UCSC, UC Riverside, UW Madison, CC - [Biomed Engineering]

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Rejected from all my targets and reaches. Really down in the dumps because I at least hoped to get into a good UC, but nope, guess not.

(in-state btw)
Here are my top choices that I’m considering (not in order) for Biomed Engineering:

  1. UC Santa Cruz:

Pretty close to home, nice campus. Also, my major seems pretty interesting (Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics)

  1. UC Riverside:
    Got accepted to their 5 year BS/MS program for bioengineering. Anybody know if this is worth it?

  2. UW Madison:

I like the school, going to visit during Spring break. But is it worth paying 60k a year? My parents aren’t too fond of that, and seem to be leaning towards the UCs.

  1. Community College:

I have a friend that was also completely shafted by their colleges, and they seem to be favoring this path.

Any advice? Is there any advantage to UW Madison over the other choices that would make it worth 60k a year? Also, would it be better to go to one of the UCs, then transfer to something like UCB or UCLA, or transfer from Community College?

Really disappointed because I was pretty hopeful for some of the UCs and other targets. I see other people getting into these places and wondering what they did to get accepted and I didn’t. Anyways, thanks all for your help, and I hope you all had better luck than I did.

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You did.

UCs are hard to get into. Period. All are highly ranked. So don’t beat yourself up.

I’ve read several today - in at UCB, not st Davis etc. it’s very unpredictable but you got into GREAT schools.

“I have a friend that was also completely shafted by their colleges, and they seem to be favoring this path.”

OK - I’m going to disagree. One needs a balanced college list for a reason - and you got into some of the top schools in the country - a huge flagship with the sports and rah rah and then two fantastic UCs.

Here’s my advice -

Eliminate Santa Cruz - why? It doesn’t have accredited biomedical engineering - it only has acredited EE. Biomolecular is not accredited.

Are you pre-med? If so, UCR because you can get auto admit to med school. And it’s a very solid school.

U Wisconsin is great - it’s parallel to a UCB and UCLA - not because of academics because even UCR is - but because of sports and being the major university.

If your parents say - go to UC - I’d go to Riverside in a heart beat.

Sure - you can go to CC and it might work or it might not. But so what - you’ll lose out on a four year experience - and what’s the point of that?

btw - biomedical engineering is one of the lowest paid and there was a student the other day comparing schools and was looking down on some - and guess what - out of Michigan, UCONN, Purdue, Ohio State, NC State and more - it didn’t matter where you went - all made $70K-ish. Companies pay by location moreso than job - but the higher ranked school - didn’t matter - and both UCR and UW are very high ranked.

You got a gift - take it, love it, and be glad you’ll get a four year experience at a wonderful school - I’d choose Wisconsin for the experience but your parents are paying - and so what they think matters.

Be proud - and good luck.

Here’s some more info - just as an fyi:

UCR Engineering (don’t break out major) in 2022 so old data - Median $82K, Average over $88K.

UW - $76.5 Average and $75K Median - 2023/2024 Bio was as I said - low 70s.

I added Purdue - just so you can see from a school people say is high ranked. $79,364 average Biomedical $71,224. Again, newer data.

So UCR is outperforming - at least overall engineering - and that’s with OLD DATA (2022 vs. newer for Wisconsin and Purdue as a top ten comparator).

You all way sell this fine school short. By the way, employers care about ABET accreditation, not school name. It’s why my son works with kids from top schools (Michigan, Purdue, CPSLO, UCR) and yet also W Michigan, Akron, Utah, Buffalo and more).

My point - the where matters less but as far as a where, just look at the salaries - YOU DID WELL.

Best of luck whatever you choose - but I’d highly advise against a CC and nobody - not you or your friend - got shafted. Engineering is hard EVERYWHERE - and you will be surrounded by smart kids everywhere.

Take advantage of the opportunity and crush it!!

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Offers and Negotiation – Engineering Career Services – UW–Madison

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