BA in CS at UC Berkeley vs. BS in CS/CE at UC San Diego

College Search & Selection
1

Hi guys,

I was recently admitted into UC Berkeley and UCSD. I got into UCSD Jacobs for CSE and UC Berkeley L&S (bc i had no shot at EECS lol). My intended major is CS at both universities. I am really at a crossroads on what to pick. Both are in-state so financially there is a marginal, insignificant difference.

But I am worried about the GPA pre-requistes at Cal. A 3.30 in three classes is insanely difficult as I have read online. I am worried that I may fall into that trap and have to change my major which could harm my career path. But at UCSD, my major is guaranteed. I’m even more ambivalent about this choice bc Berkeley is so amazing at CS.

I want to use college as a launching pad to develop my confidence along with academic abilities but I am so afraid of making the “wrong” choice here. Should I play it safe at UCSD or risk it all and bet against my own academic skills at Cal for CS?

Thanks for any input and advice, you guys are great :slight_smile: !!!

2

Nothing wrong with UCSD CSE, so if you are concerned about the 3.3 GPA requirement for UCB L&S CS, then you can take the more sure thing at UCSD.

https://www.berkeleytime.com/grades/?course1=2321-all-all&course2=2323-all-all&course3=2327-all-all shows the grade distributions for the three UCB CS courses where the 3.3 GPA is required in for L&S CS. About half (somewhat more in COMPSCI 61B) of the students in these courses earn B+ or higher grades (B+ is 3.3 in GPA calculations).

3

UCSD is only ‘playing it safe’ in the sense that you know you will get to do what you want to do- it is no slouch of a program.

imo, UCSD > UCB for the student experience- anecdotal, but the students that I know who are currently at UCSD sound happier with the overall experience than the ones at UCB.

Lucky you, though: there is no “wrong” choice :slight_smile: