Hello People of Scionlife,

I'm a community college student who is ready to transfer to a four-year college for my mechanical engineering degree and I'm caught between transfering to Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly: San Luis Obispo, or UCLA.

I understand that they are all good schools. Research and word of mouth tells me that the UC system is based more on research and the CSU system is more career training orientated. Is this correct? If it is true, then I would prefer to be in a CSU, but if not, I would like to know what the situation is.

Does anyone have an advice? Are there people on this forum who are in an engineering program at a UC or CSU right now who can tell me a little bit on what you think? Alumini?

Thanks. I'm just calling out for help whereever I can.

 

My friend who works for IBM went to UCLA and was basicly hired from college before she even got out. She now owns a house in arizona with a beautiful 3series BMW in the garage. She is 26 years old. My other friend who lives in San Diego went to davis for his engineering degree and is still looking for work. I hope this helps with your research on colleges.

 

Assuming you do a good job at the first real job they really wont care where you went. Id go with the one that can get you in the door at some company easiest.

 

Go with UCLA.

Reputation of the college will help more with finding work after school is done.

And there is far more name recognition for UCLA than the others outside of california.

 

I would say that UCs are a bit overrated. Not to say that they are not good schools, but don't choose a UC over a CSU just because of the name. I have a friend who is going to graduate from Cal Poly SLO with a computer engineering degree this coming quarter. He has a job waiting for him.

Personally, I go to SJSU and several of my friends who have also graduated from SJSU have easily gotten jobs. If anything, it is more about networking. It seems like most jobs come through referral.

As far as your choice of college goes, I would say go and visit them first if you haven't already. Go to the college where you feel most comfortable at. Also keep in mind that a UC is more expensive than a CSU.

 

csu

 

I am an engineer and have worked with many graduates from both...I took some classes at CSU Sac and I would say your better off with a CSu school like San Luis...I have had many friends go to SLo and had job offers well before graduation with good companies. A very close friend of mine is graduating from SLO next spring and is already working as an intern at Genentech...great company and they recruited him...just my .02

 

Go with Can Poly San Luis Obispo. Some of the best weather you'll ever see in CA. Nice beaches really close by. No traffic even on 101. Fabulous places to eat. White guys here say SLO has some of the finest women in CA... can't say much for asian ladies here... Many of my engineering friends are job secured before graduation but it's all a matter of how hard you study and how much you push yourself i guess. Plus you can join a stock xA who's been here for a couple years now (but not in engineering...).

 

All my co-workers here at Cisco Systems are either from Berkeley or Cal Poly SLO for some reason... Coincidence? I think not since both schools have very good engineering program.

Not sure if UCLA is known for its engineering school.... but agree with others, it has the name value.

 

Depends what you want-name or experience- and what you find out about the schools from visits and research. My friend actually goes to Cal Poly SLO right now, and should be graduating in the summer. He says it's very challenging which is a good thing, but he's learned a lot that will help him in the near future. He will be having an interview with my company, KLA-Tencor, next month (no, I did not hook him up, as I started after he applied) and was offered to work at NUMMI. Now, I cannot really speak for UCLA but I remember seeing them ranked in the latest US News issue somewhere near the top. Here is what I got online though for the top 3 Mechanical Engineering Schools:

Rank/School Average assessmentscore (5.0=highest)
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.9
2. Stanford University (CA) 4.8
3. California Institute of Technology 4.7
University of California–Berkeley 4.7

You can took take this info for a grain of salt, but it's all up to you. Also, where I work and the type of industry I am in, High-Tech/Semiconductor, having a degree both in Engineering and Business is HIGHLY desired. Most if not all the managers, directors, etc. have both. This is a great way to move up more efficiently and enhance your resume 100%. Right now, I'm going to get a BS in Electronics Engineering while I work, since I only have a BS in Business. That said, you probably should look into schools that offer Engineering/MBA programs. There are many schools out there that offer the programs. Many different professional programs are tying in MBA's such as Pharm D./MBA, J.D./MBA, etc.

Again, it's up to you and what direction you want to be headed. I do, however, strongly recommend the dual degrees. This is the common advice to me from managers and senior directors.

That's it...I think I talked too much.


Peace.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I ask my questions on Scionlife because I know some of the members must be in the field. I really appreciate the responses.

I was really leaning towards San Luis Obispo after a lot of consideration, but I was not admitted. They are 4th in the nation. I have no regrets.

Unless something comes up that convinces me Pomona is a bad choice, it likely that I'll go to Cal Poly Pomona.

Thanks again, guys!