UCLA computer engineering v.s. Umich engineering

College Search & Lists
1

admitted into both programs and would love advice as to selection.

important factors:

  • academic strength
  • ability to choose courses without capacity issues
  • job and graduate school opportunities

OOS thus cost is not a consideration

thanks a lot for your feedback

2

The joke we used to have for Michigan is that when it snows, they count it by number of feet. And it snows all the time.

Never been to Umich, but most people are attracted to UCLA because:

  1. It is 3 miles from the beach. On a smog free-day, you can see the beach from your dorm (if west facing).
  2. You never run out of things to do on and off campus.
  3. All the grad schools are on campus. Take your pick and get an opportunity to get a job/intern/research.
  4. Diversity. LA is really really diverse.

But when I hear UMich:

  1. Great school. just cold.
  2. People generally have the same respect for both schools. Well recognized world-wide.

Have you visited both campuses?

3

haha thank you. both have beautiful campus. Been to Umich campus during summer time, quite nice.

4

Also to put things in perspective: People I know who went to UMich all came back to California. 85% of OOS friends I made in school (UCLA) all stayed (and are now CA tax paying citizens).

1 Like
5

How do you feel about the engineering campus being separate from the main campus at Michigan?

6

Paging @sushiritto and @Knowsstuff

7

So it’s just not a big deal. I so get confused why people make a big deal to spend 10 minutes on a bus. By the way, you meet people at the bus stop and on the bus. But we live in the city of Chicago. This is how kids get around. Trains and busses. I think people not from a metropolitan city are the ones that are concerned. Michigan has both world class labs, facilities and faculty. Period. It’s worth the ride. My son lived on Central his first year then lived on North during the pandemic for 3 years. Yes, it’s a different vibe. Very laid back. Deer walking with you to class. Walking by manmade lakes/ponds . More of a suburb feel then city feel. Both have great restaurants etc. His apartment had nursing students across the hall, dancers /actors next to him and engineers everywhere. Lol.

Lots of his engineering friends lived on central all 4 year’s also. My son’s jobs were also basically on north so he just decided staying there was fine.

4 Likes
8

Engineering campus at u mich is amazing. My son lives in a house on central and has a car now so he drives to north campus easily but in previous years he just took the campus bus which was so easy. Freshman year most classes were on central. The opportunities at Mich engineering are incredible.

3 Likes
9

I’m not expressing a preference. It wouldn’t bother me either, but it seems to matter to some people :person_shrugging:

10

Trust me, I get it. My son went to high school each way 35 minutes with trains to bus. This actually saved him time. Lol…

1 Like
11

I can’t express how many opportunities that there are in Michigan engineering. Not just my kid. All his friends did truly amazing things. Alternative reality team for NASA, using their headset and software… As an example. Going to MIT and winning their hackathon… The support for the students is just unreal. All his friends and him had job offers early on in Senior year some in Junior year but they all were go getters. They call it the “Michigan Effect” actually.

12

Amazing.

At UCLA, we call Bolter Hall, The Bolter Hell. And no, I’m not telling S24 that one.

1 Like
13

It’s also very very chill and quiet. I stayed over twice on a couch when roommate was gone. I almost couldn’t sleep since it was so quiet.

There is also a co-op house on north my son lived in his senior year. Still the pandemic. But they have a chef and all utilities /internet included. You really don’t have to buy food if you didn’t want to. It’s dorm like but they have hammocks, firepits, game rooms, free bikes. It was like being at camp Our Houses - Inter-Cooperative Council at Ann Arbor

Also parent pro tip. Park on north in the huge parking lots when visiting you kids for football games. It’s like $5.00 if that for overnight pass. Plus it’s a fun experience going to the games with the students. Brings back memories

1 Like
14

Boils down to two things. Weather and football.

You want great weather, then go to UCLA. You want great football Saturday’s, where you can walk to the stadium, then go to Michigan.

2 Likes
15

Please tell me you didn’t shoot Bambi…

16

Lol :deer:. No the Co-op houses (like 20 on campus) have Chefs and they always have leftover food.

17

Yes my son has received many internship offers - all found on LinkedIn through Michigan alumni. The network can’t be beat.

2 Likes
18

When my son started his student tech org in the third week freshman year, the same day it was registered with the school two alumni reached out within like minutes. One was a local startup that became mentors and the other was from Silicon Valley… I hear these stories all the time and this is what I don’t think people get.

2 Likes
19

thank you for the kind feedback.

20

heard it may be hard to get into required courses due to capacity issue at UCLA, not sure if it is the case. would love to learn more about this and what can be done to overcome this. thank you very much.