Berkeley VS USC

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>When it all boils down to it, I'm now debating between UC Berkeley and USC. I haven't received my financial aid package from USC yet, but I doubt it'll be much if any. :( The amount will be a big factor in which school I attend, I guess since my parents refuse to pay any more than $20k a year.</p>

<p>BERKELEY
Pros: Higher ranked/more renowned, very affordable (about $15k with all my scholarships, hopefully down to 9k... waiting on a few more scholarship decisions), GREAT MUN program (been in MUN for 4 years and attended BMUN 58 this year and dominated!!)
Cons: Hard to get classes, big class size, I'm a number not a student</p>

<p>USC
Pros: Smaller class size so I get to know my teachers better (hopefully this translate to better letters of rec since I want to go to med school), enough funding so I can get the classes I want, I can change majors easily
Cons: Not as famous as Berkeley, more expensive...</p>

<p>I'm not sure how easy it is to change majors at Berkeley before enrolling... I called USC and they told me I can change majors as often as I want, even before enrolling (I got in for biochem, but decided I would much rather be studying biomedical engineering). I got into Berkeley for Biology/Immunology, and while I'm fine with studying that I would really like to change majors to biomedical engineering instead... Not sure how easy it is to do so though, and I will be calling their office tomorrow to clarify.</p>

<p>Like I said, still waiting on FA package for USC. Apparently I have to personally send them a copy of my parents' 2009 taxes even though I already sent it to IDOC. I thought IDOC would forward it to USC or put up a copy online for USC to download and print. :\ With it being so late in the game, though, I doubt I'd get any financial aid lol</p>

<p>I plan to visit Berkeley again next weekend for their Senior Admit Day, and since I live rather close to USC, I will try to plan a visit over spring break. ANYWAYS, thoughts? I'd like to decide on a college as soon as possible (I'm guessing it matters for dorm space? Correct me if I'm wrong!).</p>

2

<p>My son is also deciding between these two schools with Santa Clara in the mix (he is a business major). You have all of the major differences covered- don’t forget that UC is advising students to plan on 5 years to graduate due to the difficulty in getting classes. We live very close to Berkeley and one of the main reasons S wants to attend USC is because it is farther away and he wants to experience a different community. Something for you to check out when you come up to Berkeley.
Good luck to you and congratulations on your successes and hard work that has gotten you to this point of such an exciting decision!</p>

3

<p>Thank you! :slight_smile: I’m calling both schools this afternoon to clear up the FA mix-up and make sure I can get the major I want should I go to Berkeley. Perhaps I should entertain a double deposit? :X (Just heard about this double deposit on another board)</p>

4

<p>Double depositing to two schools for Fall admission (as opposed to one for Fall and another for Spring) can be problematic. Please double-check UCB’s policy on submitting a SIR to more than one school before double-depositing.</p>

<p>Your commitment deposits are not due until May 1st., so there is no need to submit any deposits anywhere until that time. If you have not received your financial aid information by late April (and it is very likely that you will receive it before then), a better course of action would be to contact both schools to request an extension in submitting your deposit until you receive all your financial aid packages. Get the extensions in writing or by email.</p>

<p>If you submitted your FAFSA and CSS/Profile to USC by the March 2nd deadline, you are an on-time applicant. You will not receive your package until you submit all required forms, but once you do (and what is stopping you?) your package will be calculated.</p>

<p>USC does NOT use the IDOC service and clearly states that they do not on their financial aid website. They also clearly state that copies of parent and student tax returns and W-2s are required. That information is also on page one of the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html&lt;/a&gt; thread that has been here on the forum since late December. </p>

<p>What I am getting at here is that there is no reason you should be doing anything other than getting the required forms to USC right now. FAX them in - you know what they need, so what are you “straightening out” in a phone call? FAX the tax return and W-2s and then call to be sure they were received.</p>

5

<p>I am faxing them in after school; I had only found out yesterday that documents were missing. I need to call Berkeley in regards to my ability to change majors. There is no point in me considering a school that will not let study what I want to, especially since BME is an impacted major at Berkeley whereas USC says they have no impacted majors. And of course I will check if I can double deposit before actually doing so. I was merely asking if double depositing would be an option. I know many colleges have a first-come first-serve policy on housing arrangements, but is USC one of them? I KNOW the SIR doesn’t have to be turned in until May 1, and I will try my best at googling the information I seek, HOWEVER I just came back from Europe after a MUN conference trip and have several important events scheduled throughtout April so I don’t have the time to mull over the decision as I would in normal circumstances. I’m only able to post now because I have a sub in the class I’m currently in and we’re watching a movie.</p>

6

<p>alamemom a late thank you for all the great info and a question. Is it problematic in your opinion to complete a SIR and pay a deposit to both USC (for spring admission) and UC Berkeley for fall admission. The real hope would be that S would be bumped to fall admission…</p>

7

<p>crunch - no, there shouldn’t be a problem submitting a SIR to UCB for Fall and a deposit to USC for Spring. I ALWAYS recommend waiting until the very last moment (May 1 for Fall, and I think June 1 for Spring - but check on that) - there is no advantage to submitting them early. That way if you are bumped up before deposits are due you save a bit of $.</p>

<p>cantsaywho - I am sure there are thousands of wonderful reasons your documents have not yet been submitted. Rather than listing them, just get it done!</p>

<p>Visiting the actual websites of the universities you are considering, where they clearly explain requirements and policies, would be a simpler way to get the accurate information you need than google-ing.</p>

<p>You can sign up for housing at both UCB and USC without submitting a commitment deposit. All that is required is an admittance to the university and a small housing deposit (<$50 at each). </p>

<p>

And I was merely answering. Please specify which of your questions you do not want answered, and I will refrain from doing so.</p>

8

<p>Hi Alamemom- We tried to do a housing deposit at Berkeley (just in case) and it seemed that we could not do so before SIR was rendered. Do we have it wrong? We had no problem doing so for USC (and some other UCs).</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

9

<p>I am going on two-year-old information, I’m afraid. My daughter was able to apply for housing at UCLA, UCB and USC without submitting a committment deposit to any of them in 2008. </p>

<p>Is there anything in your admissions packet that talks about housing? It certainly could be that they changed the policy between then and now. Let us know if you find anything out.</p>

10

<p>Alamemom-Just called UCSB and was told that housing there is NOT first come, first served and that housing would be assigned to all on an equal basis as once all the SIRs are in. Does that sound right?</p>

11

<p>Whew! That is good news. That actually sounds a bit more fair than the first-come-first-served system.</p>

12

<p>Actually it does seem like a better system. I’m just wondering if the gal I spoke to had it right. I shall email just to be sure:)</p>

13

<p>alamemom: I apologize if I sounded rather acerbic earlier. I was stressing due to finals (spring break finally, but still so much left to do!). I know it’s not a valid excuse, but I hope you don’t think of me as a spoil brat who wants everything handed to her on a silver platter!</p>

<p>In regards to faxing the forms. I tried faxing last night but the line was busy and tried three more times today and line was again busy. I’m going to try to convert the files into a PDF, but it’ll take me a while to figure out how.</p>

<p>I do have a question though (not my last, but I’m trying to get as much college stuff done before I have to rush off again). If I was awarded a CalGrant but it doesn’t list USC or any of my top schools on the list, and my FA package does not include it, how do I go about changing it and adding the schools? I’m a first-generation student and have gone through this entire college process by myself, so I’m a bit frazzled trying to handle the finances (my parents literally gave me their tax returns and told me to fill out the CSS profile and FAFSA myself).</p>

14

<p>You did sound a bit stressed… just try to be glad you are stressing about which school to choose rather than filling out appeals!</p>

<p>If the PDF doesn’t work, you can scan and email or, as a last resort: put a stamp on it and mail it the old fashioned way. </p>

<p>You can do a Cal Grant school change here: <a href=“CSAC - Student Landing Home”>CSAC - Student Landing Home;

15

<p>Since when is UC Berkeley more famous than USC? I am from the east coast and all the people I know have heard of USC and its renown but if you mention Berkeley they think of the music school in Boston.</p>

16

<p>^which part of the east coast are you from?</p>

17

<p>Berkeley is definitely more prestigious in general, but that shouldn’t really be a factor in choosing between them, especially for undergrad. I think the deciding factor might be the atmospheres–make sure to visit both schools, because the environments are very different.</p>

18

<p>My son scored the following for Fall 2010 admission in the following colleges :
SAT : 2290 (Critical reading-740,Math-770,Writing-780 )
SAT subject : Math lvl.II-800; Physics-730
GPA : 4.15 (weighted )
Colleges applied : UC B, UCLA,UCSD,UC Davis and UCSB
Duke CMU, Stanford, Rice and UPenn
Has a strong extarcular acivity and internship experience in addition to other leadership activities.
He applied for Mechanical engineering. Unfortunately, he got acceptance only in three UCs ( no UCB ) and not in any private colleges.
I wonder even if he has excellent score, why he did not get acceptance to any private colleges.
Concerned parent.</p>

19

<p>@IEEE12: I don’t think I’m qualified to answer, but the schools your son applied to are EXTREMELY competitive besides UCSB and UC Davis. UCSD is a decent school, but not as hard to get into as the others. One of my friends from middle school got into Stanford, but he has a 4.7+ GPA, 2390 SAT, tons of leadership, varsity tennis, orchestra etc. One of my better friends got into Duke and was rejected from Stanford with a 4.7+ GPA, 2360 SAT, varsity baseball, Science Bowl, band, drumline, etc. Obviously with your son’s stats he is smart and had a great shot at the UCs (if he was in-state), but I’d have to say he wouldn’t be as selective at say Duke, UPenn, or Stanford. Additionally, mechanical engineering is what I would say to be one of the more competitive and impacted majors, so that’s just another thing setting him at a disadvantage. :frowning: Depending on the essays, too, it could have tipped the scale (not so much at the UCs except for Berkeley and possibly LA). It would really depend on how much effort he put into the essays and how involved he was in the extracurriculars. Even then, there are some amazing kids that have cured cancer, won nobel peace prizes, etc., applying to the same schools, and your son and others like him are being compared to these super geniuses. And just to add, this year has been the most competitive year from what I’ve heard, especially at the UCs due to budget cuts.</p>

<p>Now to just bring the convo back to me (narcissist that I am), I talked to my mom about USC being my first choice rather than Berkeley and got a talk about finances, but if USC awards me maybe $20k in aid (not loans) I’ll be set to go :smiley: -keeps fingers crossed-</p>

20

<p>Thanks for your clarification.</p>