Help.
Trying to decide between these, while waiting for Financial packages from ALL.
Also waitlisted at Berkeley (First choice) and CMU and Cornell.
Important factors
Academics, Internship opportunities, Job placement, rank (somewhat)
Set on Mech E. (Know Purdue has First Year Engineering
*Seems Purdue has huge Engineering population around 10,000 vs uCI, UCSB
Visited, UCSB (not sure good fit, beautiful Campus), will visit UCI, Putdue within next 2 weeks.
Thank you!
I think you have to visit to decide and you haven’t.
UCI is more a go home weekend type environment - it was when I grew up (In San Diego) and the zillions of comments on it today on this board shows it hasn’t changed.
Internships and students happen from the student, moreso than the school.
As you mentioned Cornell, it’s students find jobs on linkedin, indeed, company websites far more than any other way. Of 85 students (39 reported), the “how” they found jobs, 3 found jobs via the career fair and one through on campus interviewing. This is very consistent with my son’s experience at a lower pedigree school than you are looking at - had 20 interviews, all from indeed (didn’t like who came to the career fair, etc.) with 5 offers by xmas and a 6th from his intern company.
That said, I’m using Cornell as an example because they show the source of how kids find jobs - but no reason to consider WL schools, so get it out of your mind.
It’s a new world today - and any school you mentioned will provide you a solid basis toward employment (assuming the economy, for engineers, stays robust)…most ABET schools in general will so if cost matter (you noted), find your most affordable.
After you visit, you’ll know where you feel best.
You already know that’s not UCSB.
Good luck.
Is cost a significant factor, and do the net price calculators give any indication of what to expect?
Thank you for the thoughtful answer. Yes, after visits will be clearer. And yes , WL are out of mind.
Yes, have an idea from calculators for UCs. Have not done it for Purdue. Not sure about Purdue, with Out of State factor. But hoping Net out pocket will be similar. Not sure.
Purdue will likely not give need aid but is affordable vs. other schools out of state - low 40s.
Don’t forget, they have an engineering surcharge of a few thousand plus each year but that’s baked in the low 40s.
Good luck.
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