Which school is better for OOS Mechanical Engineering?
What is your instate option?
we don’t have an in-state option, daughter is a US citizen living abroad.
Do you plan on staying on East or West coast? Couldn’t access Mechanical but for Undergraduate Engineering US News Ranks Are #61 (UMass), #82 (UCR), and #162 (Merced). Take a tour of each to see the best fit.
west coast but not sure if UC Riverisde is worth attending over Umass.
If all are ABET accredited for Mech E, then they all are perfectly fine. She can choose based on price, or fit, or weather, or whatever she pleases. If she’s interested in beginning her career in a particular industry or part of the country, she can run those questions by the Career Centers on each campus.
thanks for all your inputs.
You can afford to be full pay at the UC’s?
I’d vote for UMass. Great college town.
Not sure the cost/academic difference between UCR and UMass? UMass sounds good, however, if you are staying on the WEST COAST, I’d pick one out there.
@Amber168 Then pick UMass. Great College town. Five college consortium. Best food. And you’re close the Boston tech Corridor.
Perhaps considering what in-major technical electives are available at each school may help the student determine which is most interesting academically within mechanical engineering.
http://student.engr.ucr.edu/majors/2017%20MCEN.pdf
https://cesd3.oit.umass.edu/undergradguide/2017-2018/Page12599.html
UCR gave her 13,500/year while UMass gave her 10K/year. But major concern is which school has better overall reputation to employers? and which school would be better in case she decides to pursue her Master’s degree?
@Amber168 Both will be well regarded for employers. You know employers will be more interested in her projects and internships than her school name anyway. UMass will be the better choice for the East Coast and UCR the West coast. Either for grad school. There is no big difference but UMass has a bit better ranking.
Look to see if the majors are impacted at the UC schools. Sometimes it is hard to get classes.
A benefit of Umass is the consortium. Engineering students don’t have a lot of time to take electives, but if she found the time there are a lot of courses offered at the other schools that might interest her.
I’ve lived in Mass and California. I’d take California, especially if she wants to end up in California. You can go to any school and get a job, but it is easier to get one near your home. Easier to interview, easier to move after school.
“Look to see if the majors are impacted at the UC schools.”
Engineering majors will be impacted every year at every UC (with possible exception of Merced). But direct admits to the desired major should be OK.
I can’t make any recommendations about the engineering programs but UCR has been building a lot of new facilities. The engineering building is new and state of the art. There is a new student sports complex and many of the dorms and cafeterias were built within the last couple of years. The campus itself is very nice.
The downside of Riverside is the town. Apart from a small area of downtown with a pedestrian mall with some bars and restaurants, Riverside doesn’t have much to offer a college student. The student will need a car to get anywhere. The campus also seems to empty out on weekends, many of the students go home.
A car does help at Riverside like at many schools. Bourns Engineering is a top quality program! When I went there back in the day they didn’t even have the movie theatre/pedestrian mall off university avenue or the new sports complex yet! Worked just fine for us. We studied hard and got quite buff working out in that “old school” gym! Would be best to take a tour and see it for yourself!
Where do you live overseas? Will she be returning for holidays? East or West coast may be closer to you.
What is the climate like where you live now?
The UCR campus may seem empty on the weekend, that doesn’t necessarily mean that students go home. Of course, some will go, but not every weekend. A lot of students move off campus after freshman year but right next to campus, where rental fees are cheaper. The University Village area is pretty much UCR students only, it’s a short walk and you are on campus. My dd didn’t have a car her first two years, but students help each other out and go places. L.A. is right there, as is the beach. San Diego is not far either.
We are from Southeast Asia so closer to California weather . We are more familiar with California but didn’t get to visit Riverside… We are concerned about environment outside of the campus.