The UC schools

[rc251dc]

Originally Posted by CaleeGirl

oh, and a little bit more about UCSB... it's midway between party and serious. It's not UCSC party status but it's reputation isn't as good as UCSD, UCLA, UCB or even UCI. just fyi.

Not quite sure how you came up with this but UCI, UC Davis, and UCSB all rank the same (#44) and enroll students with virtually identically GPA/SAT scores. Also, UCSC definitely parties less than UCSB, due to it's lack of a fraternity system as well as lack of a concentrated area of student housing off campus.

[mini_cute]

Last I heard, UCLA does not have an undergrad business program. She would have to major in Economics.

UC Berkeley for undergrad business - hands down.
USC can help her get a job though - great alumni network.

Seems like many high school students these days want to major in Business. I don't recommend it for an undergrad degree. IMO, it's better to major in something else that teaches more immediately applicable skills and then later get an MBA.

[HydroxylicAcid]

Sighs. I know some people go to less reputable school and apply to an awesome school for grad school.

If I had the choice and have housing pay, I say go to Cal. UCSD sort of has a business program, and people did mention is is commuter school--but it's what you make out of it. UCSD is very good for bio/chem research, so the rest of the majors should be small and family-friendly. (:

UCLA doesn't really really have a business program either. Sell your arms and legs to take your kid to a private school like USC, but the ratings for that school is nice too.

I don't really like UCSB because it's such a party school, but it's from what I have heard and never really experience it. I talked to some partiers from school there, but I shouldn't judge the school from just a few drunken folks. hehe.

If your child decides to go to a school that doesn't have an actual business program--encourage to double major. (:

[rc251dc]

Originally Posted by HydroxylicAcid

I don't really like UCSB because it's such a party school, but it's from what I have heard and never really experience it. I talked to some partiers from school there, but I shouldn't judge the school from just a few drunken folks. hehe.

There seems to be a perception that "party schools" can't also be great schools at the same time, but that's clearly wrong, just look at UW Madison for example. It also has a higher 6 year graduation rate than Davis and Irvine, the other mid-tier UCs, so all that partying doesn't seem to be affecting students with dropping out.

Oh, and hot off the press today, UCSB's College of Engineering just got ranked 18th on US News's list, tied with Harvard and Princeton:

UCSB Engineering Climbs Rank - Daily Nexus

[patpatpat]

Just got out of college...so here is my take on this, just an opinion.

UCLA and UCB have great NCAA teams and the students really come together. This gives a good vibe. Prospective students change majors all the time, so I wouldn't choose a school solely based on one particular department. Well, unless you are a child of a mad-scientist...then you must study engineering! When a school is weak at a particular field, there is usually something strong to balance it out, and that might be the area your child finds it interesting and wants to pursuit her study in that.

What I would suggest: choose schools with many corporate offices and rising companies within the city. This will be the best way for your child to get an internship/co-op locally. Local firms and companies will go to campus to recruit students. Or your child is proactive enough and search for opportunities. Internship is a great boost on a college graduate's resume, it helped me get a job in this economic tough time.

Final thought, this whole "pot smoking" at UCSC, "partying" at UCSD, "tree huggers" at UCB, "sport crazy" at UCLA, "cow tipping" at UCD, "preppy" at UCI, and "more partying" at UCSB stereotype should not be negative or positive (hehe UCSC) factors that determine you or your child's decision. In the end, you child will find the crowd she is comfortable with and make the best of it. Sorry if I didn't mention UCR, I don't know anyone from there.

Cheers!

[that1guy]

Sure UCSB parties, but so does every other college. The only reason why it is perceived as more is because IV is super dense full of college students (roughly 85% of Isla Vista attend UCSB, SBCC, or Westmont, or even Brooks). The same level of partying is found at USC and UCLA, but since they have the ENTIRE city of Los Angeles, it seems as if the campus is calmer. The reality is that UCSB is a big school in a small town. So in a way, it's more akin to the midwest college town than the California big city school.

[letsshagnowbaby]

lol UCLA in a bad neighborhood is right by westwood. anyway, usc is in a crappy neighborhood, a girl died from a hit and run a few months back

[iskray917]

First of all, whoever wrote that UCLA is in a crappy neighborhood has obviously never been there. UCLA is located in one of the best parts of Los Angeles. USC on the other hand is located in one of the worst.

Now as far as UC schools go, UCLA and Berkeley are obviously a cut above all the others. UCSD is a very good research institution, but I don't think they are quite on par with LA and Berkeley yet. Maybe in the future. UCSB has a reputation of being a party school. I have never been there but hear the campus is nice. I am sure the school has fine academic opportunities but it just has that reputation that I don't think it will ever lose. Davis and Irvine are both decent schools but I believe subpar from the ones I already mentioned. Riverside and Merced are by far the worst. I hear they are thinking of cutting costs substantially to these schools and they may even have to close Merced down in the coming years (hopefully not) which would be a shame since it's a pretty new campus.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by rc251dc

There seems to be a perception that "party schools" can't also be great schools at the same time, but that's clearly wrong, just look at UW Madison for example. It also has a higher 6 year graduation rate than Davis and Irvine, the other mid-tier UCs, so all that partying doesn't seem to be affecting students with dropping out.

Oh, and hot off the press today, UCSB's College of Engineering just got ranked 18th on US News's list, tied with Harvard and Princeton:

UCSB Engineering Climbs Rank - Daily Nexus

Believe me, if someone is majoring in engineering at UCSB (as I did, grad school, class of 1996), you'll be lucky to party for a couple hours on Saturday night. It's a tough school, man.

I was one of the few Americans in my UCSB graduate engineering classes. Out of about maybe 20 kids per class there were (just guessing) eight from east Asia (China? Taiwan?), eight from SW Asia (India, Pakistan? - thankfully not lobbing nukes at each other during the lectures...) and one or two Europeans and two or three Americans.

I snapped a photo of one of my Computer Engineering classes (and the prof was Behrooz Parhami from Iran).

See what I'm writing about? The white guy with the long hair on the far left was from Germany. The two other white guys in the front, Mike and Kip, were from California. Pretty much the rest were from east of the Mediterranean.

[PharmboyinNC]

Coming from out of state, and having a cousin in USC MBA program, Berkley has the most recognition nationally and internationally. Depending on your daughters focus, USC has a great networking program and entrepreneurship training. If she is sticking around the west coast, then both degrees are nearly equivalent in weight. If she wants to go internationally, pick the school with the most recognition, Berkley. Most of business is guided through experience, the MBA just allows you entry into the starting job.