<p>
[quote]
Today, there is a big gap between USC and UCLA in engineering, and USC has the clear advantage.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't know what kind of <em>big</em> gap you are talking about. It's not like USC is that reputated in engineering, as deomonstrated by their peer and recruiter assessment scores in the US News ranking. In fact, both the peers and recruiters gave slightly better assessment to UCLA than USC, suggesting recruiters are actually a bit more impressed with UCLA grads. USC is better ranked only in the so-called "overall" ranking. But when it comes to ranking of each individual department, they are roughtly the same though to be exact, UCLA is actually slightly better if you average the rankings of all departments. Both of them don't have any engineering department in the top-10. For those that aren't familiar with the methodology, departmental ranking is based solely on peer assessment (reputation) while "overall" ranking takes not only peer assessment and recruiter assessment but also things like # NAE membership, research $ per faculty..etc into account. By the way, I don't go to UCLA. I just live in LA and have coworkers that went to both schools.</p>
<p>How about the location differences of the schools? I've heard that USC's location leaves a lot to be desired while the location of UCLA is far better. And... you guys say UCLA is stronger in the liberal arts, but by how much?</p>
<p>Only ONE person said that UCLA was stronger in the liberal arts. The fact is, UCLA is top 15 in most programs, but top 10 in around 8 or 9. Of those top ten, around half are sciences.</p>
<p>I'd say UCLA is equally strong in the sciences, social sciences, and arts.</p>
<p>UCLAri and Sam Lee ~ Please take a chill pill! I'm not running down UCLA: it is still a very good school. When I said UCLA has great liberal arts, that was not a fiendish dig to imply that other departments, including the sciences, are not also very good.</p>
<p>My view of engineering reputation is determined by my experience of being a practicing engineering manager, living in a dozen different cities in the US and overseas, and by having hired hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand engineers (all disciplines) over the last 25 years. As I've said before, I did my first Masters at UCD, and I'm not "against" UCLA. But in engineering, USC has the advantage, both in ranking and in reputation.</p>
<p>And Flopsy, while the numbers you selected for discussion are interesting and show UCLA engineering in a good light, I think the final national rankings for this year are as follows, are they not?</p>
<pre><code>1. MIT
2. Stanford
3. UC-Berkeley
4. Georgia Tech
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
6. University of Michigan
7. University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering
8. Caltech
9. Carnegie Mellon
</code></pre>
<ol>
<li>Purdue </li>
</ol>
<p>I think this list reflects the mainstream view of both schools pretty accurately. Now if UCLA could just get a handle on its very strange admissions policy, and maybe open more slots to OOS kids, things might reverse, which would be good for all concerned as competition would make both schools stronger and lead to improvements in the profession.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think this list reflects the mainstream view of both schools pretty accurately.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>reasonabledad,</p>
<p>You got to be kidding me if you think USC is viewed better than CalTech or Carnegie Mello! Flosy shows just part of the data that doesn't favor USC. I also wanna point out USC has virutally no dept in the top-10 (except petroleum where it's 8th out of only 11 schools). Perhaps you need to take a chill pill. I didn't even go to either school.</p>
<p>You are just one of the many many recruiters out there. The recruiter peer assessment shows UCLA is 0.1 above USC. It's basically words of your mouth against US News findings; sorry, I am not ready to throw out US News just to believe you, especially considering you did go to USC.</p>
<p>First of all, reasonabledad was the one to sacarsticly tell me to "take a chill pill"? Did you not see I did post my opinion and argument with US News stats? How about you coming here to get on my back and tell me to "relax" first instead of addressing the topic discussed here?</p>
<p>Apparently you are the one that aims to stir. You are going to USC so I understand your position. But please stick to the original discussion. Thanks!</p>
<p>Sam Lee ~ Sorry to stir you up so much. For the record, I am not a recruiter. However, I have worked in industry for several decades and run a major engineering company; hence the hiring experience. Even better, I have worked with engineers from most schools, and actually seen their performances, and known them as professionals. Recruiters simply do not have the experience to give you the opinion that I've given to you. OTOH, it's just one man's opinion; worth what you pay for it.</p>
<p>Good luck in your education and in your career.</p>