Hi everyone! Im currently an international undergraduate student (from Russia btw), struggling with the choice between: Penn State and UCSD. As you already see I got my intended major at Penn State and was put as undeclared at UCSD. I heard that international students are more welcomed at Penn State and that its commuinity is more united and friendly overall, which I can’t say about UCSD. On the other hand, UCSD is considered more prestigious and respectable.But is it worth risk not getting my major? Anyway, the top factor for me is employability after graduation.Which choice is better then? (The cost doesn’t matter for me)
Are you a freshman or a transfer? Penn State has a GPA-based entrance to major system that means most first-year students aren’t actually in their major until 3rd or 4th semester. https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2018 (may change)
I got admitted as a freshman to College of Engineering with intended major of Aerospace Engineering for Fall 2018
We’re you admitted to UCSD’s college of engineering? If not, odds aren’t good that you’ll get in, because registration means you won’t be able to get into engineering courses.
I was admitted to UCSD as undeclared. It basically means that I need to transfer to any college within first 2 years. However, all majors in college of engineering are capped which means that a chance to be admitted depends on students GPA and number of available places in particular major. Some say that even a student with 3.8-3.9 GPA has a high chance to be rejected due to extreme competition.
PSU does have GPA thresholds to get into engineering majors from frosh engineering, but probably less competitive than getting into an engineering major from undeclared at UCSD.
https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-2018