<p>I'm an international applicant and I've got into both of them but I am having a hard time deciding which one I should join.
UCLA is in LA, which is really cool, but UIUC (I've heard) is really good for computer engineering. I don't really know if a big city like LA or a small town like U-C is my choice, because I have read good and bad things about both so I was hoping for some first hand opinions. Cost is not a decisive issue for me, but I still would not mind inputs regarding cost etc.
Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Umm UCLA is the obvious choice but 35k per year just for tuition is crazy high. Its room and board price is also higher than normal. I do not think UCLA is worth 7k more per year than UIUC. UIUC is good for computer engineering and so is UCLA.</p>
<p>UCLA is the obvious choice? based on what? UIUC is one of the best computer/electrical engineering schools in the nation (world)! Urbana-Champaign isn’t really a “small town,” it is actually quite a large town. It is a great college campus, but if you’re looking for a large city, LA has its benefits. Also, LA would have much nicer weather. UIUC engineering is definitely a tier above UCLA, though.</p>
<p>"UIUC engineering is definitely a tier above UCLA, though. "</p>
<p>That’s not true. Both are on the same level. UCLA is the obvious choice because its in California.</p>
<p>Top 10 vs Top 20. At least half a tier better.</p>
<p>If you’re really passionate about computer engineering, go to UIUC. If not select for cost, then fit. Also realize that LA will probably be significantly more expensive than Urbana-Champaign.</p>
<p>What you should take into consideration is how much the quality of a program will actually be regarded from an international perspective. Are employers more likely to value the reputation of the program, or the prestige of the university? I read that engineers from many U.S. universities earn similar pay. I’m not sure if that holds outside of the U.S. however.</p>
<p>Firstly, thanks to all of you for replying.</p>
<p>@Pat1120- What benefits of LA are you talking about?</p>
<p>@barrons- which one is the better one?</p>
<p>@beyphy- I am passionate about engineering, just not so sure about computer engineering. I am considering Electrical Engineering too, but very slightly. As far as I have heard, the program at UIUC is great, while I havent heard any thing like that for CE at UCLA. But won’t being in LA make a huge difference in my college experience? I havent visited either campus.</p>
<p>UIUC is definitely a tier above UCLA for any engineering field. Whether you do Electrical or Computer, based on rankings and prestige of the program UIUC would be the better choice in either case. The only problem with UIUC is OOS tuition is insane. With room and board it can be around 40k a year. Also just because a school is in California does not make it better. Recently Cali has been having a lot of problems with money at the UCs (UCLA is one of them). Im not an expert but I know they had to cut a lot of classes and there were many other problems. When I talked with a college advisor in the fall she was very adamant in telling me not to go to a cal public university .</p>
<p>^^ Nonsense. UCLA is among the wealthiest universities in the United States, and had nearly 3x the endowment of UIUC in 2011 according to USNEWS. </p>
<p>[University</a> of California–Los Angeles | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles-1315]University”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles-1315)</p>
<p>[University</a> of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign | Best College | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign-1775]University”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign-1775)</p>
<p>This is even more noteworthy since both universities have a similar amount of students.</p>
<p>@vg5028 Los Angeles is an amazing, world-class city, and you’d experience a ton of diversity that few cities in the world could match. It’s unlikely you’d find a similar level of diversity at UIUC. However, since you’re really passionate about engineering, you might experience better growth attending UIUC as opposed to UCLA since the professors there will be more highly esteemed researchers, and will be doing very interesting research. As someone who attended a top department for his program i can tell you that top researchers make a difference. That being said, UCLA’s engineering professors aren’t half bad!</p>
<p>[Bionic</a> Eye: UCLA Researcher Wentai Liu Engineered Microchip That Helps The Blind See (VIDEO)](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Bionic Eye: UCLA Researcher Wentai Liu Engineered Microchip That Helps The Blind See (VIDEO) | HuffPost Los Angeles)</p>