<p>I've always perused the college confidential threads, but had never before posted in the forums so forgive me if I am missing vital information below. </p>
<p>My main issue at hand is the choice of colleges: Duke or UC Berkeley. I'll list some of my stats as well as my financial and family information. I have debated with my parents about the matter but we simply could not come to a conclusion (My gut says Duke, my dad says Berkeley, my mom is apathetic, my brother is 7) So please help give me a fresh perspective on the issue :)</p>
<p>SAT Math: 780
SAT Reading: 710
SAT Writing: 800 (essay 12)
-Total 2290</p>
<p>GPA 3.6 unw
School demographics: White, middle/upperclass, suburban</p>
<p>Personal information
-Female
-Asian (Chinese)</p>
<p>Financial situation: About 150k for a family of 4
-Duke: Has not yet given me a financial package because I sent in my IDOC information a bit late. (Should I call the office or wait until they contact me?)
-Berkeley: Offered loans of 25k per year (which basically covers tuition) but again, is just a loan. No regents scholarship at Cal though</p>
<p>Majors: I applied to different majors for the colleges, I couldn't really decide
-Duke: Pratt school of engineering as civil engineer (Hoping to double major somehow)
-Berkeley: College of Letter&Sciences (I have no clue what major I applied for. I couldn't find which major I got in for; I just know I got into their liberal arts/humanities departments with biological and physical sciences)</p>
<p>I'll respond quickly to any comments (Instant email notification) I guess I still have time to do some more research, overnight programs, scholarship consideration, etc but I think it would be great to have some help from others with the matter. Thanks in advance! :P </p>
<p>(I think I'll also have the same thread in the Duke forums to get the other biased opinion) Hehe</p>
<p>You have no major at Cal. You are admitted into L&S without a major. You will take courses and declare a major later. You are NOT in the college of engineering, if you wanted to do civil engineering at cal, you'd have to take courses and then attempt to transfer. That is one of the easier areas to transfer into, however.</p>
<p>You don't know the dollars and cents, so you can't make a decision. I think it would be crazy to spend a lot more money to go to Duke. If the cost works out to be even, part of the question is, do you want to go to school across the country or do you want to stay in California. If you want to live and work in California in the future, it might be better to go to school here.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the reply. I applied for business (If I remember correctly) but other than that I am not sure what to do in terms of majors in that particular college.</p>
<p>Yes, as much as financial aid is an issue I hope it will not be THE reason to reject a school, which is why I am having such a difficult decision. I have always had the impression that the UCs are extremely more hostile/competitive-an environment I would not feel comfortable in.</p>
<p>As for future plans, I do plan to stay in California after college. Again, it would be fun to begin my education in California for opportunities yet staying in the same place my whole life would seem a bit mundane.</p>
<p>So the question comes down to environment/academics/etc. Duke vs Berkeley? T_____T</p>
<p>Sounds like you want to go away (far away) for college. If that is what you want, go to Duke, if the costs are comparable. If it's $20K more a year to go to Duke, frankly, I think that would be an incredible waste of money.</p>
<p>Berkeley is in the city, Duke is in a forest. In terms of school campus and surrounding areas, Duke would win. Both cities are college towns but Berkeley is a lot shadier than Duke. With that said, Berkeley's campus itself is pretty nice. The weather at Berkeley is great, the air is clean because of the bay. Berkeley is on a mountain, so strong legs are important.</p>
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if you wanted to do civil engineering at cal, you'd have to take courses and then attempt to transfer. That is one of the easier areas to transfer into, however.
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<p>But hardly still easy. It may behoove the OP to ask Berkeley for information regarding what sort of GPA is typically required for students to successfully transfer from L&S to CivE, otherwise, you run the risk of not being allowed to major in CivE.</p>
<p>Oh transferring to CivE is harder? Well in any case, I didn't really see a major I liked in the college of Letters&Sciences. Perhaps biology or economics. (Neither of which I identified as a potential major in my application)</p>
<p>I guess I would be satisfied with biology/economics at the college of Letters and Sciences, although I have no real experience/knowledge of either field. Then again, I'll learn something new if I do decide to major in biology or economics.</p>
<p>As for Duke, I applied for civil engineering but I might switch to biotech (simply for its excellence) </p>
<p>In no way am I committed to civil engineering, I've just worked with Lockheed (which falls more under mechanical than civil) so I just chose engineering as a premise</p>
<p>Frankly, if you are seriously considering Berkeley, you need to learn about how the colleges work (engineering, L&S, etc.). To transfer into civil engineering, or any other engineering, you'd have to take the right courses (difficult math and physics prereqs) from day one, and get good grades.</p>
<p>Also, Duke is run a lot more by "old money". There's a saying that "traditions never die" in the South, for better or worse. Therefore, the environment at Cal and Duke will be COMPLETELY different. Duke is a lot more of wealthy people who inherited a lot of money from past generations. They'll go out to expensive dinners, and it won't be a problem purchasing a $40 plate. Not that they won't be friendly, maybe you'll thrive, it's just a totally different style of living.</p>
<p>Cal is cheaper, same education, equal prestige, and more comfortable living for many people. But, if going away is important to you, Duke is a great school.</p>
<p>I wouldn't be too concerned with majors, you'll find something that fits you when you get there.</p>
<p>And yes Vc08, I think in the end it comes down not to the academics (because both are excellent in each its own way) but rather it comes down to the "feel"</p>
<p>Campus is definitely different. Because I am not from any sort of old money (For that matter I'm a first generation immigrant) I cannot associate with the $40 a dish or such traditions. Berkeley's only fault seems that it is too "book competitive." It seems that Berkeley (for that matter the UC system) concentrates too much on book learning and not as much on internships. And you are fighting with the HUGE class of 4.1k students for similar opportunities.</p>
<p>kookehz: I see your point on the internships, but, like any university, your rewards will be a result of the efforts you put out. Cal has more students, but it therefore also has more faculty, and thus probably equal availability.</p>
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I guess I would be satisfied with biology/economics at the college of Letters and Sciences, although I have no real experience/knowledge of either field. Then again, I'll learn something new if I do decide to major in biology or economics.
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<p>Uh, economics, like engineering, is also impacted at Berkeley, meaning that you also run the risk of being denied from declaring it as a major.</p>
<p>Sakky: Wow I did not know that. I guess I didn't really know too much about Berkeley (And consequently underestimated the admission process into individual departments) And I see that the deadline is February (Would that mean I would go into the college as an undecided student?)</p>
<p>Vc08: I guess in terms of opportunities much of what you do is what you make of what you have (Whoo wordy) I've been reading about funding issues for UCs, but know that Duke has great endowment and provides help for students seeking internships/summer jobs/etc. I plan to work in the private sector so I also want to take into consideration "namebrand" recognition for colleges</p>
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And I see that the deadline is February (Would that mean I would go into the college as an undecided student?)
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<p>Every new freshmen in L&S is effectively an undecided student. You would apply to the economics major in the February after you have completed or are currently taking all of the major prereqs that are listed in the form I provided above. Incidentally, that illustrates the risk involved in the process, for you can put in all of the work in taking all of the prereqs only to find out afterwards that you didn't get into the major.</p>
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So what else is good about Cal besides that it is cheap?
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<p>In many fields of study, Cal is far superior to Duke. You've have to look at each department on a case-by-case basis. </p>
<p>Cal is in California. Duke is in North Carolina. These places are worlds apart. Frankly, in California, Duke is known mainly for its sports teams. it depends on the field, but a Cal degree may open more doors in California.</p>