<p>Hi. I've been lurking around CC for a long time now. Finally needed some help which I cannot find explicitly in any thread.</p>
<p>I'm an international student who will be paying the sticker price which is about the same for either one of these schools. UCLA, USC or UT-Austin.</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in mechanical engineering and have been accepted for that major at UCLA and UT-Austin and accepted into the engineering school at USC. I'm very confused and don't know which to pick. I will definitely be going to grad school right after undergrad so a school which will provide me with the right opportunities for entering a good grad school is more important to me than say a powerful alumni network at this stage for being recruited. (Trojans! :D )</p>
<p>I know UCLA and UT are both large public universities which large classes but I was wondering if the 5 year graduation plan at UCLA is likely to affect most of the students. Cause while UT is big I haven't heard of anyone not graduating on time because they did not get a class they needed. </p>
<p>Also, I have several friends who manage to pick up a related minor during the four years of college. Is that possible, practical in any of these schools, especially with mechanical engineering? I quite like the quarter system cause it seems fast paced but is the unit cap a difficulty for engineering students at UCLA?</p>
<p>I haven't visited either of these schools and will not be able to before my decision is due. Can you please help me out here. I want a good education and good future prospects, just like any other undergraduate student.</p>