My parents will pay up to $35k per year, and I’m trying to decide between UC Berkeley EECS, where I will graduate with $0 debt, and Stanford (CS or CS + Music), which gave me $12k in grant aid, plus work study. I would eventually owe the my parents the difference between the federal loans of $27k for the four years, any work study/summer earnings and the cost of attendance. I am a serious musician so the quality of the orchestra is also important to me in addition to CS opportunities. About me: I don’t plan on joining a frat; I’m social but nerdy (into stuff like competitive Magic the Gathering, online Pokemon leagues, etc.) and politically conservative. Are the opportunities at Stanford worth the extra expense over Berkeley? Any advice from current students at either of these two schools, or parents?