick with Georgia Tech, as tempting as it is to frolic in the beaches of sunny southern california… :(</p>