<p>Has anyone else gone to UCSD instead of a higher ranked or more prestigious institution for a CS PhD? I chose UCSD over UCLA because one of my professors thought UCSD was a better school, and because UCSD has in recent years had a better overall publication record, but now I am worried I made the wrong choice. In fact quite distraught, cannot even sleep at night. Can anyone give some reasons why UCSD might be better than UCLA, or another more prestigious school, for CS? I am considering reapplying next year to UCLA and other schools, but maybe UCSD is good enough?</p>
<p>UCSD is probably good enough that you’ll be fine. In fact, it is definitely very good. </p>
<p>Probably not what you want to hear, but I’d have picked UCLA 10 times out of ever 10 if I had that decision (I did for undergrad and I picked UCLA also).</p>
<p>The only thing I can tell you is that obviously for graduate school your most important factor is your faculty mentor and not the name on your piece of paper at the end of your time there because after all, that person is who will be basically setting you up for life (rec letters for post docs, introducing you to other professors etc etc). So there is a very probable chance that your faculty mentor at SD is better than the one you would have had at UCLA. Other than that, I would have went with UCLA if I was in your position.</p>
<p>Well according to these rankings for CS grad programs, UCLA and UCSD are tied:</p>
<p>[Best</a> Computer Science Programs | Top Computer Science Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings)</p>
<p>And as g0ld3n mentioned, your mentor (and the actual work you do in graduate school) is MUCH more important than the name of your school. Of course, these two things can be correlated - for instance, schools that are more “prestigious” may have better resources than others, thus making it more likely that you will perform better in those schools. But the difference between UCSD and UCLA in this aspect seems negligible. I think once you start taking classes and doing research at UCSD, you will feel better about your decision. </p>
<p>(Just as a side note, I picked UCSD for my undergrad over UCLA and I do not regret it!)</p>
<p>TwylaBloo-- you think the prestige difference between UCLA and UCSD is negligible? That’s awesome that you picked UCSD too! You never felt ‘second class’ for not having attended UCLA? I think you’re probably right that once I get to UCSD and start taking classes and doing research I’ll feel better…</p>
<p>g0ld3n-- glad you think UCSD is still a really good school, at least.</p>
<p>My college roommate chose UCSD over higher ranked programs because her prospective research group there seemed much friendlier than the research groups elsewhere. (The only program she would have preferred over UCSD was UW, but her brother was in that department and she didn’t want to be in his shadow.)</p>
<p>Nope, I never felt ‘second class’ for not attending UCLA. I also turned down some prestigious private schools for UCSD as well. Honestly, I think the main reason that UCLA seems to get more prestige/recogntion than UCSD is because they have a good football and basketball team! (UCSD doesn’t even have a football team). In terms of academics, although some departments at UCSD may be stronger than the equivalent departments at UCLA and vice versa (one example that comes to mind is Bioengineering, which is more well-regarded at UCSD), overall I think they are equally great schools for getting an education.</p>
<p>b@r!um – interesting. I thought the professors at UCSD were exceptionally friendly, too. That was one thing that I thought UCSD had over my other options. Glad to hear others got the same impression and it wasn’t just in my mind… Is UW University of Wisconsin or Washington? A current UCSD CS PhD student was telling me that UCSD and U of Wisconsin, Madison often compete for students.</p>
<p>TwylaBloo – if you don’t mind my asking, which schools did you turn down in favor of UCSD? Just curious, and hopeful it will boost my UCSD pride… If you don’t want to post that info though it’s fine. 
Glad you think the education at both is equally great and that you never felt bad for not having gone to UCLA.</p>
<p>What part of computer science are you interested in? In theoretical computer science, for example, UCSD is much more well regarded than UCLA. When it comes to grad school, things like subfields and even advisors matter more than the overall prestige.</p>
<p>warbrain – Thanks for your input. Theory / Algorithms is actually one of my top interests (if not <em>the</em> top interest), and one of the reasons why I went with UCSD, though my adviser there does something else (I did figure, even if I can’t work with someone who does theory I can at least take lots of theory classes, since it looks like UCSD offers lots of them). I guess, considering your point, maybe I made the right choice. UCLA’s name recognition (glamour) and the chance to immediately work with someone there who does something involving algorithms (though not in the field of algorithms itself) were the main draws for me…</p>
<p>compsciphd - I sent you a PM :)</p>
<p>My daughter choose UW-Madison over UCLA. You can’t pick grad schools based on the reputation of the undergrad school, that’s ridiculous. She also had UM-College Park as a 2nd. Those and UCLA plus UCSD are pretty much equivalent in reputation, except for within the subcategories within the departments (with Madison slightly edging out the others.) So you choose the school based on the section you want to work in and the presence of profs you want to work with and the overall vibe/how the dept is run. A good Masters student from her school choose UCSD because the specialty program was considered better and a better producer of publications. I think she had a fellowship offer at each. Don’t lose any more sleep.</p>
<p>TwylaBloo – Thanks!</p>
<p>BrownParent – Thanks for sharing your daughter’s experience! I really appreciate it. I’ll try to get some sleep. :)</p>