<p>Got into all 3, it'll cost the same everywhere.</p>
<p>Here's my understanding of the basic arguments:</p>
<ul>
<li>Berkeley and CMU have two of the best CS programs in the world, so no brainer to rule out Duke, right?</li>
<li>I live in NC, would be easier travel, won't have to fly 7 hours, and Duke's a very respectable school on its own -> BUT it's CS/engineering isn't stellar.</li>
<li>Berkeley is big, public, financially insecure; CMU and Duke are small, private, stable.</li>
<li>Socially, CMU seems to be the least active, followed by Berkeley (where it's more up to you about how social you want to be), and Duke (basketball, etc).</li>
<li>Berkeley is where it's at (geographically) for any CS-related job.</li>
</ul>
<p>I've always wanted to go to Berkeley (appeal of the Bay, ¿best program?) but the cross-country traveling and pretty big culture change (no one at my school is going west of Colorado) have deterred me in the past week.</p>
<p>The biggest conflict (to me) is whether or not going all the way to Cali for a better CS education and job prospects outweighs the financial instabilities and "bigness" regarding Berkeley.</p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts?</p>