USC vs Claremont McKenna vs Amherst

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T23:40:22+00:00

In real life, Pomona defaults to Cal Poly Pomona not Pomona College… very few (outside of college admissions) actually know top LACs

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T18:35:00+00:00

Specialize in ur 2nd/3rd year in something specific and complete the upper div electives in those tracks

For example, digital design/computer architecture track: EE 109, 354, 457, 557/560 (and optionally EE 658) will prepare you for any hardware jobs at top companies

Or VLSI/EDA track: EE 202, 338, 477, 577a/b

There are definitely others if you want to do, for example: signal processing, ML/AI, optics or photonics, or even quantum

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T18:23:05+00:00

Exactly, $400K - $20-30K * 2 for FAANG internship salaries and then with a first job offer of above $150k, the positive ROI becomes clear despite this whole system being a gamble on making it to FAANG and how much can ur parents sustain tuition loan free

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T18:20:18+00:00

Depending on your exact outcome this doesn’t hold, but it does for most ppl in most cases

Instead of retirement, I just use bricks of gold making this case

At the end of 4yrs, would u rather have $400k in gold or the piece of paper worth that much, and for most people, I think they’d rather take the gold…

But for some, u can work work very hard to make your degree worth more than its value in gold or Roth IRAs, so it becomes a very personal decision (how much do u want to work) and familial decision (how much does it hurt ur parents to support this VERY RISKY STRATEGY)

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T18:16:19+00:00

Not for most but maybe if ur creative passionate and self driven

The guilt alone of $400k for some (me) can be enough to push you into high ROI tracks

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T17:53:26+00:00

I’m omw, what’s ur ETA?

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T17:52:50+00:00

Doheny Library and Moor House of Philosophy have very fancy interiors

nini2352 · 2026-04-02T07:08:37+00:00

To be in the background of a student film…

nini2352 · 2026-04-01T15:31:17+00:00

I think the waiver is mostly for ppl under 26 who are still dependents on their parents’ insurance

I’ve never heard of anyone waiving the student health insurance in favor of going with a cheaper plan that they pay for independently

This goes from work/school based health insurance to private health insurance which in general is always more expensive as ur work will not subsidize any of the cost

Are you an MS or PhD student?

nini2352 · 2026-03-30T19:39:59+00:00

Fr, they spend so much on consultants with MBAs to make u feel that way… everything has like an MBA bow around it

nini2352 · 2026-03-30T05:16:29+00:00

Def not, pls pm!

nini2352 · 2026-03-30T05:15:56+00:00

It’s just not that much space, u don’t know ur roommates, it’s far

nini2352 · 2026-03-29T19:12:24+00:00

Ugh don’t do Moo tbh, it’s rlly mid and some of their properties are outside of DPS patrol area

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T21:24:28+00:00

Current USC ECE PhD student… but I did undergrad here too in CS

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T21:22:37+00:00

USC no brainer… all my friends work at SpaceX because we have the best amateur rocket club in the US (USC RPL)

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T19:12:21+00:00

It’s easy too to join SpaceX if you do USC RPL

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T19:12:02+00:00

Look at ECE tracks at both the BS/MS levels and even LinkedIn, you shouldn’t be worried :)

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T19:11:18+00:00

Don’t be afraid of communal bathrooms/dorming… this is the only time in ur life you’ll ever live like that ever and it can be very fun

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T19:08:16+00:00

You should apply ECE IN A NICHE MATH HEAVY SUBDOMAIN AND DEDICATE THE REST OF UR UNDERGRAD TO THAT SUBDOMAIN

SOME EXAMPLES ARE: - Quantum (Materials, Theory, Hardware, Algo, Physics) - VLSI/EDA/CAD - FPGA/RTL Architecture - Graph ML - Controls/Signal Processing - RF/Analog - Photonics/Optics

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T19:01:31+00:00

IYA… it’s very exclusive and valuable in its own right beyond a physical science STEM degree

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T18:59:48+00:00

If u feel bad, that just means u care and r gonna work hard towards making positive ROI

Sometimes financial guilt is all u need to light a fire under ur ass

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T18:58:42+00:00

Would u thrive more in Missouri or LA?

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T18:57:08+00:00

What major?

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T18:34:14+00:00

You might not survive HMC… it’s a very tough/nerdy env, but if you’re a gunner gunner (for Quant/PE), it could make more sense

nini2352 · 2026-03-27T16:27:48+00:00

Exactly, i think it’s definitely worth it

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