<p>I have been admitted to my first choice major of Civil / Structural Engineering in UCSD / UCI / Purdue and waiting for UMich. I would like to get help on deciding based not only on rankings but also on overall undergrad experience and job opportunities / internships. I may also change to Chemical Engineering which was my second choice of major though I do not know if that should be a factor currently in my decision making.</p>
<p>Do guide with your comments / suggestions.</p>
<p>Best wishes and continued success to all of you.</p>
<p>After much thoght and going through many posts in the forum I have decided to go with UCSD. This is mostly for the follwing reasons</p>
<ol>
<li>I am still undecided about my major. Purdue is a great engineering school but I may end up changing my major ( civil / structural engineering to chemical or even non engineering)</li>
<li>Purdue has rough weather. I will be away from home and I do not want to take a chance to find out if I can handle the cold. I might get depressed and it is not a question of one year but four years,</li>
<li>Purdue will have lot more Indian / International students. I need to get international scholarship / funding. Maybe my chances will be better to get scholarships / internships / campus jobs at UCSD. Again this is my feeling based on the colege demographics and gut feel. I could be absolutely wrong but then in the absence of any concrete information I have to make some assumptions.</li>
<li>UCSD has six college system. Though it makes it socially difficult it also means smaller class size for freshman especially in the core program. I am lost in large classes. Again this is an assumption based on blogs as I have not attended any admit day nor spoken to any counselor.</li>
<li>Finally UCSD feels right to my heart.</li>
</ol>
<p>Do comment on my logic. And Best Wishes and God Speed to all of you.</p>
<p>I agree with you an the weather and if you change to a non-enng then UCSD would be much better. I doubt that international scholarship / funding will be easier at UCSD specially in the engg department which is very competitive. My sister studies in UCSD,and got a double major in microbiology and economics. She told me that the social scene is not as bad as all the blogs make it out to be. You just need to very active and put yourself out there. Intl funding for undergrad is really limited consider applying through a private organization</p>