<p>I have got admission into UCLA & Hopkins. I am in a dilemma as I am unable to decide between the two. I plan to Major in Mechanical Engg but want to keep my options open. I enjoy playing sport & am good in golf. I have recvd conflicting opinions about the pros & cons of both. I have been told that UCLA which is a public college has a very large student body with 7500 students in the freshman year itself(as against 1200 for Hopkins) that the class sizes in the 1st 2 years are 200+ & that it is difficult to get into classes ( and things may get worse with budget cuts) & that only 68% finished in 4 years as against 90% in Hopkins. In UCLA's favour is their excellent athletics background & warm climate. Wrt Hopkins the class sizes are much smaller and there is more interaction with the professors. The academic level is said to be more intense at Hopkins.. I am aware that both are excellent & I dont want to go into rankings only. Since I plan to Major in Mech Engg I want to know which has a better Engg school. Many say That Hopkins is primarily known for Biomed & that their Engg Deptt does not compare with UCLA's. Is that true? I have only a few days left to decide so I would be extremely grateful for your frank opinions.</p>
<p>Engineering school at UCLA is very small. ( 600 kids a year)
For example Mechanical Engi 100 kids, Aerospace Engi 50 kids a year.(50*4YEARS=200 kids in total)</p>
<p>In years previous to last year, the frosh classes have been 4,600-4,800. Last year’s was an anomaly because the administration underestimated yields, and ~ 5,800-5,900 enrolled when they targeted 5,300. This year, they’re trying to restrict the frosh class to this same number as was targeted last year. The last two years have seen increases because they want a mix of a stable number of CA residents as in the prior years, but to bump up the Int’l and US non-resident mix becuase they are full-tuition payers.</p>
<p>You’re probably having a hard time calcuating the mix of incoming frosh and the size of the undergraduate student body because UCLA takes a large no. of transfers also.</p>
<p>Hopkins has definitely more of a bio, science undergrad. So this is why it could be more competitive. But within the sciences, UCLA is also very ‘intense.’ But don’t blow off the mid to north campus majors either. Though the girls are cute/hot who peruse at those locales, they’re super smart also.</p>