<p>Let's say student X whose intention is to study computer science gets admitted to Berkely, Princeton and Harvard. It is now his job to choose one college. Princeton and Harvard rank #1 and #2 in USNews and have a very high prestige. However, their computer science program is far from being top. Berkely, on the other hand, has a computer science program comparable to MIT and Stanford. However, Berkeley rangs about #20 in USNews and has to deal with serious problems (financial, too many people there).</p>
<p>Which one would <em>you</em> choose? Which one <em>should</em> X choose?
Remember, X wants to major in computer science and I am talking about undergraduate.</p>
<p>I'd go to Princeton or Harvard undergrad and save Cal for grad school. You might as well get a top, well rounded undergrad education and then go to Cal where it really is superior, grad school.</p>
<p>I'd check the undergrad curriculum at each school and see if there's really a difference in undergrad programs. If there seems like not much of a diff, go to Harvard/Pton. If it seems like Berekeley is significantly better even at undergrad, then go there.</p>
<p>You'd be a fool ever to turn down HYPSM, and, if you somehow got into multiple HYPSMs, you would have to have a really good reason to turn down Harvard.</p>
<p>Stanford fangirls, please keep to yourselves. This thread is talking about Harvard, Princeton, and Berkeley.</p>
<p>I would choose Harvard or Princeton unless Berkeley's computer science is far superior and you are really sure you want to do it. Many people changes majors (which btw is hard to do at Berkeley).</p>
<p>Abless, Princeton and Harvard are hard to turn down. Princeton is top 10 in CS and Harvard isn't far behind. Cal is indeed one of the top 4 or 5 in the field, but at the undergraduate level, you aren't going to be able to exhaust the resources that give Cal the edge over H and P at the graduate level. In fact, you most likely won't even be able to scratch the surface in that regard. Personally, unless there are financial factors that come into play or unless you really feel that you fit in better at Cal, I'd go to P or H.</p>
<p>Cal is clearly the best of the bunch in CS. As well, you can take a CS major in the letters and sciences department at Cal, which allows you to have a very well-rounded education.</p>
<p>Cal is ranked very low in the USNWR poll because variables that factor in, like % alumni that donate and graduation rates favor private schools, but they have very little bearing on the quality of the education and none on your educational and personal experience.</p>
<p>Lauren has something right here: It's about personal fit.</p>
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Cal is clearly the best of the bunch in CS. As well, you can take a CS major in the letters and sciences department at Cal, which allows you to have a very well-rounded education.
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<p>Yeah, if you can get into the CS major, which is far from assured. You can't just decide that you want to study CS in L&S at Berkeley. You have to apply to the major, and plenty of people are denied.</p>
<p>And if this person also got into Harvard and Princeton, do you think that they're probably able to do well in the cs classes? Or no, that's not even a possiblity?</p>
<p>Of the three, I would go with Princeton which I think is generally the best for undergrad. Also at Princeton you should pursue other interests. Maybe you'll find something you hadn't even thought of. Princeton seems to have a very good CompSci dept from what I hear, though I'm certainly no expert. Then you can go to Cal for grad once you know what you want to specialize in.</p>