University of Michigan or U.C. Berkeley (Aerospace Engineering)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I've made my way through the entire college process and have narrowed my choices down to the University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley. I am interested in pursuing aerospace engineering, but I would feel just as comfortable getting a degree in mechanical engineering because it is such a similar field.</p>

<p>I have visited both schools, and I've fallen in love with both of them. I feel like I can't go wrong, but since I can only choose one, I'd to choose the best one for me. Both of them are out-of-state, so costs are essentially equal.</p>

<p>I feel that I would get a more well-respected degree from Berkeley because it's strong reputation in the field, but I know that Michigan is a school that has been "on the rise" for the last few years. Which of these schools has a better reputation in the aerospace world? Berkeley is ranked 3rd by US News, while Michigan is ranked 7th. How significant is this difference?</p>

<p>Between the two schools, I think that I fit in better at Michigan, but I have no problem with Berkeley's culture (except that I am not interested in poltical activism). I love college sports, especially football and basketball, and I like that both school's have strong athletic programs and spirited students. I like the weather in Berkeley, but I like Ann Arbor as a traditional college town.</p>

<p>I think I would thrive academically at Berkeley (I learn best in a competitive environment), but I would have a more fun college experience at Michigan. I'm worried that if I go to Michigan, I will slack off, but if I go to Berkeley, I will lose out on the fun parts of being in college.</p>

<p>I am totally 50-50 between the two schools, so I'm posting this in both school's forums. Please let me know what you would do if you were in my shoes! If there's anything I've overlooked that might help me make a decision, please share that as well! Thank you very much for your time!</p>

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<p>Michigan is ranked third in aerospace engineering. Cal doesn’t offer it. Overall engineering is slightly stronger at Berkeley. Michigan is traditionally much stronger than UCB in football and basketball, not to mention hockey and other sports. School spirit is tops at Michigan. </p>

<p>Please don’t underestimate the academics of Michigan. It is not going to be a cakewalk for engineering, or just about any other area other discipline offered. If you think you can slack off at U-M and get top scores, you are going to be in for a very rude awakening!</p>

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<p>You must have a lot of $$$.</p>

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<p>I don’t think you’ll have to more room to slack off at Michigan’s #7 vs. Berkeley’s #3. The difference is very insignificant. </p>

<p>For example, UPenn and Vanderbilt don’t even have an engineering department ranked within the top #20. But I can guarantee you that you won’t be slacking there either.</p>

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<p>Slacking off at umich engineering. LOL</p>

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<p>To clarify, I understand how difficult Michigan engineering is, but since it is a less competitive environment than U.C. Berkeley, I’m worried that I won’t work as hard. Michigan seems to emphasize a more collaborative approach in its engineering departments, and I’ve found that I work harder when I don’t have other people to fall back on if I fail. I know Michigan engineering is still very difficult. I didn’t mean to come off like I am too smart for the program; I’m just worried that I might not develop a good work ethic if I have a “safety net” of other students to fall back on.</p>

<p>Does anyone in the aerospace industry know how most companies view Michigan aerospace students versus Berkeley mechanical engineers?</p>

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<p>Michigan has stronger ties with the aerospace industry for obvious reasons. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman are major recruiters on campus at Michigan. </p>

<p>Also, even at Michigan, you may major in Mechanical Engineering. In fact, given the versatility of the subject and the current job market, I think a degree in MechE could make better sense. Michigan and Cal are equally good in MechE. In fact Michigan is as strong as Cal in all Engineering fields other than ChemE, Civil and EECS, where Michigan is still very strong, but Cal is arguably #1. Since you have not indicated an interest in ChemE, Civil or EECS, and since cost of attendance is not an issue and you prefer Michigan, I recommend you join the Wolverine family! Welcome home!!!</p>

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<p>Speaking from personal experience, I haven’t met any berkeley engineers in the few aviation internships I was exposed to. Most of the engineers are Big Ten grads.</p>

<p>I am a mechanical myself, and will be headed to the aviation industry in a few months for full time.</p>

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<p>After taking some aero classes, I can assure you that it is no cakewalk. The pressure will always be to outperform your peers because almost all upper level engineering classes are graded on a curve. Because Michigan has such a top aerospace program, companies like Northrop, Lockheed, Boeing, Airbus, NASA, Honeywell, Space X, and United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney, Sirkorsky etc) all come to recruit here.
Additionally, the aero program allows for student organizations like the Student Space Systems Fabrication Lab (S3FL) where they do all sorts of astronautical engineering related activities (check out their website: [Student</a> Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory | University of Michigan](<a href=“http://data.engin.umich.edu/groups/s3fl/projects.php]Student”>http://data.engin.umich.edu/groups/s3fl/projects.php)) and if you have specific questions about the CanSat team I can answer them since I was a part of it.</p>

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<p>I faced this exact choice in 1979, went to Michigan, and have followed both schools ever since. My thoughts:</p>

<p>Very similar kinds of schools: large, prestigious state universities with world-wide reputations as elite schools, based in great college towns. Price for OOS is similar at this point.</p>

<p>UCB has a garden like campus with more exotic natural beauty. Hilly. Faces the bay. Redwoods on campus. California look.
UM has more classic college buildings (some are just incredible) and lots of trees that look fabulous in the autumn. Landscape is flat with some small hills. Classic Eastern college look. Verdict: Tie</p>

<p>UM does more for undergraduates. Living learning communities, honors program, resident college, undergrad. research opp. program, writing programs, mentorship. UCB doesn’t appear to have any or much of that. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UCB has an edge in the reputation department due to the Nobel prizes and Academy of Science memberships. In most areas it does slightly better but both are tops more perhaps than any schools other than Stanford and Harvard. But UCB has an edge over Ivy League schools too. UM is fully in that class and is highly respected in the professional world and academia. Verdict: UCB</p>

<p>Ann Arbor might be the best college town in the country. Pretty with all kinds of Victorian buildings, safe, fun, full of culture. Parks everywhere. Berkeley is also a great college town but gritty and unsafe in parts. The city of Berkeley has its own identity apart from the university (which you might prefer) and often the two clash. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>Berkeley is next to San Francisco. Ann Arbor is 40 minutes from Detroit. Verdict: UCB</p>

<p>Both are in beautiful states. People associate Michigan with auto plants but most of the state is rural. It boarders four great lakes and has more coastline than Florida. Northern California is lovely Northern California but the East Bay Area is overly congested. And this pushes right up against campus. Area around Ann Arbor is more rural and not congested.Verdict: Tie</p>

<p>UCB is more urban, UM more suburban. Verdict: Depends on your preferences. Verdict: Tie</p>

<p>Both are strong in sports but the UM sports tradition is much stronger. You might like this and you might not like it. For those who do, there’s nothing that beats it. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM has far more student housing and is in the middle of a major housing building endeavor. They pour hundreds of millions into this and have many classic dorms. UCB has a terrible shortage and apartments are kind of beat. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM has a medical school, one of the best in the world. That’s a big thing for a U not to have, in the case of UCB. But UCSF is across the bay. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM has a more vibrant alumni association and school identity. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM offers more practical majors for students: eg BA in Education or Public Policy. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UCB uses grading curves in the sciences and prides itself on having a competitive environment. Read their website, every fourth word is competitive. Maybe you’ll thrive in this. I find it tedious and stressful. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM is more folksy and friendly. The Midwestern values and politeness come through. I was there a few months ago and more than a few people walked me towards my destination after I asked for directions. I doubt this will happen at UCB; although Californians are more laid back. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM has incredible graduate social sciences degrees offered through the Rackham school. Fully funded joint majors. Probably the better school for social sciences. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM is a major player in computer science and played a big role in the creation of the Internet. But UCB, which Silicon Valley nearby, is legendary in this regard. Verdict: UCB</p>

<p>UM is in better financial shape, having privatized years ago. UCB hung on to the state U vision longer, which is admirable, but they suffered for it. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UCB has pleasant weather year round but it’s a bit monotonous. UM has four seasons, three of which are lovely. Autumn is amazing. Winter can be charming too but it’s too long. UM has grey skies in winter, not good for sufferers of SAD. UCB is very sunny. Verdict: UCB</p>

<p>UM has better museums. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>UM has more out of staters. Verdict: UM</p>

<p>So there you have it. All depends on you. I would be very tempted by the honors program. I don’t think UCB has one. That’s pretty cool, graduate of UM honors program. But you have to weigh all the factors as you value them.</p>

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<p>I chose Michigan! Thank you for all the help!</p>

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<p>Congrats umichorthatotherschoolthatnowneedstobedeletedfromyour collegeconfidentialaccount!</p>

<p>Go Blue!</p>

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<p>Call me a Michigander, seaslipper, but I suppose I don’t see sunny skies as necessarily better. They’re just a nice bonus. </p>

<p>I hope you enjoy your time here, umichorberkeley! Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Actually Finnlet, you make a fair point. The sun in California can be quite oppressive. It can give a person headaches. But some people do suffer from seasonal affected disorder which is a real medical condition where they get depressed by grey cloudy skies. I wouldn’t advise someone with SAD to go to UM and even more so U of Wash.</p>

<p>umichorberkeley I’m curious, what were you reasons for your decision?</p>

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<p>The biggest reason is that I feel Michigan is a better fit for me than me than Berkeley. I had the chance to visit both schools, and while I liked Berkeley, I loved Michigan.</p>

<p>In addition to that, as an aerospace major, Michigan can open more doors to research and internships than Berkeley, which doesn’t offer an aerospace degree. Even though Berkeley offers mechanical engineering (a similar field) and is highly-ranked in it, I think being able to be involved in aerospace research as an undergraduate is extremely important, and I figured opportunities will be much more available at Michigan. Furthermore, the aerospace program is very strong and has a long history of success.</p>

<p>Even though Michigan isn’t as well-respected as Berkeley on the West Coast, I know I made the right decision and look forward to being a Wolverine!</p>

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<p>I’m not saying it has never happened, but I have met many Michigan graduates and I never met a single person who regretted going to Michigan. I cannot make that statement about my three alma matas: ASU, SMU and Texas.</p>

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<p>seaslipper, I am familiar with SAD–I was merely jesting about the frequently-overcast weather. We like to joke about our cloudiness in this state. :)</p>

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<p>Tens of millions of people function perfectly well in the midwest and northeast all year 'round.</p>

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<p>You never have to worry about Michigan being respected anywhere. I’m serious about that. I can recall more than a few occasions where I told Berkeley professors that I went to Michigan and watched their reactions which always indicated being impressed. Michigan is a powerhouse.</p>

<p>Your logic is good. Go where they teach what you want to do. So much talk about rankings on these pages. That’s silly especially for undergrads. Go where you’ll be productive and engaged. That tends to happen when they teach what interests you.</p>

<p>Welcome to the Michigan family.</p>

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<p>Seaslipper, I wouldn’t say Berkeley is especially sunny. Fog from the Golden Gate pours in on a regular basis.</p>