My S got into both these programs for electrical engineering. He definitely wants to be in Engineering, with Electrical Engineering as his top choice. He may consider computer engineering as a possibility.
Now the dilemma is as follows:
UCSB would be in-state for us, great weather, great location. For a CA kid, born and lived in So-CA all his life, this would be ideal. But the Engineering school ranking is much lower than UIUC, and school is not that highly recognized as a great engineering school. In addition, there is no business school, so no option for minor in Business.
UIUC would be OOS and really far from home. It is a great school, very highly ranked and well regarded in engineering circles. Additionally, all engineering majors are highly ranked, so even if he was to change majors within engineering, these are highly ranked. Rankings are ever higher for graduate schools, and the business school as well if future minor is to be considered. But location is a concern - long travel travel to get there. Plus, for a CA kid, the cold weather in Illinois may be difficult to get used to.
Cost is not a major concern, we are willing and able to cover the costs in both schools.
UCSB computer science and computer engineering are highly-ranked, and by some rankings these programs are the equal of UIUC. These are typically graduate program rankings, not undergraduate, so it’s hard to judge the quality of undergraduate instruction from these rankings. Some links here:
So as to your overall choice, I think academically for CE, they might be considered roughly similar, and then you and your son would have to consider the many other differences between UIUC and UCSB and decide on that basis. They do both have the reputation as party schools, though!
One big difference is the size of the engineering programs at each school. UIUC has over 9,000 students in undergraduate engineering, UCSB just 1400. UIUC will presumably have more scale and breadth, and UCSB will feel more intimate and may foster easier interactions between students and professors. You can get more info on the engineering programs (number of faculty, research spending, class sizes) at http://profiles.asee.org.
I have read that UIUC has incorporated some of the novel approaches to engineering education that were pioneered at Olin College of Engineering. I don’t know exactly how that’s been integrated into the curriculum, but it probably involves more design- and project-focused activities in the first and second years.
And congrats to your son for getting accepted to UCSB! The acceptance rate to engineering for 2016 was only 15.5%, and will likely be similarly low this year. My son is in his second year there in chemical engineering and loves it.
UIUC is a place I’ve spent time as a researcher (social sciences) over the years. I’m originally form Southern California (L.A. – San Fernando Valley), now living in Michigan. I went to college in Oregon and then to doctoral studies at UWisconsin. Illinois weather is not as harsh as Wisconsin weather, but definitely your son would need to acclimate to colder weather and, I’m guessing, a smaller city environment. But it can be done! (Chicago, btw, is about 130 miles away; St. Louis a bit further.)
Urbana-Champaign (combined pop ca. 125K) has plenty to offer to students. Enough to do, but no beaches. A great university library (which is one of the reasons I have spent time there). UIUC has long been known for its computer sciences. The student body is highly diverse and international.The degree would be highly credible.
One difference we found between UIUC and most UCs (I have a freshman in UIUC and he has a lot of friends in different UCs): UIUC system seems much less restrictive. It’s much easier to choose the classes you like, you can skip classes by taking a corresponding proficiency exam, the GenEd requirements are more flexible and the kids end up having much more interesting course of study.
Even though UIUC is larger, the UCSB is large enough to have huge classes. I wouldn’t worry about professor accessibility - teacher will notice and will recognize the kid if s/he is doing well, showing the interest, attending the extra seminars or visits the lab in spare time.
The travel to UIUC IS a problem. Plane ride + 3-4 hr bus ride do add up and are exhausting.
On the other hand, the housing situation is so much better than in SB!
Travel is going to be a huge hassle. After the 4+ hour plane ride I believe he’d have to travel to Dowtown Chicago) via el to the take a bus or train to C-U. But UIUC is a great school and a great engineering school. And lots of good housing choices.
^ There are several charter companies that run shuttle buses daily between Urbana-Champaign and O’Hare International. It’s around $30 one way I believe, so you would not need to travel all the way into the city (Unless he wants to take Amtrak from Union Station Chicago to Champaign)
Thanks for all your replies! Yes, travel is a huge consideration - since it will take pretty much a full 12 hour day, door to door. Orange county to ORD by flight (4h) and then by bus (3h). There are flights in to Champaign, but not really worth the hassle of flight changes. Add in all the additional time at airports, check-in, lay over etc, it will easily take a full day. It means that coming home for long weekends is not feasible, and only time coming back will be when there is more than 3-4 days off - i.e. during thanksgiving or winter break or spring break.
Our D at UIUC has roomed with a girl from California for two years. We are from the Chicago area. Her roommate doesn’t go home for Thanksgiving. She was at our home for one, and with different friends from school for another.
For longer breaks, sometimes she has flown out of Indianapolis, sometimes ORD.
When flying in or out of ORD, there is usually an overnight or two with friends in Chicago before taking the next leg of the trip.
Once a network of friends is established, the travel seems to be much less of a big deal.