<p>My main choices right now are UIUC for Computer Science, and UC San Diego for Computer Science and Engineering. </p>
<p>I'm not sure which one I should pick. My main concerns are that UIUC is ranked a lot higher for CS (aka better program), but UCSD has great weather & would save me money, since I'm in-state. </p>
<p>(Also, I'm not very sure how UCSD's reputation for computer engineering stands, but then I sometimes hear that undergrad rankings don't matter <em>that</em> much..? I'm not sure...)</p>
<p>Anyhow, I'm stuck between the 2 right now. Which one would you choose? Any thoughts would be appreciated~ Thanks</p>
<p>CS is an impacted major in UCSD, congratulations if you have been selected directly enter that program. Yes, the UIUC program is slightly better, but not by much. You will be fine with UCSD in state tuition.</p>
<p>ARWU ranks UCSD CS #11 in the world, and Illinois is ranked #14. I’m sure other rankings have Illinois above UCSD. Either is fine. You’d be snapped up by a Silicon Valley company with a degree from either of those schools.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’re looking at about $30,000 or so (if you already have local medical insurance and can just drive to school) at UCSD vs. about $50,000 for Illinois. You like the weather better at UCSD, so I’m guessing that you’d probably prefer to live and work in CA after you graduate. I’d say go with UCSD. UCSD is plenty reputable for CSE, especially with California employers. I can’t see paying the premium for a large state public when you have a great in-state top tier UC in your pocket that you actually prefer.</p>
<p>Look, this “much more reputable” is a bunch of BS. Funny how the people that tout this never get around to explaining just how your studies would be so different at UCSD than UIUC. As an undergrad you’re going to study similar things at both schools, and whether companies are interested in you for internships/jobs is going to boil down to what you do and not what school you attend. Get good grades & take part in student-run projects, you’ll be a good candidate for internships. Have some internships and a good GPA and you’ll be a good job candidate.</p>
<p>Rankings do measure something, but only quite coarsely. There probably is a difference between the quality of students at Stanford and at SJSU 15 miles away, in the expectations and pace of the class, etc. But between a pair like UIUC and UCSD, I dunno… </p>
<p>OP, do your own research here. Contact the dept at each and ask them for a list of where recent grads have been hired or accepted for grad school. Most colleges have surveys of graduating seniors so they should know what their kids are up to. Compare each list, see if you think employers and grad schools are making a big distinction between the 2 schools.</p>
<p>I have the same dilemma. CS in in engg UCSD vs UIUC. </p>
<ul>
<li>UCSD says CS is an impacted major. What does this mean for CS students. Are CS students not guaranteed to enroll into CS courses in first 2 years?</li>
<li>Does UCSD students get credits for AP courses. How do they compare with UIUC for AP credits.</li>
<li>Quality of education</li>
<li>How do we compare internship opportunities during 2nd year and 3rd year.</li>
<li>Job opportunities - # of companies offering jobs.</li>
<li>Faculty access to students.</li>
</ul>
<h2>- Are there any difference for first 3 semesters in each with respect to access to faculty, CS courses.</h2>
<p>Impact meaning more selective. It does not mean superior than UIUC. There is virtually no difference between the two in academics, living style, BIG difference. I have relatives went to both and there is no problem to find a good job from either.</p>
<p>Cost difference is around 10K more in UCSD. Wondering about any cons w.r.t to impacted major in UCSD. Does it restrict students from taking CS dept courses due to demand?</p>
<p>I had called all the 3 numbers listed under CSE dept undergraduate admissions. It has been more than a week. They didn’t return the call yet. UIUC is definitely more accessible.</p>
<p>Impacted majors only affecting incoming students or students who were undeclared. In the past it was much easier to transfer from non-impacted majors to non-impacted majors like filling out a form online. With impacted majors there must be more hurdle to jump through to change majors. It should help students who were accepted as CS majors, more lab space. What that means is that non-CS major does not have priority through enrollment. You can read it here.
<a href=“http://cse.ucsd.edu/ImpactedMajor”>http://cse.ucsd.edu/ImpactedMajor</a>
<a href=“http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/undergrad/undergrad_academic/academic_majors/impacted.shtml”>http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/undergrad/undergrad_academic/academic_majors/impacted.shtml</a>
From what I was told and reading online, UCSD is trying to limit the growth of the CSE department from 2200 to 1500(like it did back in 2008). In 2008, it went from 1300 to 800. The department received $20million alumni donation and the president is trying to improve UCSD CSE standing in CSE to be in the top 5( and not top 15 as it is right now). It’s ambitious goal and I think is doable because the CSE department is relatively young(1987) one and UCSD is also only 50 years old unlike some other UCs.
For jobs/internships, go to linkedin and search for UCSD, notable alumni and you see top employers for CSE is Google. I read some of the TAs in CS are managing the clouds for Google. That is one way to tell who is hiring there recently. Same with UCB, top employers are Google. I also checked for UCLA and did not see Google as top employer, perhaps because it’s located in close proximity to a lot of aerospace companies.</p>
So, which university will allow a easier transfer? My dilemma is that I was not admitted to the engineering school of either university. Furthermore, the CSE of UCSD is an impacted major; the engineering school of UIUC only guarantee a limited admission, too. It appears that the computer science major of the both schools are highly competitive…