UCR Mechanical Engineering 2015?

[TheIntegration]

Unfortunately, I have received an email from CPP that said they have wait listed me for Mechanical Engineering, so I’m thinking about attending UCR for ME. I have gotten into UCI for ME, but the cost of attending is horrendous (I don’t get financial aid). Roughly, it’ll cost me a staggering ~$120,000 (approx. 30,000 per year); that seems, to me, to be way too much debt. On the other hand, UCR is willing to give me AP credit (~30 credits) and a $2,000 per year scholarship; plus, it’s close to home. The total cost for UCR for four years will be ~$36,000 (with scholarship)–a way better price.

However, I feel sketchy about the school. I have read mixed reviews about BCOE. Some say the college is good while others say “…don’t even bother.” I’m more concerned about how employers view UCR. Do they overlook UCR and move on to more prestigious universities? I was looking at who attends their STEM career fair, and they have some pretty decent industries coming to their school like Chevron, So Cal Gas, and Microsoft. Can an un-bias individual give some review about the program, ME clubs and career opportunities at BCOE?

[Calibound2015]

Hi there. Have you made any decision about UCR? My son has also been accepted to ME at UCR. We have done a lot of background searching about BCOE and feel pretty good about it. We had heard so many mixed things about UCR but I have come to believe after visiting the school and talking to several different advisors and counselors at the school that the mixed reviews come from students who are upset about not getting accepted into the higher ranked UCs. It has nothing to do with the quality of UCR, it is just that they thought they were too good for UCR. My son, like you, has been admitted to UCI (and it was much more costly) and he was also admitted to UCSB. For us, it comes down to cost. I think we are pretty happy about his UCR decision and if you want to get in touch with him as a fellow ME at UCR, just let me know and I’ll pass it along.