UIUC CE vs UCSD EE

College Search & Selection
1

Hi I’m a HS Senior recently just got accepted into these schools. I want to do hardware but also a bit of software if possible, so I’m a bit leaning towards CE major. I also want somewhere with high internship/job opportunity (kinda want to work in the west coast after grad)

UCSD

Pros

  • in-state tuition

  • more internship/job available around SD (or so I heard)

  • Californian weather

Cons

  • EE not CE (although idk how hard it is to transfer between the two)

  • Not as high-ranking as UIUC (doesnt really matter tho)

UIUC

Pros

  • higher ranking

  • CE

Cons

  • Illinois winter

  • expensive (abt 20k more than UCSD)

  • internship availability ( idk about this)

Thank you very much.

2

Look at the EE course structure. Can you build the course sequence you want? If you do, the degree title of EE vs CE doesn’t matter one bit.

You said it doesn’t really matter if UCSD is ranked lower than UIUC. Based on that plus cost, if the EE program allows you to study what you want, I believe you may have your answer.

In terms of summer internships, chances are high you won’t be staying local in any case, but rather go to the Bay Area, Austin, Boston, Seattle, etc. Students form both school have plenty of access/visibility to those.

Good luck!

3

If weather matters to you, then the decision is done. It wouldn’t matter to me, but $20k/yr would matter. That’s a lot of money. UIUC is a truly outstanding program, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth $80k more than UCSD.

So I think you should check into EE vs CE transfer at UCSD. If this is preventing you from committing to UCSD, you should contact admissions and tell them that. Possible that a spot becomes available, and if you’re ready to commit, perhaps it gets offered to you.

And don’t worry. You can’t get this one “wrong”. Both are excellent programs and strong colleges.

4

There is a computer systems track under EE at UCSD. See if that satisfies what you are looking for.

5

Thanks y’all. I just hope I’m allowed to switch to CE in UCSD.

6

Computer Engineering Major | Electrical and Computer Engineering says that “Students wishing to pursue the computer engineering curriculum may do so in either the ECE or CSE department. The set of required courses and allowed electives is the same in both departments; please note that the curriculum requires eighteen upper-division courses. The Computer Engineering Program requires a total of 136 units (not including the general-education requirements).”