UCSB vs UCSD vs NEU International Student

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I’m sure the Data Science major at UCSD is just fine for students who truly want that major; but if you really want CS or engineering, don’t go to UCSD for Data Science; it would be very difficult if not impossible to switch into a Jacobs major. Why limit your options when you don’t have to?

In terms of CS program rankings, I don’t think there’s any meaningful difference between UCSB at #29 and NEU at #39. They’re both very strong programs. In your situation, I would choose NEU for the following reasons:

  1. Flexibility. NEU not only makes it easy to change majors, but also offers blended options like this one: BS, Computer Science/Computer Engineering - Khoury College of Computer Sciences
  2. Co-op is a great way for an international student to get US work experience.
  3. International student body: both schools have plenty of international students, but Northeastern is especially international-friendly
  4. Access: Boston Logan is a very convenient international hub and easy to access on the T from campus, whereas Santa Barbara is 100 miles from LAX

The one thing about switching out of straight-CS at Northeastern is that they front-load the CS coursework more than most schools do, in order to prepare students for their first co-op. So, if you switched out of CS, you’d sort of be starting from scratch in your new major, having taken more CS classes than GenEds in the first semester/year. But, it’s not as if the time in CS would have been wasted, as you’d have acquired a strong skill-set and probably a minor in CS before switching.

I think the only reason to choose a UC in this situation is if you know (not just assume) that their reputation in your home country exceeds Northeastern’s in a way that will make a real difference to your opportunities. In the US, I don’t think the small ranking differential would matter at all (they are really all in the same reputational category - we’re not talking Northeastern vs. MIT), but it’s possible it could matter more elsewhere.

There are of course the “lifestyle” factors - great student city but cold, vs. sunshine and beach access, honors housing as a perk, and so on, but you don’t seem as swayed by these factors as many students are.

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