<p>My top choice is UCI but I am wait listed, so now it is between UCSB and UCR.</p>
<p>Things to consider:
-Looking to get a degree in aerospace engineering only UCI has that.
-Paying same for both UCR and UCSB
-Not into partying</p>
<p><em>UCR</em>
-Major is Mechanical Engineering
-I will most likely be accepted into the honors program where I get priority for choosing my classes
-Close to home
-Commuting </p>
<p><em>UCSB</em>
-Major is Physics
-Accepted into EOP
-Living on campus
-On the beach - is a plus</p>
<p>I am on the same exact boat as you, i need to decide between UCSB and UCR for Mechanical Engineering.</p>
<p>Same feelings as you towards each school and i cant decide.</p>
<p>@JustPlaneSmart I would recommend UCR since you will probably have more opportunities to establish connections and work with the professor being in the honors program. If you’re not into partying, that’s a reason too. I know a few people who had to transfer out of UCSB because they had a hard time studying, and I know my good friend’s brother was kicked out for not having good enough grades.</p>
<p>I really hope I get into UCI. I am also on the Waiting list for Baylor University. If I go visit UCSB during the week will I be able to see what normally goes on? The bad and the good.</p>
<p>I don’t know how close mechanical engineering is to your intended goal of aeronautical engineering. Would you be happy ending up with an ME degree? Also I’m not clear on your intentions; are you planning on attending for 2 years and then trying to transfer to UCI?</p>
<p>As for UCSB, it will be quite difficult to change to a major in the College of Engineering. There was a post at the start of the year from the father of a kid majoring in physics who wanted to switch to ME. Out of 30 similar kids, only 5 were allowed to switch.</p>
<p>It is a misconception that everyone at UCSB parties. I don’t party but I still love it here, and most of my classmates don’t party either.</p>
<p>I say UCSB, all the way. </p>
<p>Our physics program is ranked within the top ten in the nation. We are also focused on undergraduate students, so there are more opportunities for undergrads to get internships and work closely with their professors. </p>
<p>Our campus is far more attractive than that of UCR. </p>
<p>UCSB has blown my expectations out of the water. </p>
<p>I also have a youtube channel and you can request I make a video of anything here at the school. Here’s one of the last videos I made of an exhibit that was just at UCSB:</p>
<p>[Exxopolis</a> Luminarium at UCSB Lagoon - YouTube](<a href=“Exxopolis Luminarium at UCSB Lagoon 2013 - YouTube”>Exxopolis Luminarium at UCSB Lagoon 2013 - YouTube)</p>
<p>It just goes to show that you can have a lot of fun here, even without partying.</p>
<p>I am a parent, so I am speaking with the voice of realism and practicality. If you major in Physics at UCSB you might have an outstanding educational and personal experience in a resort-like atmosphere. But you’ve got a whole lot of life ahead of you after those 4 or 5 years, and your prospects as a Physics major are vastly different than your prospects as an Engineering major. Please carefully explore the differences in these majors. It’s easy to assume that since Physics is a “hard” science it should lead to good careers, but this is not necessarily the case. The same goes for Biology majors. Science majors in the College of Letters and Science are mostly bound for graduate or professional school after they graduate whereas Engineers have good job prospects right out of college.</p>
<p>@mikemac: I know the general direction that I would like to go into for a major and that is engineering. Choosing exactly what I want to do for a major has been a struggle. </p>
<p>I am into aviation…I rebuild airplanes, marshal airplanes, I could go on a little more. Also math and science comes pretty easy to me. I like working with my hands and creating things, along with being artistic.</p>
<p>Here is my advice. Take UCSB off the table. Wonderful school, wonderful atmosphere, but chances of ending up with an engineering degree are low. </p>
<p>Now you have at least 2 paths. One is to go to Riverside. On the upside, you can spend all 4 years at the same college, get to know some profs, etc. I don’t know if the job market for ME’s meshes with your interests; something you’ll have to look into.</p>
<p>Path 2 is 2 years at a CC, take part in the guaranteed transfer program to UC Irvine Aerospace engineering. You will need to earn a 3.2GPA at the CC and take the required classes for the major. See [Transfer</a> Admission, Selection and Preparation](<a href=“Academic Resources | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI”>Academic Resources | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI) </p>
<p>Also I’d add that future employers love people that have had internships. It sounds like you’re already hands-on in that, so try as early as possible to get a job working in aviation (assuming that is your end goal). Doing anything for a first job or internship in college opens the door for more substantial experiences, and you may be able to talk your way into a job or internship early on.</p>
<p>@mikemac For me a CC is pretty much out of the question. I am already involved with the airport and its board members. When they have some special guest like the FAA (the police of the air) or board members of University of North Dakota the airport will have me speak about what I do on the airport and all the youth activities at the airport. I am looking a getting a SMART scholarship where during the summer I will have a civilian military internship and a job at the end of my schooling.</p>