<p>hi guys. I'm struggling to decide where to go next year. I'm intended to major in mathematics (more on the pure side) and economics. I got into college of letters and science at berkeley. but fu foundation school of engineering at columbia. I don't know where I should go for my major. I know berkeley is pretty famous at its math education. and if I go to columbia I will have to major in applied math rather than pure math... but somehow I think columbia is more prestigious and has a much better undergraduate education. and I think columbia is a nicer area and has a nicer dorms...</p>
<p>i would prefer columbia bc of its great location, even though it is reasonably close to (former) bad neighborhoods. you really can't go wrong. i think you should decide based on whether you prefer city life, a small or large school, and the internship opportunities at each school.</p>
<p>I disagree with joshua007. Columbia is more prestigious and is a beautiful school in the NYC. I really do not know much about Berkeley. I just found out about it on CC. Columbia is an ivy league school with Noble prized professors. Trust me its famous and academically challenging.. That's why I am going to apply there. If you still don't know which one to pick, consider visiting them. Visiting Columbia helped me.</p>
<p>^^ how can you say that Columbia's more prestigious if you don't know anything about Berkeley? Berkeley is generally well known both nationally and internationally, and is sometimes (if not often) more widely recognized than many Ivy League schools, which tend to be more well known on the East Coast. Berkeley isn't too far behind Columbia in Nobel Prize-winning professors/alumni. Berkeley, I'd say, is equally famous if not more and is known for being one of the most rigorous schools in the country.</p>
<p>To the OP: I wouldn't say Columbia would offer a "much better" undergrad education. They are different environments, as one is private and the other public. However, you're going to get a great education at either; the difference depends more on your preference of atmosphere. You say you like Columbia's location more. If you do think that NY is better for you than Berkeley/Bay Area, and you've taken into consideration things like cost, I'd say Columbia. </p>
<p>As an added note, I think Berkeley's engineering department is more well known / prestigious, though.</p>
<p>Berkeley and Columbia are both highly prestigious, I would think equally so. Both have pretty shoddy dorms and campuses. I didn't really like either's. However Columbia is a smaller school, so I think it would be more personal than a state school like Cal. However, I'd rather go to college in the Berkeley area rather than Morningside Heights. The area around Berkeley and Telegraph is really cultured, and has so much to offer. The area around Columbia is a bit sketchy. Congrats on getting in to both, they're both really good schools.</p>
<p>i would think they're equals in practically every aspect, but their environments are strikingly different. I know there's not much time now to visit the schools before you make a decision, especially since they're on the extreme ends of the country. if you like big school life, berkeley has 22000+ undergrads and columbia about 6000. columbia has the advantage in prestige also because of its ivy league and private school status.</p>
<p>Kids attend Columbia bcos they want to be in Manhattan. The city IS the social life of the college, particularly after Frosh year. If kids want an Ivy pedigree, there are seven other colleges from which to apply, but only one is in The Big City.</p>
<p>Cal is a short train ride to SF. Altho urban, Berkeley is more of a college town than is Manhattan. Both schools are prestigious internationally. Both are big-time research Unis, which means plenty of TA's. While Cal is not known for its hand-holding, neither is Columbia; they are NOT LAC-like. Cal has D1 sports, if that is a consideration, and, obviously, better weather. And, of course, if you are in-state, there is a $25k/yr price differential.</p>
<p>If you are not able to major in pure math and economics at Columbia's engineering school, Berkeley sounds like a better fit. Otherwise, you should look into transefer options from the engineering school to the liberal arts school at Columbia. </p>
<p>Both Cal and Columbia are prestigious so that shouldn't be a major worry. There is probably some east coast - west coast bias, so you may also want to think about where you want to live after college.</p>