Hi CC Community,
S25 was admitted to the UCLA Electrical and Computer engineering department. Today, he was notified that he was selected to be one of 30ish engineering students to be in the “Fast Track to Success” program. Supposedly, you get advantages/priority in research/internship opportunities, monthly meet with advisor, and honor classes. We don’t know much about it. Is this true and worth considering? To be honest, UCLA is currently 1 of the top 2 schools that he is considering and he was leaning towards the other school. But this may sway S25 towards UCLA since one thing he covets is being able to find and work on interesting and challenging problems.
Seems like this is its web page: https://www.ee.ucla.edu/fast-track-program/
Thanks. Sounds like a great program but couldn’t find much on the net. Would appreciate anyone that know kids with actual experience in the program.
Programs like that should be done if the student is interested in the enrichment - including internships with faculty.
It does have a high GPA requirement.
I wouldn’t choose a school because of it although it takes some job risk away, especially if the economy turns sour as already many kids are struggling to find a job, even at high end schools.
But it’s like an Honors program and in general, those are great for the person, but there’s no place on a job app to show it.
I wouldn’t switch my decision because of it - but it does have positives - but also added stress (keeping a high gpa).
If they truly love elsewhere, nothing has changed and i’d be inclined to keep with my plan. But your student may think differently.
- The Fast Track student will maintain an aggregate GPA of at least 3.3 at the end of each academic year.
- If a student fails to be in good standing at the end of the year, he/she will be placed on probation for two quarters. If the student fails to improve his/her GPA to above 3.3, he/she will be dropped from the Fast Track Program.
- The Fast Track students must take certain honors classes that will be offered each year. To complete the Fast Track program, the student will have completed a total of at least 30 honors course units.
- After the freshman year, all Fast Track students will be provided with paid summer internships with ECE faculty.
- After the sophomore and junior years, those Fast Track students with an aggregate GPA of 3.5 will be given preference for paid summer internships with ECE faculty or with Industry. While every effort will be made to place the Fast Track students in the summer “Research Experience for Undergraduates” (REU) Program, the ECE Department does not guarantee placement for all the students.
They do have a list of alumni on the website. If any of them are from your school or school district you can contact them and ask about their experience. Not sure if the summer research means you cannot do internships at other companies.
Thanks. I think it’s the internship with the faculty and being closer to the professors that is going to weight some for S25. His top sorted considerations for college are: 1. Find interesting / challenging subjects/problems. 2. Quality of life 3. Nice campus. The education / cost are good at both with UCLA slightly higher. #2 and # 3 slightly better at the other school. But if being in this program will get him closer to research, internships, and faculty, it may provide better opportunities for him to find the intellectual challenge that he covets.
If he has plans to go to graduate school then this could be very helpful. Like the other poster said this may not be a compelling reason to change the college decision if he has a better life and campus at his other option.
Honestly any kid can do that with effort. I like the guaranteed internships - as the economy may sour.
Curious what’s the other school ?
UCSB with regent/honor
Yeah, he hasn’t thought that far but I think grad school is very likely for him.
Wow - impressive with UCSB too - really big school vs. beach school
UCLA is known for a top campus and food - but that’s subjective.
Grad school isn’t relevant.
He can go to Chico State and get to the same grad school.
Personally, I like the UCLA program in the sense of at least ensured internships. There’s kids from the top schools now that can’t find employment. I prefer industry internships vs. with a professor - but knowing you’ll have something on the resume given the possible state of business with all going on - that may be a good thing.
Honestly though it sounds like - heads you win, tails you win.
Go with the gut- if it say UCSB, then great. There’s no bad choice.
Congrats to him.
Either is a fine choice but I don’t see the UCLA offer as compelling. At both UCLA and UCSB engineering students are all assigned a faculty advisor although of course whether they are actually helpful is the luck of the draw. I don’t like the requirement to take 30 units of honors (it takes 180 units to graduate, so it’s a significant chunk) because I’ve never heard an engineering student complain the work is just to easy, they wish they had a more challenging schedule Had the UCLA program offered early class registration I’d take it in a heartbeat but it doesn’t say that it does (he might want to call and ask, though).
There was a study several years back about whether attending an elite college made a difference and as I recall the conclusion was those who were admitted but then didn’t attend the elites had similar post-college success. And I wonder if it’s the same with programs like this. Students with high potential will excel no matter where they go, they’ve shown they have the intelligence and grit to stand out. They’ll do well in class, they’ll take part in engineering clubs and ECs, and so on whether they’re in the program or not.
Thanks. S25 found a friend thru an internship 2 years ago who is currently in the program. It sounds like there is some advantages in class registration within the engineering courses thru the program advisor. I guess it’s not too surprising if they have to take additional classes. It also seems that majority if not all of the students in the program, consistently participates in internship or research. However, it is not clear if it was mainly because of the program or just due to the selected kids. So minimally, I think the program makes the opportunities more readily available but it is still up to the students to acquire them.