<p>I've read a bunch of the posts on here with regards to this topic and everyone on here seems to steer towards Cal. I'm a recent Cal graduate, so I already know what Berkeley is all about. My question to you Cal supporters is, what's the big deal about it? What does it mean for the school to have one of the top programs in Civil Engineering. I honestly didn't feel like that has benefited me or my friends in any way whatsoever. I felt like I taught myself ALL the material I needed to know. A lot of my friends have yet to find jobs. Professors rarely "taught" me anything (even IF I went to office hours), and GSI's were helpful only if you were lucky enough to get a good one. The graduate students I see chained to their chairs in the computer lab all day seem to be going through the same painful undergraduate experience I went through. I have to ask myself whether Berkeley is REALLY worth it. Do you people who hold Cal up so highly do so because it really is that great or because it would be a bit of a blow to your egos if it wasn't all it was talked up to be. I apologize if I sound a bit rude, it's just I'm tired of people telling me "go to Cal because it's number one" without really giving me more of an insightful and objective justification for such a choice.</p>
<p>Now I'm stuck deciding between the structural engineering program at Cal, or the structures program at UCLA. The twist however, is that UCLA is awarding me with a fellowship that pretty much covers all my registration fees AND provides me with a stipend over the course of three quarters. Anyone care to share some insightful opinions on this matter? Thank you in advance.</p>