I want to get into either Berkeley or uiuc. I want to major in computer science. I am leaning towards uiuc since it’s easier to get into. But generally are both of these colleges good? Also do companies like Google accept people from colleges like Berkeley more, since Berkeley is near Google and silicon valley? Even if I went to uiuc would I have the same chance of getting into Google as someone who want to Berkeley ( for this question assume that both of us are applying to get a job in Google HQ and that we have the same applications, did the same things, etc.)?
Google recruits from both UCB and UCIC. That said, your chances of landing a job at Google from any school are slim. You need impeccable grades, good experience and to get lucky. It’s fiercely competitive to get a job there.
As for UIUC being easier to get into, that’s probably true, but CS is harder to get into at both schools than their general admission numbers would suggest.
I don’t really have a concern for cost. I live in Washington. I know I could to Washington, but I hear that it is really competitive and hard to get into. And also, I read somewhere that Google doesn’t really care about your grades. They choose based on your experience and knowledge.
UIUC admits into specific colleges, and OOS admission into College of Engineering, and CS, is extremely tough. I don’t know the admissions stats, but it’s imagine that UIUC OOS for CS is less competitive than admissions for an in state student into Washington CS/Engineering. Other schools you might consider are MN Twin Cities and Wisconsin, both are going very selective for OOS Engineering/CS but probably slightly less selective than UIUC.
Your best option is direct admission to CS at UW. If you aren’t strong enough for that, then both UIUC and UCB will be long shots. As for Google not caring about grades, that’s not the case. Yea they might not draw the line at 3.9, but they are very selective because they can be. Don’t assume that any college will be an automatic ticket into Google (or Apple, Space X, Tesla, etc.).
Both great options for CS, but completely different in vibe. My son visited both and liked UIUC much better. However, I’ve been reading lately that the state of Illinois is financially poor. Not sure how this might impact funding.
If you’re not competitive for CS at UW instate, you’re not competitive for UIUC or UCB OOS for CS.
Your best bet is UW direct admit+ other Washington universities, then u Wisconsin and umn twin cities if you have good stats but not the all around excellence expected at Washington (ACT 31-32), + UPuget Sound. Perhaps add UOregon Honors as a possibility, as well as CPP as a safety. If money is no concern, Santa Clara.
Apply to a wide range of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend and see where you get in with a CS major. There is absolutely no reason to decide now.
UIUC does have CS+X programs that may be easier to get in to than direct admit in to UW-Seattle CS as in-state, but the rest: UIUC CS in engineering and Cal OOS in general would be tougher. Cal EECS OOS would be insanely difficult to get in to.
I agree that UW-Madison would be the easiest of the targeted CS schools to get in to (and declaring for CS there is still shockingly easy). I would say UMTC isn’t quite at UW-Madison’Zona reputational level.