lean hemlock
this is a bit strange, but I've already paid my deposit for UCSD but I'm considering Olin. I'm considering deferring my Olin enrollment till 2027, and attending UCSD for one year and then deciding what to do. I could then continue to stay if I like it, or go to Olin instead in 2027 if I end up not liking it. does this make sense as a possibility? please read the rest and hopefully this makes more sense. ignore this no longer a thing I'm factoring in
Schools: UCSD vs Olin College of Engineering
Intended major: Nanoengineering at UCSD vs Engineering with an concentration at Olin (I haven't decided which concentration yet, but Sustainability or Bioengineering are ones that interest me)
Similarities: great engineering program. uhhh they're pretty different in all the other ways
Costs: about the same for my family, not really a big consideration. this is something that's conflicting me a bit because Olin is a private school but I can go for around the same price as UCSD
UCSD
School 1 Pros:
- the nanoengineering program has really cool research going on
- like in terms of program this is a BIG pro for me
- La Jolla weather is really nice and comfortable
- eighth college has nice dorms
- bigger department means more profs and more labs and opportunities. right??
- close to home, so I can visit all my friends a lot more easily (underclassmen and also people in my year are all staying on the West Coast)
School 1 Cons: - the campus is really huge and lowkey isolated
- engineering department is only like 25% women (I'm enby but it'd be nice to have a more balanced environment)
- I'm from San Diego and I've always wanted to go further away from home to expereince new stuff, and my parents are suporotive of this
- somewhat competitive environment? at least from what I've heard
Olin
School 2 Pros:
- small class size (~100 per year, so all undergraduates combined is like 400 people), intimate environment with classmates and professors
- project based curriculumn
- gender distribution is ~50% women
- supposedly REALLY nice dorms
- located in Needham, MA. it's close to Boston, and I've wanted to go to uni on the East Coast for a while for a different environement and social experience. I want to see more snow and varied seasons (but maybe I'll regret this if it's really that miserable?)
School 2 Cons: - I feel like I just don't know enough about the strength of the program. I know they have spectacular ME and ECE, but I don't know if the other engineering concentrations are worth it over nanoengineering
Tiebreaking considerations
- performing arts resources are important to me. can either be affiliated with the school or organizations in the general city, but I plan to join a choir and at least a musical theatre or play production. it would be nice to get at least a few courses to study this
- arts clubs would also be really nice! be it for music or improv or whatnot
- queer culture?
- quality of life and academic environment; I want something collaborative and NOT competitive. competitiveness is the bane of my existence really
tbh I'm really leaning UCSD because I technically already committed, but I'm having doubts because. maybe Olin is worth it??? I would really appreciate some outside perspectives thank you <3
nova light
nova hound