<p>A friend's son is deciding between the two and I thought I'd ask if anyone here has any information that could help. Which school is better for an Engineering student (who also likes Physics) and who probably will want to go on to grad school. Thanks!</p>
<p>Both are fine for engineering. However, rather than nit-pick relatively small differences between engineering departments, I'd keep in mind that majors can and do change. So, I would focus on the larger picture. Which school would the student rather attend if he decides to (or has to) change majors? These two schools have very different social atmospheres, locations, and, of course, Cal Poly is less expensive.</p>
<p>I have a friend with two daughters. One goes to UCSD and will graduate in June. The other attends Cal Poly as a sophomore. Both are very smart, dedicated students. According to the mom, who has visited both campuses many times, UCSD is quieter, more studious/serious and less social than Cal Poly. The UCs are known also to be more theoretical in their teaching, while Cal Poly's motto is "learn by doing," so the students get more hands-on practicial experience in every major. The other thing about Cal Poly is that once you choose your major, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to change it. Most majors are impacted and kids are expected to stay in the major they wrote on their application. Your friend's son should visit each campus, if he hasn't already, and try to spend the night with students. If he's 50/50 after the visit, I'd recommend picking Cal Poly to save money for grad school. (But I know nothing about engineering programs, so just my 2 cents).</p>
<p>It seems to me that UCSD would afford more opportunities for changing majors should that be desired later since it's a larger school. It's also generally more difficult to be accepted to if that means anything to your friend.</p>
<p>I've heard the same 'hands-on' aspect of CalPoly but I can tell you that my D in engineering (Computer Science) at UCSD has plenty of hands-on experience since they essentially write programs continuously since day one. I don't know the details of their other engineering programs.</p>
<p>I think both are good schools and agree with checking out the areas, imagining living there for 4-5 years, and keeping in mind that after a couple of years (at UCSD - don't know about CalPoly), one will live off-campus so check out that aspect as well.</p>
<p>Writing programs isn't the same thing as building robots, or model bridges or the other hands on stuff of classic engineering.</p>
<p>Of course, the hands-on will be particular to the major. A CS major won't be building bridges and neither will a structural engineer build electronic circuits. Writing programs is just as pertinent to a CS major as building circuits is to an EE major and building a bridge is to a strucural engineer. </p>
<p>My point was that at least for CS, there's plenty of hands-on (as well as theory) at the UCs (at least at UCSD and UCLA). I'm not in a position to compare the other engineering disciplines at those schools but I've also heard the more practical/less theory statements for CalPoly vs UCs as well.</p>
<p>Again, I think it's splitting hairs to say the engineering at one or the other is significantly better. So, the student should focus on the overall picture -- social atmosphere, location, etc. Both schools have their strengths and weaknesses, but since they are different in some important ways, probably one or the other is a better "fit" for the individual involved. :)</p>
<p>So the consensus is neither school is a better choice for getting into a grad school engineering program?</p>
<p>The usual rule of thumb is UC over a Cal State/Poly. But Cal Poly SLO is very highly regarded in some fields of study (engineering and architecture come to mind) and can compete head to head in those fields.</p>
<p>^^ I agree.</p>
<p>I don't normally disagree with carolyn, but methinks a UCSD engineering degree will be more highly valued for grad school than is Cal Poly (which is excellent). UCSD is a top 10 engineering school, and top 2 in BioMed. </p>
<p>La Jolla may not be the fun college town that is SLO, but it does have a gazillion high tech employers nearby for research. And, of course, if your friend's S does gravitate into Physics (not uncommon for pre-engineers), the UC progam will serve him better.</p>
<p>Cal Poly is also ranked very high, just in a different ranking since they don't offer Doctorates there.</p>
<p>Here is the undergraduate rankings where you find UCSD</p>
<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
(At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
Rank/School Peer
assessment
score
( 5.0 = highest)</p>
<ol>
<li> Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 4.8 </li>
<li> Stanford University (CA) 4.7
University of California–Berkeley * 4.7 </li>
<li> California Institute of Technology 4.5
U. of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign * 4.5 </li>
<li> Georgia Institute of Technology * 4.4
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor * 4.4 </li>
<li> Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 4.3
Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)* 4.3 </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY) 4.2 </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) 4.1
University of Texas–Austin * 4.1 </li>
<li> Univ. of Wisconsin–Madison * 4.0 </li>
<li> Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.9
Northwestern University (IL) 3.9
Pennsylvania State U.–University Park * 3.9 </li>
<li> Texas A&M Univ.–College Station * 3.8
Virginia Tech * 3.8 </li>
<li> Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. (NY) 3.7
Rice University (TX) 3.7
Univ. of California–Los Angeles * 3.7
Univ. of California–San Diego * 3.7
Univ. of Minnesota–Twin Cities * 3.7
University of Washington * 3.7 </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY) 3.6
Duke University (NC) 3.6
North Carolina State U.–Raleigh * 3.6
Univ. of Maryland–College Park * 3.6
Univ. of Southern California 3.6 </li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 3.5
Ohio State University–Columbus * 3.5
University of Florida * 3.5
University of Pennsylvania 3.5 </li>
<li> Brown University (RI) 3.4
University of California–Davis * 3.4
Univ. of California–Santa Barbara * 3.4
University of Colorado–Boulder * 3.4
University of Virginia * 3.4 </li>
<li> Arizona State University * 3.3
Case Western Reserve Univ. (OH) 3.3
Iowa State University * 3.3
Washington University in St. Louis 3.3 </li>
<li> Lehigh University (PA) 3.2
Michigan State University * 3.2
University of Notre Dame (IN) 3.2
Vanderbilt University (TN) 3.2
Yale University (CT) 3.2 </li>
<li> Dartmouth College (NH) 3.1
Rutgers–New Brunswick (NJ)* 3.1
University of Arizona * 3.1
University of California–Irvine * 3.1
University of Missouri–Rolla * 3.1 </li>
<li> Colorado School of Mines * 3.0
Drexel University (PA) 3.0
Michigan Technological University * 3.0
Northeastern University (MA) 3.0
University of Iowa * 3.0
Univ. of Massachusetts–Amherst * 3.0
University of Pittsburgh * 3.0 </li>
<li> Auburn University (AL)* 2.9
Boston University 2.9
Clemson University (SC)* 2.9
Illinois Institute of Technology 2.9
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY) 2.9
SUNY–Stony Brook * 2.9
University at Buffalo–SUNY * 2.9
University of Delaware * 2.9
University of Illinois–Chicago * 2.9
University of Utah * 2.9
Worcester Polytechnic Inst. (MA) 2.9 </li>
<li> Colorado State University * 2.8
Kansas State University * 2.8
Polytechnic University (NY) 2.8
Syracuse University (NY) 2.8
Tufts University (MA) 2.8
University of Kansas * 2.8
University of Tennessee * 2.8
Washington State University * 2.8 </li>
<li> Oregon State University * 2.7
University of Cincinnati * 2.7
University of Connecticut * 2.7
University of Houston * 2.7
University of New Mexico * 2.7
U. of North Carolina–Charlotte * 2.7
University of Rochester (NY) 2.7 </li>
<li> Brigham Young Univ.–Provo (UT) 2.6
Clarkson University (NY) 2.6
Louisiana State U.–Baton Rouge * 2.6
New Jersey Inst. of Technology * 2.6
Oklahoma State University * 2.6
Southern Methodist University (TX) 2.6
Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) 2.6
Texas Tech University * 2.6
University of Kentucky * 2.6
Univ. of Nebraska–Lincoln * 2.6
University of Oklahoma * 2.6 </li>
<li> CUNY–City College * 2.5
George Washington University (DC) 2.5
Indiana U.-Purdue U.–Indianapolis * 2.5
Univ. of California–Riverside * 2.5
University of Central Florida * 2.5
Univ. of Missouri–Columbia * 2.5
University of Rhode Island * 2.5
Univ. of Wisconsin–Milwaukee * 2.5
Wayne State University (MI)* 2.5 </li>
<li>denotes a public school. </li>
</ol>
<p>Here is the undergraduate rankings where you find Cal Poly SLO</p>
<p>Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
(At schools whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's)
Rank/School Peer
assessment
score
( 5.0 = highest)</p>
<ol>
<li> Harvey Mudd College (CA) 4.4
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN) 4.4 </li>
<li> Cooper Union (NY) 4.0
United States Military Academy (NY)* 4.0
United States Naval Academy (MD)* 4.0 </li>
<li> Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo * 3.9 </li>
<li> Bucknell University (PA) 3.7
United States Air Force Acad. (CO)* 3.7 </li>
<li> Embry Riddle Aeronautical U. (FL) 3.5
Milwaukee School of Engineering 3.5
Villanova University (PA) 3.5 </li>
<li> Kettering University (MI) 3.3
Lafayette College (PA) 3.3
San Jose State University (CA)* 3.3
Swarthmore College (PA) 3.3 </li>
<li> Calif. State Poly. Univ.–Pomona * 3.2
Embry Riddle Aeronautical U.–Prescott (AZ) 3.2
United States Coast Guard Acad. (CT)* 3.2
Univ. of Colo.–Colorado Springs * 3.2 </li>
<li> Baylor University (TX) 3.1
Bradley University (IL) 3.1
Gonzaga University (WA) 3.1
Loyola Marymount University (CA) 3.1
Rowan University (NJ)* 3.1
Union College (NY) 3.1
University of Michigan–Dearborn * 3.1
Valparaiso University (IN) 3.1
Webb Institute (NY) 3.1 </li>
<li> Santa Clara University (CA) 3.0
Seattle University 3.0
St. Louis University 3.0
Trinity University (TX) 3.0
U.S. Merchant Marine Acad. (NY)* 3.0
University of Portland (OR) 3.0
University of San Diego 3.0 </li>
<li> Boise State University (ID)* 2.9
California State U.–Los Angeles * 2.9
California State U.–Northridge * 2.9
The Citadel (SC)* 2.9
Mercer University (GA) 2.9
Northern Arizona University * 2.9
Purdue University–Calumet (IN)* 2.9
Smith College (MA) 2.9
Univ. of Massachusetts–Dartmouth * 2.9
University of Minnesota–Duluth * 2.9
Virginia Military Institute * 2.9 </li>
<li> California State U.–Long Beach * 2.8
California State U.–Sacramento * 2.8
Indiana U.-Purdue U.–Fort Wayne * 2.8
Miami University–Oxford (OH)* 2.8
Oregon Inst. of Technology * 2.8
University of Detroit Mercy 2.8
University of St. Thomas (MN) 2.8 </li>
<li> California Maritime Academy * 2.7
Hofstra University (NY) 2.7
Maine Maritime Academy * 2.7
Manhattan College (NY) 2.7
Northern Illinois University * 2.7
Ohio Northern University 2.7
Univ. of Wisconsin–Platteville * 2.7 </li>
<li> California State U.–Fullerton * 2.6
Cedarville University (OH) 2.6
Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. (NJ) 2.6
Grove City College (PA) 2.6
Hope College (MI) 2.6
Loyola College in Maryland 2.6
Montana Tech of the Univ. of Mont. * 2.6
New York Inst. of Technology 2.6
Norwich University (VT) 2.6
Penn State–Erie, Behrend Col. * 2.6
Texas Christian University 2.6
Trinity College (CT) 2.6
University of Alaska–Anchorage * 2.6
Univ. of Arkansas–Little Rock * 2.6
University of Evansville (IN) 2.6
Univ. of Missouri–St. Louis * 2.6
Univ. of Tennessee–Chattanooga * 2.6
University of the Pacific (CA) 2.6
Widener University (PA) 2.6
Youngstown State University (OH)* 2.6 </li>
<li> California State Univ.–Chico * 2.5
Calvin College (MI) 2.5
Grand Valley State University (MI)* 2.5
LeTourneau University (TX) 2.5
Minnesota State University–Mankato * 2.5
Murray State University (KY)* 2.5
North Carolina A&T State Univ. * 2.5
Pennsylvannia State U.–Harrisburg * 2.5
San Francisco State University * 2.5
Southern Illinois U.–Edwardsville * 2.5
St. Cloud State University (MN)* 2.5
SUNY–Maritime College * 2.5
Texas A&M Univ.–Galveston * 2.5
Tri-State University (IN) 2.5
University of Hartford (CT) 2.5
University of Wisconsin–Stout * 2.5
Western New England College (MA) 2.5
West Virginia U. Inst. of Tech. * 2.5 </li>
<li>denotes a public school.</li>
</ol>
<p>UCSD is in the top 20, but not quite the top 10. As to a degree in Physics, it is a lot tougher for anyone to find employment with an undergrad Physics degree. Most likely one would need to continue into an advanced degree coming out of either University with a Physics degree. I too would choose the school that is the best fit.</p>
<p>Son's really liked the Cal Poly hands on approach. If the goal is a job with an undergraduate degree than I go with Cal Poly. Cal Poly has an impressive hiring record.</p>
<p>For a gradaute placement then perhaps UCSD</p>
<p>An engineering professor once told me that the big difference between a pizza and a person with an undergraduate physics degree is that a pizza can feed a family of four.</p>