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05-06-2008, 09:19 PM
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#1 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 3
Posts: 14
| UCLA or UCSB or...
I got admitted to UCLA, UCSB, UCSD and UCI and I'm planning to major in chemical engineering. My top choices are UCLA and UCSB. According to some rankings, UCSB is shown as a very good university for chemical engineering. However, UCLA is known to be good at most things and has a better reputation. I am really having a hard time deciding which school to go and asked for many tips and it turned out that half of the people i asked say UCLA and the other half says UCSB. I'm planning to do graduate studies afterwards, what is actually more important for an undergraduate? To go to the one with better program or go to the one with better name? | 
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05-06-2008, 10:06 PM
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#2 | | Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Threads: 4
Posts: 412
| If you are a professional in chemE or materials science, UCSB chemical and materials engineering are basically of the best in the world.
Although I don't know how these extend to the undergrad level. | |
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05-06-2008, 10:19 PM
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#3 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 3
Posts: 14
| materials science in UCSB is only for graduate and the chemical engineering is 2nd in the UC's for both undergrad and grad | |
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05-06-2008, 10:22 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Threads: 92
Posts: 2,212
| Since you seem pretty certain about chemical engineering go to UCSB. | |
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05-07-2008, 12:11 AM
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#5 | | New Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Threads: 2
Posts: 24
| Between choosing a better program vs a better name, choose the better program because graduate schools are aware of the top programs in their specific fields. But above this choice should be which school appeals to you the most on a personal level. You don't want to end up somewhere where you don't want to be, because it will affect your ambition and eventually GPA. | |
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05-07-2008, 09:35 PM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Threads: 4
Posts: 412
| Again, UCSB chemical engineering is basically top notch, head and shoulders above UCLA. (Well, maybe not head and shoulders, just significant). | |
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05-07-2008, 09:38 PM
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#7 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male
Threads: 90
Posts: 864
| For Chemical Engineering, the above posters have it right -- go for SB. | |
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05-07-2008, 11:53 PM
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#8 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 44
Posts: 948
| I would go to UCLA. Just because you major in Chem Eng, doesn't really mean you'll get a job as a chem eng. In that very likely case, the UCLA name will do more for you. | |
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05-08-2008, 12:27 AM
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#9 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male
Threads: 90
Posts: 864
| While UCLA might be ranked higher, it's not for your specific field. If you're sure that's what you're interested in, go for UCSB. UCLA's name won't help you as much as the better education in that field from UCSB. (IMO) | |
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05-08-2008, 12:46 AM
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#10 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Threads: 44
Posts: 948
| My reasoning is that he won't pursue the field that he's in. Little cynical, but take at look at pre-med stats, lit stats, business stats etc. Statistically people don't get jobs specific to their major. I'd imagine the job market for a chem eng isn't too great, but I really don't know, for any of the engineering job markets really, I don't know.
B | |
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05-08-2008, 12:58 AM
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#11 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mill Valley, CA Gender: Male
Threads: 0
Posts: 119
| General consensus: If you absolutely want to do ChemE and are sure you'll stick to it, go to UCSB. Otherwise, go to UCLA.
If you're still not sure, let other factors (campus/social life) influence your decision. | |
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05-08-2008, 10:20 AM
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#12 | | Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Threads: 4
Posts: 412
| I came from UCSB ChemE, 95% of my class went on to take on ChemE professions/grad school. The last 5% went on to do consulting/finance straight out from UCSB.
Also, I don't think you'll have a problem finding a job in another sector if you graduate from UCSB. I think the median starting salary of my year was like 65k (no joke, fresh out of college), the highest I heard was ~90k I think with ExxonMobil or some other big oil in off shore drilling operations. Everyone in the chemical engineering industry knows about the top-level chemical engineering at UCSB. I barely hear anything about UCLA chemE. You should really talk to "real" people who are in the business and you will know for sure that UCSB is the place to be.
It's not like an entire new world of alternative job prospects will open just because you went to UCLA or that you'll get an extra salary boost btw. UCSB also have those opportunities as mentioned.
Last edited by jmilton90 : 05-08-2008 at 10:34 AM.
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05-08-2008, 03:34 PM
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#13 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male
Threads: 90
Posts: 864
| Go for UCSB. UCLA's name doesn't help you THAT much more...
Now Harvard, on the other hand... | |
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05-10-2008, 12:09 AM
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#14 | | New Member
Join Date: May 2008
Threads: 3
Posts: 14
| thank you so much for your replies. Took me a while to decide. Now what's left is to visit both campuses and their facilities. Oh by the way I think there is a higher chance for me to stick with chem eng since I'm transferring as a junior (was majoring in computer science, civil eng, etc... but i've been sticking to chemical eng for a whole year and a half). thanks | |
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05-10-2008, 12:38 AM
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#15 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male
Threads: 90
Posts: 864
| good luck! | |
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