<p>I've been accepted to both engineering schools(EECS), though its fairly likely I might transfer to be a pure math/physics major. Out of state and money is a non-issue. What are your thoughts on how they compare. </p>
<p>Michigan
-bigger endowment/less broke
-marginally better school for what I plan on studying
-math honors program looks very interesting (and challenging)
-felt much less bureaucratic, even in such a huge place I didnt feel like just a number
-felt marginally less cut throat
-even though Im a massive nerd, felt like I could fit in fairly easily
-NO FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT! (a big thing for me, I bloody hated those classes at my school. I spent more effort passing remedial Spanish then AP calc. If I wind up a math/physics major (in L&A) i will need to take them anyway.</p>
<p>UCLA
-weather
-girls [Socal :)]
-a lot of family went, all loved it
-closer to Silicon Valley, more connections
-havent visited yet, so ill know more in a few weeks</p>
<p>UCLA > Michigan. Michigan has literally been declining 1 rank on USNWR every year. Not long ago, this school was above Berkeley! Two previous rankings ago, Michigan was one rank ahead of UCLA. Then the next year it became tied. This year, it is one rank below.</p>
<p>I don’t know about being less broke than UCLA but the picture for Michigan is rather grim. Unemployment is sky high in Detroit. I wouldn’t be surprised if the school is in fact more broke than UCLA but UCLA was simply more publicized because it is a more popular university.</p>
<p>they are both fantastic schools so i don’t think you can go wrong either way.</p>
<p>i feel like your leaning towards ucla (which is awesome!). i saw your post over on the michigan board.</p>
<p>im in a similar situation as you, but im going to choose michigan…
i was born in california but lived throughout the US, Europe, and China. i have interned at a major engineering company throughout all these locations and asked executives and engineers opinions about both schools before making my decision.</p>
<p>i have come to the conclusion that most people in europe, china (a little less than in europe), and the east coast seem to know u of m better. while it is very true that michigan is failing financially as a state, a lot of people leave. i plan on going to grad school on the east coast and then moving back home to california. people in california definitely know how great of a school ucla is, but i think you will have an advantage applying for jobs there from u of m because most cali jobs will be flooded with other ucla, usc, and berkeley applicants. i feel that people on the east coast (at least from my experience) don’t know as much about ucla and don’t view quite as academically. im not saying i believe that (because clearly ucla is academically rigorous), but when people first think of ucla, they think of a beach.</p>
<p>i feel like i could go on and on about the great attributes of both michigan and ucla, but in the end, they are both SO similar (besides the external stuff like food and attractive people, but i am not going to college to eat or get my MRS degree.)</p>
<p>you are in such a great position that you get to choose between two fantastic schools!</p>
<p>if you choose ucla i wish you the best of luck! it is an amazing school and they will be lucky to have you!!</p>
<p>go with what you feel more comfortable! best of luck!
(i think i am going to be harassed for choosing u of m on a ucla board… i mean no offense, just sharing my final decision)</p>
<p>Are you sure Michigan is better known than UCLA in China? Asia has a strong bias towards west coast schools. UCLA has an overwhelming presence in Asia, especially in places such as Hong Kong or South Korea, and is often mistakenly thought to be more prestigious than Berkeley. (And I’m confident Berkeley is better known than Michigan.) Perhaps Michigan is better known in Europe but I’m fairly confident it is untrue in Asia. UCLA is one of the best known American universities on that continent.</p>
<p>EDIT: I’m referring to the civilian population, of course. If you were referring to the awareness of Michigan amongst Eastern academia, I have no idea what I’m talking about.</p>
<p>I definitely agree that there is an extremely strong bruin presence in china, but when I weighed the pros and cons of u of m and ucla, u of m still had quite the presence in cities like Shang hai and hong kong.
Obviously, the proximity of ucla to Asia showed, but in the end Michigan was there as well.</p>
<p>My final thoughts were that while ucla was stronger in Asia, u of m was there as well as strongly in Europe.</p>
<p>although I think that they are both so big, you will find representation everywhere!</p>
<p>Please disregard SentimentGX4. The University of Michigan is NOT declining. Financially it is in much better shape than UCLA. It has the 4-5th largest endowment of any university in this country! The school discovered years ago that it could not depend on the state if it were to remain a top university. California, welcome to the real world!</p>
<p>“I don’t know about being less broke than UCLA but the picture for Michigan is rather grim. Unemployment is sky high in Detroit”</p>
<p>U-M is in Ann Arbor, which is not even a part of the Detroit metro area. A2 has an unemployment rate that is lower than the national average. Your comparisons are silly.</p>
<p>USNWR hasn’t been around since 1950. Actually, Michigan was last ranked higher than Berkeley in '97. 24 vs. 27. It tied in '98. That’s about 12 years ago. A bit long but not too long…</p>
<p>If you can afford Michigan, I’d get out of dodge and go do something different. Ann Arbor is a true college town and will provide the quintessential “going away for college” experience.</p>
<p>UMich engineering is top notch, and imo, a better bang for your buck in this case. However, money doesn’t matter in your case. Since they are both sound schools and you can’t go wrong either way, I’d definitely go with where you would rather live for the next 4 years, selection of girls, weather, social scene, etc.
Both are nationally and even worldwide known. Alumni from both schools are everywhere. So you will not have a problem picking your resting place post graduation.</p>
<p>I decided between the two 2 years ago and chose UCLA. I have never once, EVER regretted it. Ann Arbor is incredible, but remember that the weather is very, very different. I know the whole “bundle up” advice, but having lived in cold weather before, it’s actually quite nice being able to sunbathe (literally) while studying outside for WINTER quarter finals. </p>
<p>Also, UCLA has much more continuity as far as buildings are concerned. At Michigan, you have to take a bus from some of the dorms to classes. UCLA is only 1 square mile, and the maximum walking time is 13-15 minutes from dorms to class. In 75 degree weather. </p>
<p>Academically they are equivalent. Best of luck, they’re both fantastic schools =)</p>