I currently have four choices: UCSD, UIUC, Boston University and Purdue. I have several issues regarding following points:
Academic quality
There are some reviews on UCSD about its large class size and unhelpful professors focusing only on their researches. I would prefer a college with a smaller class size and more friendly faculty. I also have planned to go to a good graduate school, so I want to know which one could help me doing that.
-Career opportunities
As far as I am concerned, I would prefer a career related to computer science/engineering. UIUC is a top 5 prestigious engineering school. Some posts told me both the Midwestern and national companies may come there to get employees. However, UCSD is in Calfornia and near the coast, and there should be (in theory) more jobs available. Also, I am a Chinese and I would very like to find a job in U.S. So, it is also important to consider if these job opportunities are available to non-citizens.
-Ranking
I do not know whether the difference between UCSD and UIUC in ranking makes great differences in academics. I want to know would I have to lose too much I decide to go to the UCSD.
-Major
I am admitted into the division of general study of UIUC (equvalent to an undeclared major) and the Revelle school of UCSD with Math major. Which school will allow me to transfer to an engineering major more easily.
My daughter is at UCSD, she had some of the best professors, the largest class size is 200. There is limitation of classroom size. But this year you might not find it easier to transfer to engineering, plus you are international, maybe hard to find a job regardless of the school.
UIUC and UCSD are both quite good schools for engineering. You will have equal opportunities with either one if you make it into the engineering program. Rankings are always flawed and at that level there is very little difference between the two. Both of these universities are large major research universities and you will certainly have large classes at both of them (and at Purdue and BU as well). The biggest problem that I see for you is transferring into the engineering program. These majors are highly sought after and therefore hard to get into. I presume that you applied to their Colleges of Engineering and were not admitted which means that you are not among their top Engineering applicants and you have to prove you belong in your first year. This is possible but the odds are not necessarily good. If you were admitted to Purdue or BU in Engineering, you might find that they are better choices for you. Your goal of having small classes is not going to be realized in the first year but as you get to third and fourth year courses, the classes at all of these universities will be smaller. If you really want small classes, you need to look for a smaller technical university.
Finally, with an engineering degree you will have a decent chance of getting work in the states using the Optional Practical Training (OPT) mechanism which permits you to work for about 18 months after your studies finish. YOu might even be able to do a Co-Op or internship using the Curricular Practical Training mechanism during your four years of study. After the OPT period is over, you will need to have an employer support you for an H1B visa to extend your work up to 6 years in the U.S.
So, which university will allow a easier transfer? My dilemma is that I was not admitted to the engineering school of either university. Furthermore, the CSE of UCSD is an impacted major; the engineering school of UIUC only guarantee a limited admission, too. It appears that the computer science major of the both schools are highly competitive…
If I remember correctly, when my daughter applied to Purdue, freshmen are admit to general engineering and not direct admit to Computer Engineering(could be similar to Computer Science as well)
@DrGoogle you might very well be correct, however, it is much closer to an engineering major than UIUC and UCSD which have admitted the OP to programs outside the engineering college.