<p>I've lurked in CC for ages, I love the advice here, but I never bothered to make an account until today.</p>
<p>I have registered for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering mechanical engineering program. Today, though, UPenn contacted me saying that I was accepted off the waitlist.</p>
<p>It's so late to be accepted off the waitlist! I mean... July? Come on.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm in a sort of confused state between being ****ed off and overjoyed. I got a nicer finaid package from UPenn, too, although not so much nicer as to turn the tables instantly.</p>
<p>In any case, I've already accepted at USC, paid the housing deposit, have been assigned a roommate and started looking at classes. Those aren't reasons to go there, though. I'm looking for your advice, comments, and feedback. Here's the question:</p>
<p>How does UPenn comare to USC for engineering?</p>
<p>I know nobody can decide for me, I just want to here opinions. I have two main goals:</p>
<ol>
<li> Get into a graduate program at Stanford University (this is the end-goal)</li>
<li> Go to a college with a good mood, personable people, and to enjoy myself there.</li>
</ol>
<p>Stay at USC and enjoy your 4 years in California sunshine. I don’t think Penn’s engineering program is particularly strong and if going to grad school at Stanford is your ultimate goal, Viterbi will do the job.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, listen to “California Girls” by Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg as well haha.</p>
<p>I realize that UPenn isn’t renowned for its engineering program, but that’s mostly because it’s one of the weaker programs at a very strong school. USC’s engineering is the stronger program at a weaker school (not that USC is weak, it’s just no Ivy). They’re actually tied for rank on the US News & World report, as far as undergraduate engineering goes. UPenn’s mechanical engineering is actually rated higher.</p>
<p>If you want to go into business after graduating, then I’d recommend UPenn SEAS. If you want to stay in engineering (and most high school seniors say this, but 1/3 transfer out of engineering nationwide and half of the remaining 2/3 don’t go into engineering after graduation), then I’d say go where you think you’d be happiest and enjoy yourself the most. Neither will provide a significant advantage of the other to get into “a Stanford grad program” - which program are you talking about anyways? PhD in engineering? MBA? What’s with the infatuation with Stanford grad school as a high school senior? I’ll just say that it’s very likely your interests will change in college as most people’s do…So, I’d go to the place where I think I could grow the most, I’d be happiest, would challenge me, and prepare me the best for what I want to do next.</p>
<p>I appreciate your advice here. I gotta say, though, your logic isn’t particularly helpful. Because only 1/3 of engineering students continue to study engineering doesn’t mean that I should base my decision of that number- I want to pursue further education. Yes, that may change, but that’s the only direction I have. The alternative to setting a goal (ie, graduate school, engineering) is to pick something at random. I guarantee you the probability of me staying with a randomly picked major is less than the 1/3 probability of me staying in a major I like.</p>
<p>I’m looking to pursue an MBA, not a doctorate. The obsession with Stanford is that it’s the most beautiful campus I’ve ever been to- the sandstone buildings, the wide, bleached streets, the foliage. It’s also close to San Fransisco, my favorite city in the world, it offers foreign exchange to graduate engineering students, which is exceedingly rare, and the research opportunities and research facilities are phenomenal. </p>
<p>Plus, Stanford engineering has a nice reputation. It’s not the main reason I want to study there, but it’s a nice perk.</p>
<p>I also think it’s important to have a goal- like my major, my graduate school choice could change as well. That doesn’t matter right now, though- what’s important is that I have a goal and I work towards it. Yes, my interests will probably change, but I need to make a decision NOW and I don’t know how they’ll change. The only information I can act on are my plans for the future.</p>
<p>mrtimo,
It is always difficult to make a decision when one is taken off the waiting list in the summer. </p>
<p>Viterbi has an excellent return rate for engineers. In fall of 2008 the freshmen class return rate at Viterbi was 92%, continuing an upward trend. Female students compose 27% of the undergraduates.</p>
<p>There have been many new faculty members including winners of the Lewis Award, Godel Prize and the Eli Jury Award.</p>
<p>Viterbi is the home of two NSFoundation Engineering Research Centers:</p>
<pre><code> Integrative Media Systems Center
Biomimetic Micro Electron Systerms Center
</code></pre>
<p>Two new centers will be located at USC Viterbi. DOE has designated it for the site of an Energy Frontier Research Center with a grant of $12.5 million. Another center is the Center for Research and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. This center is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.</p>
<p>Just announced this week is a gift of $500,000 by the Science Application International Corporation to Viterbi.</p>
<p>Viterbi offers opportunities for study abroad either for a summer or a full semester as well as international exchange programs.</p>
<p>… is your desire to attend Stanford e-school for grad studies. Per your end-goal, 2, you can have fun anywhere.</p>
<p>I don’t think any of us know how Penn and USC compare wrt placement into Stanford’s e-school MS/PHD program. Can you e-mail an engineering dean or someone there affiliated with the program and ask, “all other things being equal…which has the better name wrt name and admissions”?</p>
<p>Perhaps Stanford has had a good experience with Penn or USC grads in its engineering program.</p>