<p>hey guys, i've just been admitted to UCSB and the University of Minnesota- twin cities and both are ranked really well for chemical engineering (UCSB- 8, UMinn- 4; US NEWS 2013). i'm totally confused where to go for my undergrad education because in terms of cost and living, minneapolis is way preferable but in terms of weather and (hehe Berkeley for masters ;) )it's gotta be UCSB. please help me here!!!</p>
<p>UCSB. Top engineering, top partying, top weather. And the UC system is widely recognized. I was also accepted for ChemE :)</p>
<p>How big is the net cost difference, especially in terms of how much student loan debt you will have at graduation?</p>
<p>At almost $100,000 more to attend UCSB than Minn with nearly identical university and departmental quality, can’t see spending that much $ to wear flip-flops year round.</p>
<p>And applying to Cal for grad school will be no easier (or harder) coming from UCSB. Minn will put you in great stead given its chem e rep.</p>
<p>I agree with 1190. Assuming the OP is OOS for both schools, Minnesota is significantly more affordable. Besides, it is a more well rounded university with strong programs across many disciplines, should the OP change her/his major. Also, Minnesota is a flagship university, benefiting from a much larger endowment and athletic programs…UCSB does not.</p>
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I don’t get either of these. I’d say if you graduate in the top 10% in your ChE class at Minnesota, you should have your choice of top masters ChE programs anywhere.</p>
<p>With Minnesota, you need a 3.2 GPA to be guaranteed admission to upper level courses. Beyond that, it’s on a space available basis. So you could have a 3.0 and not get to finish. If UCSB doesn’t have another hoop that you have to jump through, I’d pick that.</p>
<p>PJ…</p>
<p>Are you instate for UCSB? If not, it’s pricey to go there. However, if you’re instate, and you qualify for Blue and Gold, then it’s probably MUCH cheaper to go to UCSB than OOS to UMinn (even tho UMinn is lowish cost for OOS, you’d be paying all costs).</p>
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<p>Not so sure about that. I don’t know about Blue and Gold, but OOS COA at Minnesota ($28,982) is actually a few thousand dollars lower than in-state COA at UCSB ($32,229). Tuition & fees are pretty similar, but Minnesota’s residence hall room and board cost is quite a bit lower than UCSB. And Minnesota has quite a few merit scholarships for top students, including OOS students. Don’t just assume that the net cost of UCSB is cheaper until you see Minnesota’s competing offer.</p>
<p>A lot of people just blindly go on the assumption that in-state COA is always cheaper than OOS COA. But that’s not true anymore. In-state COA is now so high at many public universities that it’s actually cheaper to attend Minnesota as an OOS student. That’s true for most, if not all, of the UC system.</p>
<p>If the OP is OOS for both schools, it’s no contest: OOS COA at UCSB ($55,107) is roughly double the cost of Minnesota, for essentially the same ChemE degree. Both schools have outstanding programs.</p>
<p>Not so sure about that. **I don’t know about Blue and Gold, **but OOS COA at Minnesota ($28,982) is actually a few thousand dollars lower than in-state COA at UCSB ($32,229). Tuition & fees are pretty similar, but Minnesota’s residence hall room and board cost is quite a bit lower than UCSB. And Minnesota has quite a few merit scholarships for top students, including OOS students. Don’t just assume that the net cost of UCSB is cheaper until you see Minnesota’s competing offer.</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>I didn’t just assume that UCSB is cheaper. I said that if you qualify for B&G, then it will be cheaper. Do you even know what B&G is? It’s a promise that your UC tuition (fees) is covered. So, that means that the student is assured that he’ll be given at least $12k per year in FREE MONEY. </p>
<p>That said, even if the student doesn’t qualify for B&G and is instate for UCSB, if the cost is within a few thou, then it’s still probably just as economical to go instate…far less travel costs and less “clothing issues”.</p>
<p>My Berkeley ChemE program had quite a few grads from Minnesota. Both UCSB and Minnesota will provide great ChemE educations. If cost is much cheaper at Minnesota, I’d go there. One thing to consider as well is employment opportunities are regional and this impacts on-campus recruiting. You DON’T need a master in engineering to start work. In fact, I recommend working before getting a master degree because your interests may change after you start working and your employer may subsidize an advanced degree. </p>
<p>UCSB has a great program but the campus is kinda isolated to major companies that hire ChemEs. I would check with Minnesota’s and UCSB’s career centers and ask them what companies have recruited chemical engineers on campus within the last year. There may be a difference…I don’t know.</p>
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<p>Sorry, I should have made clear when I said “as lot of people assume” I wasn’t referring to you. But a lot of people DO assume . . . You see those sorts of comments on CC all the time.</p>