<p>Okay, so I don't really mind Berkeley. I mean the real problem I have with it is that it is really large, and impersonal. I also don't like that housing is only one year, or possibly two. Basically, I don't like the public school part of Berkeley. I hate the fact that there is not enough funding for many things. I am really really into research in biology, and I wish I could get paid. My gf at MIT gets paid, and this is really not a big deal, but its just one example of several things. I want a school that has a good UNDERGRADUATE experience, along with a very solid research background, especially in biology. That is the good thing about Berkeley is that they have such a good graduate program that I have really good professors along with good research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. So I basically want both, good undergraduate experience and good academics and profs and research. Transferring to many of the top schools is incredibly tough, such as Stanford, Caltech, or MIT. But, I don't want to go to a school that is lower than Berkeley obviously. By lower I mean like Northwestern or CMU. These schools are good, but not the kind of research that I want. If I don't transfer its really not the end of the world, but I'd like to try.
Would University of Chicago be a good option? I don't think its incredibly hard to transfer there. Any other good options.</p>
<p>My stats: 2020 SAT, 3.87 gpa, research at Lawrence Berkeley, plus good recommendations. yep, thats the general stats...thanks for the advice guys</p>
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I also don't like that housing is only one year, or possibly two.
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<p>It's two years guaranteed, and potentially more housing is given if desired- many choose not to take advantage of it.</p>
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I am really really into research in biology, and I wish I could get paid. My gf at MIT gets paid, and this is really not a big deal, but its just one example of several things.
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<p>I'm not sure how common getting paid is as your average lab hand at almost all schools. As far as I know, it's quite uncommon.</p>
<p>okay, i know you can get housing for longer, but that is not the culture. the culture is to stay one year and then get an apartment. this culture spawns from the idea that housing is not guaranteed for 4 years.</p>
<p>You're in a tough spot, but with a 3.87 at Berkeley, Stanford, CalTech, or MIT wouldn't be a waste of an application. You'd have a shot.
How about Hopkins?</p>
<p>You're right, it is the culture. However, there are the significant subcultures of the the Greeks and the co-opers. The on-campus style is fairly old culture as well, as the first dorm was built 50 years after Cal opened; students have historically lived off campus. With regard to on campus housing, the cultural is changing to be more resedential, but it won't change that much more by the time we're gone. <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>okay, ya, ill check out cornell. do you guys actually i have a shot at like stanford. 3.87, good rec's, very good research (Lawrence Berkeley Nat'l Lab is kick ass, and I'm working under the deputy director of the Life Sciences Division) 700's on SAT II Math and Chem, lots of prior high school research experience, oh and really strong in computer science, worked at a start up for 2 months in summer, very good work and good recommmendations, don't know if that helps...do i have a chance for Stanford?</p>
<p>If not, what about U of Chicago? Do I have a shot there you think? How is the pre-med program at Chicago? better or worse than Berkeley?
thanks</p>
<p>Yes, U Chicago would be an excellent choice for you. Cornell sounds good, too. I've heard that most people at Hopkins only live on campus for two years, so that probably is not for you. How about Brown?</p>
<p>they're in lingo of building new dorms for upperclassmen, two more large ones will be opening up this spring. Housing on campus wont be an issue and the "transfer center" housing system is moving into an apartment style complex on campus.</p>
<p>There's no such thing as a 'pre-med' program. The best overall school with the biggest inflation and the best access to professors is the best "pre-med" school.</p>
<p>Which school is more prestigious, would I be stepping down prestige wise if I go to Chicago over Berkeley. I mean which one would open more doors after graduation, which one does the general public think better of? It seems to me like its Berkeley...</p>
<p>I hate to support myself with rankings, but Chicago is recognized as #9 by USNews for undergraduate education, whereas Berkeley is around #20. Big difference - no. But certainly, given the fact that these rankings have infiltrated the minds of so many, it doesn't make sense to say that Berkeley's undergrad education is better than Chicago's. If anything, I'd say they're very similar as far as prestige. Chicago, I believe, was also voted by the Princeton Review as the #1 school for best overall undergraduate education. These rankings may seem silly, but they are considered by many, or else schools wouldn't be clamoring to 'move on up' or hold the top.</p>
<p>Point: your decision, at this point, should be on which school is the better fit for your needs. comparing prestige and quality of education between two highly regarded schools like Chicago and Berkeley is, in the end, pointless.</p>
<p>However -</p>
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which one does the general public think better of?
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<p>The general public will most likely be more familiar with Berkeley. Employers will, for the most part, realize the quality of education provided at Chicago.</p>
<p>Thats the thing. Like I would much rather go to Berkeley than Northwestern, just personally because I feel that it is better known and regarded, even though US News thinks that Northwestern is better. You can say this about several schools rated better than Berkeley, such as Notre Dame, Emory, etc...</p>
<p>So, in that sense, prolly Berkeley captures more prestige. But, the thing is that Chicago used to be like 15 or something. It has only gone up in rank. Do you think given a few years, it may be cemented as one of the elites along with Stanford, MIT, Yale, Columbia, etc? Just curious what you guys think</p>
<p>I think Californians WAY overestimate the prestige of Berkeley domestically. In my world (east coast) its considered a great grad school, but not a superb undergrad. Northwestern would be considered better.</p>
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But, the thing is that Chicago used to be like 15 or something. It has only gone up in rank. Do you think given a few years, it may be cemented as one of the elites along with Stanford, MIT, Yale, Columbia, etc? Just curious what you guys think
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<p>Regardless of what USNews says, from what I've seen, Chicago has long been considered one of the best schools in America. </p>
<p>Generally, people will talk of the ivies (Harvard, Yale, Princeton) and the top, non-ivy universities, which are usually represented by Stanford, MIT, Chicago, Northwestern, etc.</p>
<p>Particularly because of its position among universities as a leader in the social sciences, Chicago has always been very prestigious in its own sense and has commanded a great deal of respect from the academic world. </p>
<p>I agree with slipper - Berkeley undergrad just isn't as highly regarded in my part of the country either. Graduate is a whole different ballpark.</p>
<p>okay, but the fact that Northwestern students chose it over Berkeley is irrelevant, of course they did, that why they are at Northwestern, but several kids chose Berkeley over Northwestern who go to Berkeley as well.</p>