USC vs UCSD VS CalPolySLO for Aerospace Engineering

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello I need help deciding between USC, UCSD, and CalPoly SLO for aerospace engineering undergraduate degree. </p>

<p>My goal is to optimize my chances to getting into a good graduate school. My dream is to go to California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) for graduate school.</p>

<p>USC</p>

<p>Pros: It is close to my house (I don't have to pay for room and board; I can also be around to help my family who depends on me).
They also have good connections to major companies that I can work for (like Boeing).They also have a good student to teacher ratio (10:1).
I would also have a better chance of getting out in 4 years.</p>

<p>Cons: It is expensive (40, 000 w/o financial aid around 24,000 w/ financial aid), It is too close to my house</p>

<p>UCSD</p>

<p>Pros: The cost of going to school here is significantly cheaper. 60% of their graduates come out of engineering with a job. The location is nice. I could possibly room with family and friends who already live there. </p>

<p>Cons: Student to teacher ratio is (16:1) and there are too many students. UCSD does not realy care about the undergraduate as muchas they do about their graduate so if I go here I would just bea number and I would feel lost. I will have tougher chance of rising above my class and make myself stand out. I would not be able to finish in 4 years I would probably finish in 5 years.</p>

<p>CalState Poly SLO</p>

<p>Pros: The cost of going to school here is significantlly cheaper than both schools. Their motto is "learn by doing" (so I would come out of their undergraduate program welll qualified to work. The location is nice; small town-very calm. Their engineering progrm ranks 3rd in the nation for aerospace engineering programs for schools with bachelors degree as the highest degree.</p>

<p>Cons: It is far from home (and I can't help my parents when they need me). They are underrecognized and I would have a tougher time finding a a job after my bacheors degree.I would not be able to finiish in 4 years. I would finish in 5 or 6 years. </p>

<p>Would anyone please help me make a decision by posting their opinion. Thank you.</p>

2

<p>Can you tell me how you are determining that you can finish X college in 4 years vs. Y college in 6 years?</p>

<p>Since it is difficult to finish engineering in 4 years, wouldn't that make CaL Polys numbers skew to the higher end while another school with a lower proportion of engineering majors may skew more towards the 4 year graduation rate?</p>

<p>What would be a better comparison (and I dont know if these stats are even available), is what is the average 4 year graduation rate for an Aerospace Engineering major at both schools.</p>