Cal or Cambridge UK?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I'm sorta in a dilemma here... Should I go to Cal or Cambridge(UK)? I've been admitted for Chemical Engineering at both schools.</p>

<p>What worries me is the impersonality faced at Cal compared to Cambridge. Tuition costs + living expenses makes no difference as I'm classified under OOS. I was told that the general crowd at Cambridge has higher quality peers compared to those at Cal. I've no personal first hand knowledge about housing at both sites but I was told that housing at Cambridge is much better, plus a greater scenery. Classes at Cal are just so big, where as at Cambridge, its much smaller. Im not sure how the quality of ChemEng at Cambridge compares to those at Cal. The added advantage at Cal is that I can do what I'm passionate about also, which is research. Also, the big class at Cal kinda worries me about the quality, as there would be like 9k graduating students per class.</p>

<p>Anyways, just place your input. Though I'ld expect lotsa pro Cal comments I really just wanna know people's opinions to aid my final decision.</p>

<p>Cheers~</p>

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<p>To choose Cal over Cambridge. Cambridge is arguably the best institution of learning in the world, and in just America there are many colleges deemed far superior to CAl.</p>

3

<p>this has to be a joke, right?</p>

<p>although Berkeley is great, if you don't care about cost, why would you choose it over Cambridge?</p>

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<p>Well, to be honest, I think UK's system is abit too rigid compared to the US system. I know that I want to do Chem Eng, but I'ld also like to take other subjects that may/may not pretain to my major. Also, the research factor comes in.</p>

<p>theres also the prestige factor (which seems to lean towards Cam) but wouldnt really play an important role in my decision..</p>

<p>And it seems that the College of Chemistry @ Cal is rather small? I'm still rather blur about how Cal works though... and I dont know anyone doing ChemEng at Cal either.</p>

5

<p>i'd say visit both places, if you can. Remember the difference though, the UK's got pretty bad weather, and bland food, but you can drink @ 18 instead of 21, and there's a completely different social atmosphere.</p>

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<p>The college of Chemistry at Cal is humongous. I think Chem + Chem E graduates 600 BS, MS, and PhD students each spring. I believe it's also #1 in the world, in most chem specialties. However, they have a really annoying policy of keeping BS students from reapplying for PhD at Berkeley, which is hard to get around, so if you're thinking about grad school, I would suggest going to cambridge and applying to Berkeley for grad.</p>

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<p>going to cambridge will save you a lot of money and 1 year of time</p>

<p>reputation-wise cambridge is better than cal</p>

<p>cal is better for chemE</p>

<p>you won't get a liberal arts education in UK, so if you want to take other classes that interest you, go to cal.</p>

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<p>i don't think any institution can be deemed FAR superior to cal, especially in the sciences, and more so in engineering.</p>

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<p>Go to Cambridge. Who cares if you can't get a full liberal-arts education? It's called self-directed learning.</p>

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<p>the66afghans: I've been self studying for my AP's throughout my ALevels. But honestly, I'ld rather take classes. Why? because there are some things that may not be covered in books. there could also be certain easier methods/ways to understand topics.</p>

<p>lostincode: Cambridge's MChemEng program is 4 years. its about the same with cal's</p>

<p>riyam: thats the problem. Cam is about the same as Cal. its just the different learning atmosphere and opportunities at both school that makes it a tough decision.</p>

<p>punkdude: I cant afford to visit both. Cam is 8 hours to the west. Cal is 8 hours to the east.</p>

<p>merper68: Where did you get the information regarding that policy?</p>

<p>Thanks all!</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.cheng.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cheng.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>at cal, 4 years of study lead to the BS</p>

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<p>I will be doing the MEng 4 year course if I go Cam. but its not exactly a master's degree either. Just an inbetween. Where did you get your info regarding Cal is better in ChemE?</p>

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<p><a href="http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad_info/pros_ugrad/degree_choice.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad_info/pros_ugrad/degree_choice.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here is information on getting a B.S. from the College of Chemistry. I would advise you to call the College of Chemistry to ask them about the policy that Merper68 informed you about because there might not be such a policy at all. That would be your best bet.</p>

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<p>From my roommate who is a Chem major. I'm not sure if it's written into policy, but it is to the point where unless you have a 3.9+ GPA with extremely strong recommendations from profs, you won't be able to get in. They "strongly encourage" people to experience a different school for their grad studies. Many people graduate early just to go do research somewhere else, so they can reapply to Berkeley. This is true for Chemistry, but not sure about Chem E. so you'll have to check.</p>

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<p>Hmmm? Why were some of my previous post deleted? I did not offend anyone by saying Berkeley is a great place did I?</p>

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<p>I absolutely do not believe you would be crazy to choose Cal over Cambridge. Cal has arguably the best undergraduate engineering and chemistry programs in the world. Recently, Berkeley's College of Chemistry was given the number one ranked along with MIT. Also, prestige-wise, I believe Berkeley's engineering department is at the top, especially in East Asia and Europe. </p>

<p>Also, I do not think the College of Chemistry graduates 600 students every spring considering the overall population of the college, including both undergrad and grads, is about 1200.</p>

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<p>i'd go for cambridge. but thats just me.</p>

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<p>D has studied at both---Cal will give you options in taking classes that Cambridge will not. You applied to both for reasons that you feel are a "fit" for your goal....now....take the time to ferret out what is really important to you. The answer will become clearer.Congratulations,btw.</p>

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<p>Why would u turn down cambridge? Would u turn down Harvard for Cal to?</p>

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<p>If I wanted to study engineering I'd certainly turn down Harvard for berkeley. Once you stop focusing on prestige, you'd see that Cal has the far superior department. Harvard isn't a perfect school by any stretch of the imagination. Neither is Berkeley (or any other school for that matter), but certain schools excel in areas where other schools (even the great harvard!) do not.</p>