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Is it less competitive to study engineering at a university in Colorado than it is in California?

Since schools in California offering engineering M.A.s, B.A.s, and P.H.D.s are for the most part very competitive, would it be easier to get into a university in say Colorado?

Public Comments

1. Any school you look at is going to be easier or harder to get into than another school. It comes down to demand. Assuming that the engineering department are the same size (roughly), if more people want to get into California School A than want to get into Colorado School B, then it will be harder to get into school A. Sort of an academic supply-and-demand. It will be harder to get into school A because with more people vying for positions, the school can hold itself to a higher or different standard of admission, which (hopefully) means better grades, test scores, extra curricular activities, number of times you helped an old person cross the street, or double points if she was a blind, hispanic, pregnant, unwed teenager. On the other hand, if no one is trying to get into the school, or they have extra slots still open, they might be desperate to take anyone, just for the tuition support. But please read this... I'm a geologist, and had everything perfect to get into any school that I wanted. I did get into any school that I wanted. I started my studies at a private university 3000 miles from home, which was supposed to be one of the finest geology schools in the land. Most people found it nearly impossible to get in. It cost me loads of money. Many loads of money. For reasons unnecessary (not bad, though), I transferred to Arizona State, and then finished at Northern Arizona - "just state schools." ASU and NAU were just as good as the other school, and in a lot of ways, much better. The people at the other school really had the attitude that they knew they were better than all of the peons who hadn't gotten in... the professors knew it too, and the atmosphere was stifling, annoying, and unconducive for really making you want to study. I did study, got straight As, and a good education - but it turned out that I could have gotten the identical education, for a lot less money, by going to ASU and NAU, skipping the other school. I've got a great job, supporting a wife and 5 little girls - I didn't lose anything by transferring out. The lesson that I'm trying to impart - really make sure that you know exactly what it is that you're getting into before you cough up time, money, and effort going somewhere that you hate, when you can go somewhere else, and learn the same things in a much better manner. Last, as far as the UC and CSU systems in California go (I'm a San Diegan), there are two things to know. (1) The UC and CSU school systems are identical, just two different categories. No one school is better than the other. They offer different programs, but that's it. (2) Within the UC and CSU systems, each individual school is better or worse (sometimes a lot worse). UCSB is basically a party school, and everyone knows it. Chico St. and to a lesser extent, SDSU are party schools. Not that you can't still get a good education, but you'll be in a bad atmosphere to try to do it. But good luck. Trust in science that unlike the arts, it isn't subjective. The laws and concepts that govern engineering are going to be same anywhere you go. The best education that you get is somewhere that you feel comfortable, not somewhere you think that you should go.
2. NO
3. The answer to your question simply depends on which California school and which Colorado school. There is a range of competitive California schools, and a range of competitive Colorado schools. The state school system in each state is good. You will not be making an error to go to either location. Good luck.