Recommendations for schools in California offering Electrical Engineering and Physics, aside from UCLA, Berkeley, Cal State Northridge, and San Diego, include UC Davis, which has a strong reputation in these fields and hosts an annual "Picnic Day" event. Stanford University is noted for its excellent engineering department, although it is more competitive to gain admission than Berkeley. When choosing a program, factors to consider include the quality of the program, cost of attendance (including living expenses), and future academic or career goals. UC programs may be more beneficial for those pursuing a Master's degree, while Cal State schools are often more hands-on, aligning with immediate employment after obtaining a Bachelor's degree. Harvey Mudd is also suggested as a potential option for strong engineering and physics programs.