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I'm an out-of-state student who's been rejected from UC Berkeley. However, I got into UCLA Engineering.

Can someone tell me about UCLA Engineering and how it stacks up? Some info about UCLA in general would be nice too.

I keep reading these posts (especially at the Princeton Review boards) about how UCLA is gradually getting better than Berkeley. Can anyone speak to this?

Thanks

By Chenguo (Chenguo) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 12:06 am: Edit

All I know is that its engineering program is ranked #21 in the US News "America's Best Colleges" ranking. Berkeley is #4.

By Nocalguy (Nocalguy) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 12:23 am: Edit

Who was #1,2,3? Just wondering.

By Leebob (Leebob) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 01:47 am: Edit

But then again, being an out of state pick for UCLA says a lot. I got selected for UCLA Engineering from out-of-state as well and I was very happy - even though I got my Georgia Tech acceptance the same day. Ga Tech was also ranked in the top 5 overall for engineering, but I was leaning towards UCLA because I felt honored just by beating the odds - even the Harvard acceptance rate is higher than out-of-state to UCLA. Take a hard look at what you want from an engineering school, pat yourself on the back for beating the numbers, and enjoy UCLA. I wish I could, but I couldn't turn down the Air Force Academy - just too much to offer after 4 years. I had put in for Berkeley as well - but after the USAFA accepted me I was only using it as a measure for my chances to my 1st choice, Stanford. I got my Berkeley rejection today as well, but as I wouldn't have gone anyway it didn't really bother me. But it served as my first rejection out of 5 applications - as well as getting my head straight to face next weeks notice from Stanford. Hey, I've already beat the odds with both UCLA and USAFA - the 12% selection rate for Stanford don't scare me and I have a great back up. If only UCLA would give me a free ride....

By Chenny (Chenny) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:30 am: Edit

I was really hoping for Berkeley because they take a lot more out-of-state students than UCLA. I think UCLA's an awesome school all-around. But I really don't know about its engineering department.

I'm originally from Chicago, IL but I now live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, so I have NO exposure to the University of Californias.

I also applied to Stanford. But I hear Berkeley is also known as the school of Berkeley rejects. So if I get rejected from Berkeley, Stanford doesn't look that promising for me...

But nonetheless, here are my other schools

U Michigan: Accepted
UIUC Elec Eng: Accepted
Carnegie Mellon ECE: Accepted
UCLA, UC San Diego: Accepted

Columbia, Cornell, Stanford and Rice: Still waiting.

What school do you think would be the best? I like the Californias because I'm tired of snow, cold weather...Canada's too cold...hahaha

By Erin (Erin) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 11:44 am: Edit

If you want warm, sunny California weather, don't go to Berkeley. It's usually foggy in the morning until midway through the day, quite often cloudy, and on the cold side.

By Chenguo (Chenguo) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 12:18 am: Edit

Nocalguy: US New's ranking for engineering is:
1. MIT
2. Stanford
3. CalTech
4. Berkeley
5. UIUC

Chenny: You should definitely tour the schools and ask the students there a few questions before you make a decision. That way you can find the school best for you. (I'm trying to make a similar decision as you, and I'm going to the engineering open house at UCLA next weekend to see what it's like, and I might also go to their Regents overnight stay thingy.)

By Dhf1720 (Dhf1720) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 11:43 am: Edit

UIUC is awesome, and unpretentious

By Bumblebee (Bumblebee) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:39 am: Edit

how bout UCSD? how does this school compare to UCLA?