<p>So I got accepted to both (L&S for CS at Berkeley), and I'm having a really tough time deciding. I want to major in CS and/or Econ in college.</p>
<p>If I went to Berkeley, I would consider majoring in CS and then trying to get a simultaneous degree in business at Haas (not guaranteed, I know). But this wouldn't leave me any space for other classes.
At Brown, though, I could get a CS-Econ combined degree, and I would have tons of freedom to take classes in random interesting subjects like philosophy, a foreign language, etc.</p>
<p>Obviously Berkeley has the better CS department than Brown, but I've heard good things about Brown as well. And I think that the superior undergrad teaching focus at Brown is going to be better than the more brilliant CS professors at Berkeley.
It bears noting that I'm not really interested in research; I'm more interested in getting internships, and would consider going to business school in the future (maybe).
In terms of prestige, I think it's about equal for both schools.</p>
<p>Another thing I like about Brown is that there's a more intellectual atmosphere than Berkeley, and the reduced competitiveness.
The only minuses for Brown would be the weather, and the ~25k per year extra cost (I live in CA, so I get in-state). My family is well-off enough to easily afford it, but I feel a little bad about the extra 100k total cost of Brown.</p>
<p>I'll end up visiting both, but the issue really comes down to whether the better teaching and intellectualism of Brown beats Berkeley's cost.</p>
<p>Have you asked your parents how they feel about that $25K extra per year? If your family really is “well off” it may really not matter and you don’t have to “feel bad” about it. You know them better than we do, so have a frank talk and base your decision on that. </p>
<p>FWIW, I think Brown is worth considering, and I’m a Cal alum/fan. Brown’s flexible curriculum will give you so many options - and it sounds like you’re the type of student who would really take advantage of those options. I think it’s healthy and very broadening to go to school far away from home & in a different part of the country. You’ll be so close to some of the great cities in America - and with the public transportation available back east, you can explore a lot of them on your own if you choose. Odds are a lot of your classmates will be from throughout the east, and they too will help you get to know that (very interesting) part of the country. Yes, weather will be a bit of a drag, especially at first, but don’t worry: Brown has a lot to offer indoors! I don’t know if you plan on going back to CA after college, but back east, that Brown name will open a lot of doors. (It’s hard for Californians to understand just how big a deal the Ivy League is in that part of the country.) Even if you return to CA, Brown can be very helpful since it has outstanding alum support. </p>
<p>And one final point: these days, it’s much easier to graduate in 4 years from Brown than from Cal.</p>
<p>CS + Econ at Berkeley would involve about 24 courses for the two majors. That would leave space for about 8 other courses, although 2 would be for English composition, and about 4 would need to satisfy various breadth categories that Brown does not have. However, AP credit could reduce the number of required courses (e.g. 5 on calculus BC removes two math courses, 5 on English literature removes the English composition courses, 4-5 on both economics removes one economics course).</p>
<p>Berkeley’s 4 year graduation rate is about 70%, with overall (6 year) graduation rate around 90%.</p>
<p>Berkeley is in a better location for computer company internships; Brown is better for investment banking type of internships.</p>
<p>Brown has a fantastic reputation – probably better than Berkeley’s</p>
<p>But … and this is a personal bias, which I’ll explain – Unless you really really really wanted to be on the east coast (or Brown were the more expensive option, which it isn’t). I would personally recommend Berkeley (I think).</p>
<p>Brown is known for having a very open curriculum – i.e. very few required courses and giving students more choice. While Brown certainly produces excellent results, I personally think that a more structured educational environment is better. Essentially, at 18 years old you don’t necessarily know how to develop an educational plan.</p>
<p>Now, I say “I think” because i don’t know Berkeley’s educational philosophy and how they structure a curriculum. For all I know it takes the same view as Brown (in which case … never mind).</p>
<p>Assuming that Berekley takes a more traditional view in education, there is a clear basis for differentiation between the schools.</p>
<p>Berkeley CS is better. If it wasn’t that much better, I would say it might be a tough decision, but even Berkeley’s undergraduate CS is at least top-5, while Brown’s might be top-25.</p>
<p>As UCBalumnus notes, you are much more likely to get to use your AP credits at UCB than at Brown so that would free up space for other classes even if you do the double degree. You’ll also add thousands of dollars of travel expenses if you choose Brown but there is something nice about living in New England for a few years when you are from CA. Hopefully you can attend Brown’s admitted student program ADOCH to help make up your mind.</p>
<p>Just a word on summer CS internships in the Bay Area. The Brown internship office helps students locate internships on the west coast, and there are LOTS of them in the area of CS. They are very proactive in connecting with Brown alumni on the West Coast.</p>
<p>My freshman engineering major (not CS or CE) Daughter just recently landed a summer financial engineering internship in the SF Bay Area. In her search, she came across many SF firms looking for programmers or CS majors. To her, it is the best of both worlds to be able to attend an east coast Ivy and then do summer internships in California. </p>
<p>And, as far as jobs after graduation goes, many Brown CS majors go on to jobs at California firms such as Google and Pixar. The CS department at Brown is very highly regarded. Just google Andy from Toy Story…</p>
<p>Just to be clear: CS is not my only (or even primary) major. I’m definitely going to major in Econ or Business. And I really do love other subjects… philosophy is probably my favorite subject of all (if only there were jobs for it).</p>
<p>And after college, my goals are also more aligned with business rather than CS. I would really like to (sort of a dream… not very likely) start my own company. If that doesn’t pan out, though, I see myself either working at a small startup or going into consulting (i.e McKinsey). Totally unrelated, I know, but unfortunately it doesn’t make my choice easier, because Berkeley would probably help with startups (note: I’m not really interested in Google/Microsoft), but Brown would probably help with consulting.</p>
<p>I also think there’s a strong possibility I will get an MBA in the future, depending on my career path.</p>
<p>And finally, I might have exaggerated the lack of any financial difference. I originally thought that they could pay for the entire cost, but after talking with my parents more, they said they preferred Berkeley, and would pay 150k for Brown, leaving me to have to pay ~50k total over 4 years. I could probably shave 20-25k off that with internships, off-campus housing, and/or TAing (things I would probably do regardless).</p>
<p>It looks like you really have a tough choice! It is one of the toughest choices I have seen so far on CC.</p>
<p>On one hand, you seem to be a really good fit at Brown (based on your many different interests). Being able to spend your college years at Providence, RI would be just wonderful for someone from CA.</p>
<p>On the other hand, both CS and undergraduate business programs at UCB are just marvelous, much better than those offered by Brown. Furthermore, the cost of attending UCB for you is just way much better! Is it worth to spend that much extra money at Brown when you are able to attend UCB for CS and business?</p>
<p>So I would choose UCB over Brown in this case. But I dont want to be in your shoes! If your primary interests are in some other programs, I may favor Brown over UCB. Good luck with your choice! Please share with us your final decision if convenient.</p>
<p>The quality of Berkeley’s departments can not be matched by a school like Brown. In fact, it’s so hard to find a single department in which Brown is better. Unless you will need a lot hand holding at college, then Brown might be a better option. Otherwise, hands down Berkeley: top notched faculty, top notched departments, and silicon valley. CS and business? which place on earth can beat silicon valley?</p>
<p>So your choice is a fabulous school and no debt or a fabulous school with debt. I’d chose the former. Graduating debt-free means freedom and options once you’re out of school. My daughter saw that first hand: while she was contemplating working over the summer and then spending six months traveling in Asia, her friends were contemplating how much of a bite their college loan payments were going to eat out of their paychecks. For them, taking a few months “off” for fun was out of the question; and grad school looked scary-expensive in view of their still looming undergrad loans. So give yourself the gift of freedom after four fabulous years at Cal, a university that’s respected worldwide. Which can’t be said of Brown which, although a superb school, doesn’t have the international cred that Berkeley does.</p>