Yikes...tough decision

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Ok so here is the deal. I have my college choices narrowed down to four right now, all in-state CA: UCLA, UCB, UCSD, and UCI. I am a mechanical engineering major (might change the type, but I'll probably stick with engineering wherever I end up). I am having a tough time picking between them. I know that the ultimate decision lies in my hands, but I'm curious what kind of input other people have.</p>

<p>I have Regents at UCI, which comes with a $9,000 per year scholarship, along with other benefits like priority registration, guaranteed on campus housing for 4 years, honors program...basically if I go there I will be getting a lot of good things out of it. The money is definetely nice, but I am fortunate enough that money is not a big problem, so I'm not choosing them on the basis of whether or not I can afford it, because I can afford them all. My only problem with Irvine is that it is the worst for engineering of the four schools...which is not to say that they are bad, just the worst of my choices (I don't know the exact rankings or anything).</p>

<p>I also have regents at UCSD. Theirs is similar to Irvine's, just not quite so many benefits, and only $2,000 per year. UCSD is really good for engineering, #11 according to them when I visited last week. I really like the campus, and I feel pretty comfortable being there, even though I've only visited twice.</p>

<p>UCLA is the closest to home and family, only an hour drive away. But no Regents or anything there...if I pick it, I will be giving up a lot of nice benefits I could have at the other two schools. From what I understand, they are somewhere in between UCSD and UCI for quality of their engineering program. The biggest thing I like about UCLA is that they're great for sports (I don't play, but I'm a big fan); UCI and UCSD are greatly lacking in that area, and I think good sports teams would make the experience a little more fun.</p>

<p>UCB is obviously the best choice for an engineering major, but it is the farthest away from home. Once again, no Regents or anything there, so I'd be losing out on benefits I could get at UCI/UCSD. Berkeley is also pretty good for sports, which is a plus. The biggest problem is I haven't even visited UCB yet...I'm hoping to check them out two weekends from now.</p>

<p>So what do you think? Would it be worth it to pass up somewhere as good as Berkeley to take the Regents at UCI or UCSD (considering that money is not a huge factor...though $9,000 at UCI is a lot :) )? Or would it be better in the long run to pick the best quality school for my major?</p>

<p>At the moment, I'm leaning towards UCSD...though I really like UCLA because of its proximity to home and its sports teams...and I honestly didn't expect to get into UCB, so now that they are an option I am even more at a loss for what to pick. Anybody have any useful input?</p>

2

<p>bump..............</p>

3

<p>id definitely go to Berkeley</p>

4

<p>I'd say go with UCSD.</p>

5

<p>Visit Berkeley- if you like the campus and the atmosphere- go there. If not- go to UCSD, the Regents benefits sound like a big plus.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the input...bump again</p>

7

<p>UCLA...... I like the environment.</p>

8

<p>UCSD is worth it for engineering...but the environment leaves a lot to be desired compared to UCLA</p>

9

<p>UCLA all the way</p>

10

<p>Bump again...one thing I considered is going to Berk for grad school, since I hear their undergrad is good but their grad program is great. Should I maybe pursue my four-year degree somewhere else and then switch to them later?</p>

11

<p>bump........</p>

12

<p>I'd go to Berkeley even if the reputation weren't an issue except maybe over San Diego, just because I like the atmosphere more. It's in an eclectic interesting area (compared to the area around UCLA, which is nice but not Berkeley) with a beautiful campus and more diversity than Irvine.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone...let's try one more bump.</p>

14

<p>one more time maybe?</p>