what are the top schools on the west coast?

[sash1]

Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Stanford, UC colleges

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Dear Summer

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Stanford
Caltech
Berkley

hmm... that's about it for the elites

If you wan pretty darn good there are plenty more

not aiming for the elite of the elite... a university that is respectable/slightly prestigious and can serve me well in the long run

Where do you live now?

 

[sjwaste]

If you want business with an eng focus, major in engineering at the best eng school you can get into, and minor in business.

I promise you, the undergraduate business program that you go to does not matter at all as long as it's AACSB accredited. Double major if you want, but the strength of an engineering program means a lot more for the first job than the undergrad business program.

I hope I don't catch too much heat from the business majors here, as I have a BBA myself (in economics, from a very decent program), but you basically need a pulse and common sense to get a business degree. I minored in math just to keep myself checked in.

 

[Terabyte]

If I could go back in time, I'd do my first two years at a junior college (general education classes) and then possibly transfer to a UC. You will save a lot of $$ that way. Just make sure that the classes will transfer

 

[miketheidiot]

stanford, washington, cattech, berkeley, ucla, ucdavis uc irvine are all elite universities, on par with ivy league schools or better.

edit: elite schools are a dime a dozen on the west coast.

 

[Nik]

http://www.pacificu.edu/

Only about 55 miles from the end of the oregon trail.

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: Dear Summer
I want to live alongside the pacific ocean

Pepperdine, Point Loma, and I think UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara are right on the beach.

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
stanford, washington, cattech, berkeley, ucla, ucdavis uc irvine are all elite universities, on par with ivy league schools or better.

edit: elite schools are a dime a dozen on the west coast.

yea i don't think so, some of those schools yes, but most no.

UW
UCD
UCI
????

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: WildHorse

Originally posted by: Dear Summer

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
What major specifically?

engineering with business focus

For that, considering non-super-difficult, non-exorbitant cost, good place near good beaches & mountain trails, look specifically at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I think that's your best choice.

If you want a higher presteige place, then UCLA or UC Berkeley.
Higher still, Stanford. I think of Caltech as being for scientists, not engineers.
If you go inland, the number of choices expand. For example, Harvey Mudd at Claremont is maybe 2 hours from the beach, near Caltech in stature. etc.

Business is a grad school thing. So go get a BA or BS in engineering, maybe at Cal Poly SLO, and after if you can stomach more school and have an angel who'll pay your way and you're really good at math, then Calif has 3 world-elite B schools: Stanford Graduate School of Business, UCLA Anderson, and UC Berkeley Haas, listed in descending order.

i'm pretty sure the Haas > Anderson? but i've been known to be wrong

 

[oiprocs]

Los Angleles City College.

 

[oogabooga]

You haven't really given a lot of info? If beach is the main factor you should look at where the campuses actually are. UC davis isn't really near the ocean (compared to other options) but is a pretty decent school, however if you come from farmland and were hoping to come out west to escape that UCD is not for you. Riverside isn't really near the beach either. UC Irvine/San Diego are pretty decent school about 5-10 miles from the beach, and UC Santa Barbara is basically on the beach.

Would you stay in CA for work and not pursue a graduate level degree? From my understanding having a degree from any of the UC's in engineering is relatively decent in CA. Obviously some programs/school are regarded higher than others but if you plan on moving out of the state afterwards the namesake might matter more - the engineering degree from Riverside might not hold the same sway in New York as the one from Berkeley.

SLO is definitely somewhere to consider for engineering - When I was applying for schools they were considered a top tier engineering school. Their focus is slightly different than the UC's so you might want to look into details about the program.

And insert obligatory : go to whatever the best undergrad you can go to is that fits what you want, do well, then just apply to a better grad school later on.

 

[PrinceofWands]

What kind of school? Technical, business, liberal arts? A specific field or just in general?

My personal call would be for Reed. That school is phenomenal. Not 'on the beach', but within 30-45 minutes, depending how you drive.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Terabyte
If I could go back in time, I'd do my first two years at a junior college (general education classes) and then possibly transfer to a UC. You will save a lot of $$ that way. Just make sure that the classes will transfer

THIS. I saved (at the time) about $20k of tuition/housing costs by doing two years at a CC. Now that would probably be closer to $30k-40k.

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
stanford, washington, cattech, berkeley, ucla, ucdavis uc irvine are all elite universities, on par with ivy league schools or better.

edit: elite schools are a dime a dozen on the west coast.

Irvine?????

Originally posted by: oogabooga
UC davis isn't really near the ocean (compared to other options) but is a pretty decent school, however if you come from farmland and were hoping to come out west to escape that UCD is not for you. Riverside isn't really near the beach either. UC Irvine/San Diego are pretty decent schoo

VERY good point. UCD is flat farmland small town school for sure. Some great/good academic programs depending on what you're in, but it's neither a party school nor a coastal environment. 2 hours from the Bay and 3 from the "coast" and 4 from the "beach".