Berkeley vs UCSD for CS

<p>Before i get started, i am concerned about the rankings and prestige of Berkeley, so lets just leave that aside.</p>

<p>so i have been admitted to Berkeley L&S CS and UCSD CS for fall 2013 but i have a feeling that if i choose to go to Berkeley, i might end up with bad gpa, which will potentially ruin my chances at big name grad schools like Stanford, MIT,Cornell or even at berkeley. I do know that GPA isn't everything for grad schools BUT it does matter a lot from what i have seen from other people's stats on gradeCafe. </p>

<p>i am aware that UCSD is a fantastic school for CS as well. But if UCSD makes it even LITTLE BIT easier for me to keep my GPA higher and increase my chances at those Big name grad schools, i am ready to turn down Berkeley for UCSD. i don't know what to do.It's very hard to reject a school like Berkeley.</p>

<p>And do u guys know any students from UCSD who successfully got into those Big name grad schools from UCSD? and how hard it was?</p>

<p>having said all these, Do you guys think it is worth attending cal if i want to go to those grad schools? or i should just go to UCSD and do well there and try for those schools.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot guys. i'd really appreciate ur ans. cuz i am in great dilemma choosing between the schools :)</p>

<p>Berkeley CS is not the same as Berkeley EECS(which is more prestigous). UCSD CS is that the same as CSE? If yes then it’s more prestiguous than Berkeley CS.
Here is a link to 2012 grad survey.
[Actual</a> Programs by field](<a href=“http://career.ucsd.edu/alumni/alumni-survey/actual-programs-by-field-engineering.html]Actual”>Alumni)
I think if you get awesome GPA, you can apply to any top schools. There are students who were accepted to MIT from UCIrvine. It’s relatively easier to get accepted to Stanford Masters program(according to my mom). Not sure about Phd program.</p>

<p>Someone very wise once told me: if you are a fish living in a fish bowl and don’t get a bigger bowl, you will stop growing.</p>

<p>@AirforceWuhn…</p>

<p>“EECS(which is more prestigous)”</p>

<p>Apparently u know nothing about Cal’s L&S CS. FYI: the acceptance rate to both of the program is same.
EECS - for EE concentration ( they don’t necessarily have to all upper division CS classes)
CS - for CS concentration ( take all hardcore/important CS classes)
Anyway that is not the point of argument.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot though for your advice. </p>

<p>@bengal1…
i know who you are so just shut up</p>

<p>For grad school, Cal is as big a name as anyone in almost any field, including CS.</p>

<p>The acceptance for Berkeley L&S(~20%) is a lot higher than for EECS(~12%). The L&S CS is a backdoor to Computer Science, versus EECS which is one of most competitive major there( beside undeclared engineering). I know nothing about Berkeley CS but my neighbor graduated from there last year. She was a failed pre-med. :D</p>

<p>@AirforceWuhn…</p>

<p>"The acceptance for Berkeley L&S(~20%) is a lot higher than for EECS(~12%). "</p>

<p>oh yea??? last year EECS- 13% and L&S CS - 13.4%. So get your facts right dude.
<a href=“http://students.berkeley.edu/files/admissions/12626_5.info_transadm.pdf[/url]”>http://students.berkeley.edu/files/admissions/12626_5.info_transadm.pdf&lt;/a&gt; page: 5</p>

<p>why you keep rubbing it? i just asked for suggestion and you kept comparing how good and bad each the programs are. I believe you got into Stanford or MIT as CS major otherwise you do not even have any right to say anything about Cal’s CS. May be people like you just like to put up with others for stupid reasons. </p>

<p>Anyway, that was not the point of my argument at all. But if you say negative things about the #1 CS program in the world(tied with stanford,MIT,CMU), i have to defend it cuz i am still admitted there.</p>

<p>My stats are for freshmen admissions and not transfers. I’m not rubbing it in. You should reread your posts. Coming here asking for help and then replying that I knew “nothing”, then why post your question. You won’t get the respect you are looking for at Berkeley because technically a 2.0 can do internal transfer to CS. Nobody cares whether you transfer from CC or not.
Anyways, good luck with your decision.</p>

<p>@AirforceWuhn …</p>

<p>u should’ve read my first line inn the first comment at least. I knew someone would bring that up, that is why mentioned not to talk about prestige.</p>

<p>now u tell me who brought up the “comparisons” “more prestige” “back door” “more competitive” all those terms? dude i was just simply asking for suggestion from u all wonderful people. I didn’t even any intention to brag or disrespect u. </p>

<p>I worked really hard last 3 yr just so i can get into Cal, so obviously i would defend my school no matter what others say. Lastly, i am sorry if i sounded rude, but it was not my intention. I was simply trying to get help from u all but i guess it was not a good idea. </p>

<p>thanks for reading this.</p>

<p>you sound like you should go to Berkeley. make the decision and you’ll sleep better at night.</p>

<p>How hard is it to get into UCSD computer science? I can’t find average gpa, sat, etc anywhere</p>

<p>I agree with faim, you should go to UCBerkeley, otherwise you would regret.

  1. I digged around and found this link to Jacobs Engineering CSE major, seems like a few UCSD undergraduates got into top schools PhD programs like MIT.
    <a href=“http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_resources/docs/05CSEbrochure.pdf[/url]”>http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news/news_resources/docs/05CSEbrochure.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>2) CS is mostly software vs CSE which has some hardware, see the link below why hardware is hot again.
My parents would not let me apply to just CS, CSE is more flexible.
<a href=“http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/04/25/are-hardware-startups-getting-sexy.html[/url]”>http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/04/25/are-hardware-startups-getting-sexy.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>3) at UCBerkeley, the CS major will be taking the same classes as the EECS(but these guys are a lot sharper and could blow the curves.</p>

<p>Food for thought, it’s not my intent to put down anything.</p>