A dilemma of Berkeley, Imperial, or UCL?

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hello, I’m an international student seeking some different opinions on what people think of Berkeley, Imperial and UCL, or maybe where they advise me to go.

A few things before I get into what I think about each uni, financially both London and San Francisco are the same, all of them are in central metropolitan hubs for businesses and startups and I wouldn’t think that the weather is a huge factor.
I have no clue what I’m doing or want to do, except that I want to make good capital to start my own streams of passive income. I’ve always struggled with passion, and that’s why I’ve chosen varied courses for each uni
A bit of stats for context, maybe help for getting into these unis
A-levels: (Computer Science, Physics, FurtherMaths, Maths)
(predicted this august AAA)(Received A* for maths last year)

SAT: 1450 (800 math, 650 English) 790 Maths II, 760 Physics
Oxford PAT (admission test): 44/50 Math, 9/50 Physics (why I got rejected haha)
EC’s: I think it’s important to have it. Its what made the most of my application. Tennis, design portfolio, deputy head boy, work experience: for german government, with mechanical engineers, power companies. the Oxford summer course, and a lot of ■■■■■■■■■■■■ on my personal statement.

Imperial (ICL) ~ Materials Science and Engineering

[Pros]
-Ranking/prospects/recognised as engineering school/industry ties/opportunities/prestige
-Futuristic stuff and huge diversity for jobs… i.e nanotech, biotech, aerospace, manufacture…etc
[cons]
-considered a soft subject/not much math (which I’ve specialised in highschool) compared to other engineering/I don’t have much background in other subjects
-will involve chem and bio, and lab work (which didn’t enjoy too much but uni might be different)
-Gambling that I will enjoy the course.
-A conditional offer of AAA

UCL - Engineering & Architectural Design

[pros]
-course done at bartlett school of architecture ranks no.1~2 for architecture
-applies math to design, which is me
-seems less stressed for academic students, more balanced
-A conditional offer of AAA
[cons]
-overall ranking is lowest out of the three, also dropping a lot. 2 years ago was 6th, now 15th. student satisfaction is one of the lowest. not known for engineering compared to ICL and Berkeley.
-might lose out on opportunities/ industry ties/ and no work placement in the final year.
-Most students have design/art backgrounds with less regard for math

Berkeley - Engineering Mathematics and statistics
[pros]
-rank and improving/top engineering school/right in silicone valley
-job diversity could even go into finance, America allows double major or minors,
-engineers make more money in the US for some reason
-unconditional offer, (i can go if I choose, does not depend on grades)
[cons]
-a lot more political
-Competition might be super high considering its location, increasing stress
-probably have to break up with 9month gf who plans to go to London.
-UK unis just take 4 years to get a masters, so will need more time at uni. a lot more expensive in the long term sense.

2

Since you have “always struggled with passion” and “have no clue what you’re doing or want to do”, then it might be best to go to an American university.

The UK system is best designed for those that are already clear about their passion and what they want to do. The American system is more flexible, lets you dabble and taste different things.

Also, I noted the cons for Berkeley is the easiest out of the three. Trust me, the chances of ending up with her on a long term is extremely low; if I was your age, that would not be the deciding factor of my decision.

Furthermore, Berkeley will give you more learning care and better student/campus life experience than Imperial and UCL, where you will need to find maturity quickly. Something you missed out in your pros for Berkeley.

This said, the aggregate calibre of undergrads at Imperial and UCL will likely be higher than those at Berkeley.

3

Hey Luthervan, thanks for the quick and well thought out reply.

I agree with most of what you’ve said, and objectively it does sound reasonable that this relationship shouldn’t be a deciding factor in my future decision. However, seeing as I am struggling with knowing what I want for everything else, it makes it even harder to decide against the only thing I know I want currently. And as you can imagine, losing all that time/emotional investment really requires a certain level of detachment. might even be selfish tbh. So personally, I’d contend that Berkeley has the worst con.

Anywho, I’m just finding reasons to not decide.
If I were to take UC Berkeley out of the picture, what are your thoughts between UCL and ICL?

Again thank you for your thoughts. Can I ask what you meant by the ‘aggregate calibre of undergrads at ICL and UCL’ will be ‘higher than those at Berkeley’? I was under the assumption that it would be ICL and Berkeley > UCL. Perhaps I have misunderstood ‘aggregate calibre’.

4

Another factor is whether you get a visa - this year is exceptional in so many ways.

Also post-study will you be able to stay? At this point in time you just don’t know what the position will be, but there is a non-zero possibility you will have to return to your home country for work.

5

Okay, if the relationship is what will give you the current emotional balance and satisfaction you need, then that is fine.

Between Imperial and UCL, Imperial is the winner all day in anything engineering.

As for “aggregate calibre”, because of the University system struture and admission criteria differences between the US and the UK, Berkeley will have a wider spread of undergrad students in regards to academic abilities, while Imperial and UCL will have a narrow spread of students at a higher level of academic abilities.

While maybe a few students at Berkeley will be star students, many students that will get into Berkeley will not have a chance to get into Imperial or UCL with their grades. They get into Berkeley for other reasons apart from their academic abilities.

To get into Imperial or UCL will be strictly based on one’s academic ability.

At the postgrad level, Berkeley will have higher quality students on aggregate than Imperial and UCL.

6

So you think it’s worth the gamble at ICL instead of playing it safe with UCL?

I asked about course transfers to other departments and they said i would have to start again after having finished the first year (because currently, it’s too late for some reason), so if things really go wrong I very possibly might waste a year.

7

well, the visa situation is dependant entirely on this corona issue. I hold a New Zealand passport but currently am in Seychelles. So flying to other countries with US/UK embassies is already impossible, let alone the US/UK’s stance on issuing visas during this time. But if it can clear up soon enough, obtaining a visa shouldn’t be too much of a difference in the challenge for either.

As for staying, I hear it is a bit easier in the US?

8

Engineering is just one of Imperials flagship and not that of UCL.

UCL is a top world class university in the same sphere with Imperial generally. So ending up in UCL is by no means a step down, it just means you will not bust your balls as much as at Imperial.

And, yes, the UK universities are not that flexible in regards to making changes as you go along. You will have to start all over again.

The UK universities are not the best place for someone who still wants to keep his/her options open to go.

9

Yea, the more people and teachers I seem to ask, they all seem to recommend imperial.
Yes, generally they are roughly the in the “same sphere”, but in my situation, it seems ICL is stacked for engineering, whereas UCL’s architecture superiority is disregarded.

Have you heard/had any experience with material science engineering and what really goes on inside the course?

10

If you don’t “think that the weather is a huge factor” then you haven’t spent enough time in California. Its much more pleasant in the winter than London. But I disagree with your assertion that staying is “a bit easier in the US”.

But to me the biggest consideration would be that the UK appears more likely to have in person classes in 2020-21 than the US. The UK is likely to be more willing to just get on with things (without the risk of parents suing them when their kids get sick), so if you are prepared to take a somewhat higher personal risk (and don’t have any conditions that would make COVID potentially life threatening) then I would probably go to London.

11

If COVID is still going on when the semester starts, then there is no chance of going to either.
I was raised in a two very similar weather environments to Cali and London, personally, I can’t say i have much of a preference.

12

Imperial starts in early October. Berkeley starts in mid August. That in itself is enough to make a big difference to the probability of in person classes taking place. But the respective attitudes of the UK vs California government are also very relevant. London is going to be through the worst of it by the summer and will start to open up (indeed elementary and secondary schools in the UK could reopen before the summer break). California has had relatively few cases and remains extremely cautious. Some colleges here are already planning to be online in the fall.