I have been accepted at UCLA EE (Fast Track Program) and also to USC EE as a Presidential Scholar (half tuition). Cost is not a concern, though UCLA will be cheaper. These are my two final choices.
What are the pros and cons of each? I may want to switch to Computer Science and Engineering depending on the initial courses. I know that UCLA EE has a Computer Engineering specialization, and that USC Viterbi is very flexible about changes in major.
Please share your views, they will be valuable in helping me make a decision.Posting this in both UCLA and USC forums.Thanks for your help.
UCLA EE does not offer Computer Engineering option anymore. I currently follow the curriculum in 2013 and am still following the Computer Engineering path, but the new curriculum (since 2014 ) does not have any option although you can still take CS classes as electives.
If money is not your concern, I would definitely recommend USC. USC has more funding, resulting in better undergraduate teaching, better equipments, more research opportunities, less pressure getting in classes, more complete networking and career center, more diversity, better environment, etc. The only con I can think of is the neighborhood. However, I personally feel that USC is safer than UCLA due to the police force available. As long as you stay in the safe area, you are fine, whereas Westwood is sort-of-safe but not really.
I would say UCLA offers a good education for in-state tuition. You would have to sacrifice lots of things as a consequence, but probably with fewer student loan (if you do care about money) and still degree from a top university. The EE program at UCLA is competitive and very good too; its name in the industry is top-notch. However, I think USC Viterbi do better in all aspects to support their students. This is unthinkable if the school doesn’t have enough funding.
So I would recommend USC. Unless you want to save your parent some money.
zmy8686, thanks for sharing your honest opinions. For UCLA EE/Computer Engineering option, I was referring to the current web page, which still seems to offer it: http://www.ee.ucla.edu/academics/programs/b.s.-in-electrical-engineering-program-requirements/computer-engineering-option – is this still valid?
I just recently committed to UCLA for EE next year, I didn’t bother applying to USC because of tuition costs.
From what all my peers told me, and my researching through college confidential, the computer engineering option isn’t available anymore.
Regardless of any specialization options, when you graduate, ull still only receive an EE degree.
People have told me at UCLA though that u can take aa many CS electives if u want, so hopefully u would consider.
From what I researched and from my friends (first year freshmen at ucla CS) opinions, they said it’s easy to switch majors at the engineering college at UCLa, especially since CS and EE take the same classes for the entire freshman year. Also I believe the requirement to switch to CS is finishing two CS classes at UCLA, which EE has to do anyways. u should google up “requirements to switch majors at henry samueli”. Sorry I can’t link you up.
Definitely find an alumni to talk to. Im still a high schooler like you so my sources may not be that credible.
You need to refer to this link http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/curricular-requirements-department-information
So apparently they didn’t even bother to update their (EE department’s ) website, although it’s been 2 years since the curriculum changed. This, again, just tells you how budget cut has affected UCLA. Although the school of engineering is still probably receiving the most money and the best among UCLA’s different schools, not much of the money is going to undergrad. The EE department has its own building (Engineering IV), and the school is building a new building (Engineering VI), yet they didn’t update their website seems very unbelievable to me. This is just misleading for many prospective students like you, and also confusing for current student like myself.
@GreatSparrow
You are right. People tend to change from EE to CS during their second year when they start taking EE classes. And EE students will have completed all the CS classes required except CS1(can be waived) and Math 61 (not really necessary to make the change). it’s CS 32 the weeder class that’s the most important factor. You would have a better chance if you have completed CS 33, which is a CS first year class and optional for EE.
Refer to this http://www.seasoasa.ucla.edu/undergraduates/chmaj/change_of_major
Thanks for the comments. They have been very useful. I’ll need to visit both and decide…