<p>I'd like to have everybody convince me some reasons for me to go to Berkeley... I've been accepted to all three schools and am having a hard time deciding between the three. I'd like to major in EECS, don't know if/how that will change halfway through school. I'm kinda nerdy but I have other interest, too (took Japanese language proficiency tests, among other things -- Japanese is one of my interests) and my friends aren't like me at all. </p>
<p>Have you visited Caltech? If you care about having a social life and a real college experience at all, you will hate it there. The entering class is ~200 people total and the boy:girl ratio is nowhere near equal even after Caltech attempts to make up for that by admitting more girls. Even my parents agreed after taking the tour there that I would absolutely hate it and was not applying. You have to take that into account even if rankings seem like the only factor right now. That’s not a problem at Berkeley at all. It’s still difficult academically, but besides that you can have and be whatever you want.</p>
<p>How Berkeley is even entered between these three is beyond me. (I mean unless you’re a horndog and must MUST have tons of girls surrounding you…and it’s not like the girls here are really good or anything either) CalTech if you decide you really want to pursue engineering, Columbia elsewise as dogglefox said.</p>
<p>Go to Columbia hands down: Ivy League status and Most popular Ivy League after Harvard.</p>
<p>Its the best to explore options and its located in the heart of America, NYC!
The campus is soo gorgeous and you’ll have PLENTY of social life.</p>
<p>Caltech is good and all, but there is absolutely NO social life. Caltech would be my second choice, so I suggest you visit Caltech and Columbia.</p>
<p>Berkeley is frankly not up to par with either of these colleges. Consider Berkeley for grad, but its terrible for undergrad.
Remember, every California high school sends a bunch of people (some even undeserving) to Berkeley.</p>
<p>It takes immense skill and luck to get into places like Columbia and Caltech.</p>
<p>Berkeley is terrible for undergrad? haha, i am pretty stoked hearing that from a soon to be Duke student. We are recognized by the world at least unlike Duke who is recognized who? That’s right! rednecks. Not to mention their lousy departments and their inferior level of majors.</p>
<p>Berkeley will definitely provide the most traditional college experience. Its undergrad EECS program is top-notch. If you’re certain about EECS and want a big-time college experience with sports, college town life and access to a dynamic city, choose Berkeley.</p>
<p>If you value small classes and an intense learning environment, choose Caltech.</p>
<p>If you value studying a wide variety of disciplines outside your major of interest and living in a big bustling city, choose Columbia.</p>
<p>Uh, I disagree with most opinions here. I am EECS as well and I chose Berkeley over Caltech. Why?</p>
<ol>
<li>I wanted a more well-rounded education, have a social life and not be around 99% of Science-only nerds (this is not a bad thing, just in general not the people I like to socialize with).</li>
<li>Name recognition. Yes, Caltech has a strong brand-name in CA, but seriously, no one outside of the US (I am international) has ever heard of Caltech. That even applies for many other US-Sates. Berkeley is much more recognized internationally than most Americans know.</li>
</ol>
<p>It’s true that academically Caltech MAY be better than Berkeley (though for EECS I don’t even think that’s true), but Caltech is tailored to a very specific kind of student. And just if you are interested, I would make the same decision again. Even though I am not really happy with my life at Berkeley, I think I would hate it at Caltech ;)</p>
<p>I agree that Berkeley is not up to par with Colbumbia for MOST majors, but EECS is a different story. If you think there is a good probability you will drop out of EECS, go to Columbia. A more personal education, nice location, easy to switch majors, and so on. However, if you are sure that you will stick with EECS I would choose Berkelet over Columbia. It will give you more opportunities (for EECS) and more likely a better education as well. Since you seem to be interested in Japanese, did you know that Columbia has a very strong name in Japan?</p>
<p>Choosing a college based on how difficult it is to get in is stupid. I hope you’re kidding. If you need the ego boost, you can tell yourself that you got into a hard to get into school, but at the end of the day, choosing 4 years of study at a place based on that ego boost is pitiful, and in this case very misguided.</p>
<p>Someone who is Caltech-caliber will get a TON out of Berkeley. For anyone considering engineering seriously, most likely it should be between Berkeley and Caltech. These two are immensely different colleges. Folks turning down Caltech, Harvey Mudd, Columbia to come here for engineering or something technical is just not uncommon. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The student body at Caltech is undoubtedly more talented in a majority of areas. However, one must remember that most students at Berkeley are VASTLY underprepared to enjoy its fruits. If you consider yourself a real intellectual, you can get a ton out of Berkeley. If you aren’t a real intellectual, you will probably start crying like a baby if you try to make it through Caltech. </p>
<p>Points to consider: Caltech is a school with a lot of general maths and science requirements, as in their core. Berkeley’s requirements are largely easy, BS-able things, so students can more easily just focus on their majors early on, if they are so inclined. Berkeley is incredibly lax about what you do with your time, and its faculty are easily on par with Caltech’s and more numerous, plus their departments can be bigger and thus be a better place to sample. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is not a valid distinction. The graduate program and undergraduate program are only different for those who have little serious interest in pursuing graduate studies later. Chances are, someone seriously considering Caltech very well may (look at Caltech’s percentage of undergrads going on to get a PhD – very high), and thus could benefit from the education at Berkeley a lot. And again, we’re talking EE – lots of incredible people here for that stuff. By the time one is a junior and has trained well in the basics, if interested in graduate studies, one should very likely start doing something with the faculty, and this gives a chance to get to really be in touch with the brilliant guys here. It’s the wrong attitude to say you can’t do anything at all before you get to graduate school. It’s very advisable to communicate with the titans early rather than late, because the experience is not just like going to classes – it gets one reflective early, and chances are will lead to a much more mature perspective entering graduate school.</p>
<p>Looking at most of these posts who favor Columbia, I have to assume that they’re not EECS majors. Who would choose Columbia for EECS? They’re not even known for engineering! They rank below UCSB for grad school and no weak grad school has a strong undergrad. Let’s be real here. HANDS DOWN Cal or Caltech. </p>
<p>If you’re set on EECS, don’t consider Columbia. They’re not good for EECS or engineering. I can see the appeal of an Ivy League but I know a bunch of people who turned them down for Cal EECS.</p>
<p>Since you were able to get into Caltech (congrats!), I’m sure you wouldn’t have a tough time at Cal. The only question is what type of student are you? Do you want to mainly focus on science or do you want more of a balance? I’m an EECS major too but I also like humanities. I’m planning on taking Japanese next semester and I’ve heard that the Japanese program at Cal is great. Teachers are friendly, classes are small (25 ppl), etc. I would suggest you visit Cal and Caltech and decide which one you like better.</p>
<p>Anyone who would “worship” a Caltech female clearly has a skewed perception of how social interactions are supposed to work. If the girl responds to such worshipping (rather than just ignoring it), she’s asking for whatever trouble she gets herself into.</p>
<p>Don’t comment on Caltech’s social life unless you have significant firsthand experience with it. Otherwise, you’re most likely just going to be wrong.</p>
<p>I will be taking Japanese at Berkeley if I go as well!</p>
<p>In response to John’s post: I would pick Berkeley over Duke every day of the week and twice on Saturday. How is Berkeley crap? I would love to have inroads with one of the best grad programs in the world. Having international recognition for top academics helps too, its certainly more impressive than name recognition from being good at basketball and having lacrosse players accused of rape.</p>
<p>Mathboy said it all. I believe Berkeley all the way, you will get the best of both worlds, study hard and expand your intellectual horizons (I’m also going into CoE), while also expanding your mind, social experiences and personal philosophies with all kinds of people!</p>