<p>Hey everyone, as you can tell from the title I need help convincing my dad that UCSB is a better choice than SLO. I’m sorry SLO. Here’s a more specific breakdown of what’s going down. First off, I’m undeclared letters and science here at UCSB and at SLO I’m in chemistry. I don’t have my plans 100% dead on a specific major, but I’m thinking it’s going to be Chemical Engineering… SLO doesn’t even have chemical engineering… Also, my dad has some irrational angst against UCSB for whatever reason. He probably thinks it’s some party school that a bunch of “losers” attend. For the most part, my decision is based off the overall prestige and reputation of the school and the emotional vibe I felt when I visited both schools. I really liked SLO’s campus, its people and its academics, but I simply liked UCSB more. I didn’t even start thinking about colleges until October - November of last year, so I really have little factual knowledge about colleges and universities in general : /</p>
<p>What sort of arguments can I use to change his mind? He constantly shows me all these rankings with SLO up at top and I have no idea what any of these so-called “rankings” even mean since they rank according to all sorts of criteria. Also, my argument comes in the fact that it’s incredibly difficult to switch majors at SLO and I’m stuck with chemistry which I think is a mistake as a major choice. Also, since I’m in undeclared letters and science(no idea what the tits that’s about), how would I get into chemical engineering?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Chemical engineering at UCSB is ranked really high and it’s UCSB’s strongest major</p>
<p>[Department</a> Rankings | UCSB Chemical Engineering](<a href=“http://www.chemengr.ucsb.edu/honors/ranking.php]Department”>http://www.chemengr.ucsb.edu/honors/ranking.php)</p>
<p>it is amazing! And to be honest SLO is exactly like UCSB. They too party a lot and being that it’s a state school it can get a bit tense and crowded. Students usually graduate in 5 years at SLO compared to UCs. </p>
<p>Ranking really shouldn’t matter, but if anything UCSB is tied with UC Davis for 6th. None of the state schools come until around 120+</p>
<p>If anything just tell him that you really truly belong in SB and it’s really your 4 years not his. Maybe if the money is the issue… then you should really consider state but yeah SB is overall outstanding ESP in chemical engineering !</p>
<p>-ucsb is ranked no.9 among all public universities in the nation
-the school focus more on undergra rather than grad
-easy to switch major
-professors are reachable
-5 nobel prize winners currently teaching there
-talk about the EAP program…bluh bluh bluhhh</p>
<p>Phillydot, your dad is probably showing you rankings where cal poly is ranked against other schools that offer no higher than a master’s degree. USNews, which is the most popular place to look for rankings, has two different lists: one with schools that offer phd’s, and one with schools that offer no higher than masters. The only reason Cal poly is able to make it into the top 5 on the masters ranking is because almost all elite schools are on the phd list.</p>
<p>Overall, cal poly will only be better for engineering (except chemical). And even then, UCSB still has a great engineering program. But other than engineering, cal poly is nothing special and UCSB will probably outrank any other program at cal poly.</p>
<p>I am a dad with one son at ucsb and a daughter to attend there in the fall. We also went through the SLO vs UCSB thing. The son was accepted into ME at SLO, but really wanted to study math…so UCSB won out. The daughter was accepted into BME at SLO, but decided she wanted to study straight bio…so UCSB won out again. I would go to SLO for engineering or architecture. For every other major I would rec. UCSB. The rankings are meaningless in general, but particularly in this case. The SLO rankings are comparing into other schools which DO NOT offer PhDs. Pick any field outside of engineering and UCSB will be much stronger reputation wise…at least among those in academia.</p>
<p>In my experience a lot of parents love SLO and hate UCSB after visiting the campuses. The students at SLO are very nice and “all american” and the campus seems very safe and low key. UCSB…well, one stroll through IV on a Friday night will do most parents in. All the stuff (well maybe not all) that goes on in IV takes place at SLO behind closed doors of frats and apartment houses. Unless dad sends you to BYU you will find temptations at every college. </p>
<p>My son could not be happier at UCSB. He heard all the warnings about it being a party school. His friends study hard and feel no pressure to go out and party all the time. But, when he does have a night or weekend day off there is always something to do within walking distance; including just walking down to the beach and hanging out. Yes, I am sure he also hits IV and acts, well, like a nineteen year old.</p>
<p>
You can’t. How many times have you ever seen someone take a position, then after some counter-arguments are presented say “Gee, I was wrong”? It rarely happens. And changing one’s mind is especially unlikely in the situation of a dad being convinced he is wrong by his son, with the loss of face involved.</p>
<p>As you’ve said, your dad has a chip against UCSB for some reason. All those “stats” he showed you are just window dressing, just the way they are for most people. The way most people decide things is to figure out what they believe, then look for reasons supporting what they’ve already decided. As your dad is doing here.</p>
<p>The other posters are right, UCSB is a fine place to go to school (as is SLO), but your dad has made up his mind and he’s extremely unlikely to change it. Its just the way it is.</p>
<p>You should tell your father that your academic success and future is tied to whether the school is a good fit for you or not, as much as your personal hard work and desire to succeed. </p>
<p>If you feel miserable at a school, and can’t fit into the university’s culture and social makeup, it will no doubt isolate you and prevent you from excelling in academics. Barely graduating from SLO and graduating with honors in UCSB obviously will make a huge difference for your future. And also since you interested in an engineering field that SLO does not have it makes it even more compelling to go to UCSB.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@norris212</p>
<p>you wrote: </p>
<p>"The only reason Cal poly is able to make it into the top 5 on the masters ranking is because almost all elite schools are on the phd list.</p>
<p>Overall, cal poly will only be better for engineering (except chemical). And even then, UCSB still has a great engineering program. But other than engineering, cal poly is nothing special and UCSB will probably outrank any other program at cal poly. “</p>
<p>I think you should check who is on the ranking again for top 5.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd, Cooper Union, West Point, Naval Academy, etc.</p>
<p>Unless you are completely out of the loop, it is INFINITELY harder to get into the aforementioned schools than UCSB. Harvey Mudd typically accepts students at top 5% of all US students or north of that. Cooper Union is tuition free, and so is one of the most selective engineering school in the country. The service academies are some of the toughest universities to get into in the US, period. </p>
<p>If you think HMC, Cooper, West Points, etc. are not elite, perhaps you shouldn’t be giving out advice on colleges blindly.</p>
<p>UCSB is bar none better than Cal Poly in disciplines such as physics and liberal arts. No arguments there. </p>
<p>But for disciplines such as Architecture & designs (#3 in the US for undergrad), Agriculture (top 3 in the US), and even Business , Cal Poly is quite special and a school to be reckon with.</p>