What's in picking a school for undergrad, anyhow?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am in S. Fla, I attend community college here, have a good GPA and want to major in Chemical Engineering. This requires that I move, as there are no programs for it around here. So, I figured, might as well go someplace nice that also has a good program. </p>

<p>The first place I wanted to go was to San Diego, I visited UCSD, and loved the campus and of course, San Diego itself. I sent out apps to UCSD, UCI, UCLA, UCB, GA Tech, UT Austin, and Rose Hulman (but realized later it'd be too damn cold for me!) </p>

<p>Now, it's down to the wire and i'm wondering if the US News rankings matter as much as I think they do. Berkeley is #2, which is really great. UT Austin is #7, but it doesn't look like my boyfriend could find work there. GA Tech is #15 and i've already been admitted to there. But, I wonder, what if I don't get into Berkeley, but I get into some of the lower UCs, how would they really compare with GA Tech. Would graduate schools rather I go to GA Tech for Chemical Engineering than, say, UCSD? If I get good grades and work hard, will I not have the same opportunities when all is said and done? UCSD doesn't seem to be anywhere on the list for excellent ChE schools, but I am still drawn to San Diego. Don't get me wrong, we really liked Atlanta, too, but it is not San Diego, ya know. Either way i'll be paying out of state tuition, but i'm actually glad to be leaving Florida, i've been here too long. </p>

<p>Can you all please shed some light on this for me? I appreciate your responses here. </p>

<p>Angela.</p>

2

<p>Just checked UCSD's site and found this..
Prospective Students
The accredidation of Chemical Engineering will run through the 07/08 academic year. Procedures have been initialized to merge the program into the biotechnology track of Bioengineering. Application at the undergraduate level is handled entirely by the campus Admissions Office. We have no input at the departmental level. Nevertheless, we are more than happy to answer questions regarding Chemical Engineering education at UCSD. Please contact any of the advisors in the Student Affairs office if you need help. </p>

<p>It appears that there won't even be a department by the time I graduate. So, I guess scratch them:(</p>

<p>-A</p>