Top UK unis vs top US unis

I'd go for Imperial. US universities are generally better, but as far as I know UCSD isn't regarded as one of the top institutions for engineering (although still better than the vast majority of UK unis). I'd say Georgia Tech > UCSD too though.

I'd go for Imperial. US universities are generally better, but as far as I know UCSD isn't regarded as one of the top institutions for engineering (although still better than the vast majority of UK unis). I'd say Georgia Tech > UCSD too though.

LOL UCSD is not even close to being a top uni, it's crap.

In the US, for engineering, you've got MIT > Caltech> GA Tech> Berkeley > Michigan > CMU everything else

Mit=Caltech>Stanford>Berkeley=Imperial probably ? > Cambridge for engineering

Alright thank you, I knew I was definitely doing the right thing choosing imperial over ucsd for it's prestige/reputation. But ignorant and baseless comments made by Americans deterred me slightly.

Obviously imperial >> prestigious/reputable than UCSD but does this reputation carry forth to job prospects too (i'm sure in the research arena imperial>>)? So do top uk engineering graduates have similar prospects available to them as their american counterparts? (so a berkeley/cmu/cornell grad vs an imperial grad)

How do the job prospects and salaries compare (in consulting, engineering work and maybe banking/finance) in UK/Europe vs US? Any anecdotal examples or links that demonstrate what imperial/top uk engineering graduates get up to, salary figures, hiring companies - info. along those lines would help me a bit too.

In summary, what's the return on investment like for top american vs top UK unis?

UK engineering graduates (depending on the type of engineering you are doing) are liekly to be looking at £18-22k as a starting salary out of uni (possibly more if in London but then you have to factor in high living expenses). That would be for an entry level graduate position or part of a graduate scheme. After completing that you're looking more like £25-30k (again depending on the branch of engineering). Registration with an accredited body, which usually starts as part of most engineering courses in the UK and will almost certainly be part of an engineering course at Imperial, may then lead on to higher engineering jobs and salaries with the potential of becoming chartered and earning £35-50k+ (higher salaries in this bracket or likely to be for people who are consultants, possibly with their own firms)

friend is about to graduate in mech eng, and isn't going down the route you describe. when i asked why, he showed me salary figures for accountancy firms (PWC, KMPG etc), who love engineering students. i soon saw why he's leaving engineering...

yeah georgia tech > ucsd. How does imperial stack up though would you say MIT>Caltech-Stanford>Berkeley>Imperial=CMU=GeorgiaTech=Cornell>UCSD/UCLA in terms of job prospects/research opportunities and in prestige/reputation for an engineering masters graduate??

Any more informed opinions people?

LOL UCSD is not even close to being a top uni, it's crap.

In the US, for engineering, you've got MIT > Caltech> GA Tech> Berkeley > Michigan > CMU everything else

Since when was Georgia Tech better than Stanford and CMU?

Michigan? Don't make me laugh....

You clearly know nothing about engineering programs. GA Tech is HUGELY respected as an engineering school, several of their engineering programs are ranked #1 in the nation and they are recruited by just about every firm you'd want to work for, including some BIG name hedge funds.

And trust me, if I have any bias it's in Stanford's favor.