<p>Engineering school (major undecided). Which is better?</p>
<p>usc. why do you ask.</p>
<p>UCLA has a stronger overall engineering program for half the cost. Why do you ask?</p>
<p>I’m out state.</p>
<p>UCLA has a slightly higher reputation (as of now), but because of President Sample (USC’s president) the school’s reputation has been rising in academics exponentially. I would say go for USC because you will probably get better financial aid as an oos for USC in comparison to UCLA</p>
<p>but USC’s engineering school seems ranked higher than UCLA’s</p>
<p>It’s not. They’re pretty comparable, you should really visit both and take into account finances, then decide. You’ll receive a great education at either university.</p>
<p>Visit the campuses and the surrounding areas where you’ll be spending the next 4 years and imagine yourself living there for that timeframe. Also pay attention to the cost since as OOS, USC might be cheaper for you (or could cost more if you get no finAid from them). Don’t worry so much about which one has ‘better’ engineering since they’re both very good.</p>
<p>Have you been to either open houses? I think USC sells their engineering school better during the open house, because they actually have student groups putting out their projects and individual discussions on them. On the other hand, you may get a tour to UCLA’s new labs, which probably only 0.1% of the engineering students even get to visit the second time. :rolleyes: I wish UCLA could have student groups display their projects during Open House instead of bore parents and prospective students with “confidence” speeches.</p>
<p>This is not to say which school provides a better education, because I haven’t taken classes at UCLA. Good luck with your decision because both schools are good, but if I were a manager, I’d pick a UCLA student over a USC student. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>BoelterHall>>because I haven’t taken classes at UCLA. Good luck with your decision because both schools are good, but if I were a manager, I’d pick a UCLA student over a USC student</p>
<p>Funny, you will say that. I AM a manager, and I PICKED usc STUDENTS over UCLA. If I recall correctly, it was 4 two years ago, and 12 last year.</p>
<p>^^So is my uncle (owner, actually). He does the opposite.</p>
<p>Personal preference, I suppose.</p>
<p>^^ I’d pick the most qualified candidate - regardless of which school he/she went to. </p>
<p>Their ‘qualifications’ go much beyond just the school they went to and include specific course taken including minors, work experience (internships), personality, ability to speak well, ability to work well in a group, work ethic, etc.</p>
<p>I toured USC yesterday and UCLA today.</p>
<p>USC, hands down, beat UCLA in my opinion. The campus was awesome. All of the rumors about it being directly in the ghetto and whatnot seemed completely false; I would have no problem walking OUTSIDE around the campus during the day (at night would be a different story…just to be safe). The girls were, hands down, prettier at USC. I heard this before, but shrugged it off and considered it a rumor. Nope, it is very, very true to the point of where it is easily noticeable. The academics at USC seemed superior too, and less cutthroat. There are less engineering students, and I got a more “homey” feel at USC. The presentation was much better; there were about 30 people in a room with a projector, whereas at UCLA there were about 2000 people in a huge theater. The speaker at USC was funnier, more human, etc. The speakers at UCLA seemed like they just wanted to be done speaking.</p>
<p>USC gave an excellent and informative tour of the campus, student life, and engineering aspects. The tour had about 40 people in it. The UCLA tour was so freaking large it was like a herd of cows. There were hundreds of people, FOR EACH DEPARTMENT. I went with Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers. I couldn’t hear the guides. I left early I disliked the thing so much (who knows, maybe I missed out? but the first 3 hours were bad enough IMO).</p>
<p>As far as academics go, I would give the edge to USC. But I am not denying that I really don’t know; that is just the vibe I got. USC seems more fun and personal, with prettier girls and a more vibrant population. UCLA seems overwhelming, the kids seem a little boring, and the academics narrow. At USC (correct me if I am wrong), I can take courses in other disciplines, but at UCLA the students told me “that would be very hard.”</p>
<p>Just my opinions. Correct me if I am wrong. Feel free to disagree. But USC has already sold me.</p>
<p>^^ Do you think USC is worth double the cost of UCLA for in-state students, an extra $25K per year (assuming no grants) because of the funnier speaker, prettier girls, and smaller tour crowds?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Less people at the event = better academics?</p>
<p>I should have known better putting this post in a UCLA forum. Listen, I said you can disagree and I might be wrong. But the entire feeling was more personal, the academics appeared better, and I enjoyed the program more. The people seemed more approachable, which in the future may be good. The students seemed more social and diverse, which would help with making friends, studying in groups, etc.</p>
<p>I never said less people at the events equals better academics. As far as USC being worth double the costs, I don’t know. USC offers better fin. aid, so the cost for me is actually cheaper at USC. But for you in-state students, this decision won’t be as easy.</p>
<p>My post is my subjective opinion. I may be wrong. I haven’t attended either college. I made my decision by what both schools offered and the feel of the campus. That is what most students do. Don’t flame a Trojan because you are a Bruin.</p>
<p>ucsd_ucla dad, you took the “dumb” part of my posts as my main reasons to attend USC over UCLA. You left out my facts about social life (which is a big deal…you will be living with these people for the next four years), interdisciplinary possibilities, less cutthroat environment, etc. Those are important factors. There are more than just those, though, but I don’t feel like listing all of them.</p>
<p>UCLA was ranked by Sports Illustrated as having the #1 best combination of academics, athletics and social life in the country. UCLA also has the highest number of students on federal pell grants of any public university (a measure of socio-economic diversity). </p>
<p>But you seem a little superficial; I can tell by the way you assessed a school based on the number of people at a college welcome day (UCLA has the highest number of applicants in the nation, and you chose to attend a welcome day on a Friday afternoon…what’d you expect??). The student looks at a crowd of 2,000 and sees a “herd.” The scholar looks at a crowd of 2,000 and sees the potential for a phenomenal community of peers.</p>
<p>Take it from a student: UCLA=39,000 of your closest friends.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You said you liked the vibe more because you were at a smaller presentation. You said you thought the academics were better based on the vibe. Ergo, you thought the academics were better because you were at a smaller presentation. This may not have been what you meant, but it is what you said.</p>
<p>It’s fine to choose which school you liked more based on your visits. It’s silly to judge which school has better academics based on your visits.</p>
<p>TheMan66:</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong - if you got a better feel for USC and the finances aren’t an issue, maybe because of better grants at USC, especially if OOS, then you should go for it. USC is a fine school. My real point is that people should ‘value’ what they’re getting for their money in colleges.</p>