Hot Issue:Lower-ranking UCs or Top CSUs?
Q:
I know that overall, UC has a better reputation and prestige than the CSUs. However, I know that certain CSUs are "better" than some UCs in terms of academics and name value.
I just want to ask people here which you would prefer to attend solely for academic purpose: Top CSUs or Lower-half UCs?
Top CSUs:
Cal Poly SLO
San Diego State
San Jose State
Long Beach State
Lower UCs:
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Cruz
Are you one of those people who goes "I'd choose lower UCs because it's still a UC and CSU will always be one step below UCs" or go for the top CSUs?
Well I personally would go to SDSU over every UC besides UCSB and UCLA.
I would never go to UCM/UCR. And I would hate UCSC because of the lack of sports and the super liberal student body. Also I would never go to any other CSU, besides Cal Poly Slo and SDSU.
I'm not fine with going to the worst UC, or a good CSU. SDSU and Cal Poly are exceptions. But if I get rejected from my favorites, I don't want to end up at a school like UCR or some average Cal State.
I would go OOS...ASU is where it's at!
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02-24-2007, 10:36 PM |
#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 497 |
I personally went to Cal Poly over UCDavis for biology. I thought both schools had excellent academics, so I went with the cheaper school where I felt more comfortable. I was never really interested in the "lower" UC's, but I'd probably go to UCSC over SDSU. SC is a pretty good school, especially in science. Last edited by Giants8307; 02-24-2007 at 10:54 PM. |
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02-24-2007, 10:49 PM |
#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 563 |
UCSC is also the best UC to go to if you are looking for special undergrad attention (which arguably most would-be CSU students are). |
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02-24-2007, 10:53 PM |
#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia Area Posts: 2,012 |
It depends on the program. |
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02-18-2009, 12:51 PM |
#6 |
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2 |
Don't generalize... you will be disappointed It depends on the program. To generalize, saying a lower ranked UC is better than an upper ranking CSU, will lead you to potential dissatisfaction. Meaning, if I find one circumstance where a CSU is better than a UC, your generalization would be proven false. Instead, as others have said, look at the particular program. USNews seperates rankings in programs to find out how the school ranked with respect to that field. I attended CSU Sacramento and was satisfied with their MBA program. Although it is not a top ten program, its faculty and lower costs have lead me to see the VALUE that comes with this school. Good luck! |
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02-18-2009, 01:05 PM |
#7 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,209 |
Yet another vote for "it depends on the program". An architecture student would choose Cal Poly SLO. An astronomy student would choose Santa Cruz. Where you feel comfortable is also key. Riverside, for instance, has a reputation for being very supportive for minority students, to the point that some students chose UCR over UCLA because they thought they'd feel isolated at UCLA. A student looking forward to cheering on the football team and being part of the greek system would be happier at SDSU. I know that you asked just about which we would choose based on academic prestige, but making a choice here based on just academic issues is too limiting, in my opinion. |
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