Carnegie Mellon scs or Berkeley eecs

Can anyone with experience with either of these programs provide input on the pros and cons? We are deciding between these two programs for D. We are in California so there is a significant cost difference but we want to decide based on other factors as well.

Wow. What a choice. I have no idea. Pittsburgh is a phenomenal place. CMU is so great too.

Cal is a world leader in that type of field.

I have no idea. Maybe price or size of school would decide for me.

In terms of quality of CS, both programs are really neck and neck, so academically it is a wash. However, other things to consider: weather and cost will be better at Berkeley, whereas individualized attention and undergrad experience will be better at CMU. In terms of student happiness, both are probably similar given the academic rigor of both programs. Best of wishes in deciding! Just based on price and proximity to home the edge might go to Berkeley, unless the student wants to try something very new and different for 4 years, in which case CMU might be better!

I think you’ll come to the conclusion that 36K extra per year for 2 equal programs isnt worth it. Unless CMU is giving you significant dollars which they are not known for.

The curriculum is different. Obviously, EECS isn’t all CS. No preference?

Actually, what are your preferences? Pro’s/con’s?

For Berkeley, you can make EECS almost all CS if you want to. (There are 2 required lower division EE classes that are required of all EECS/CS). In fact I would say the vast majority of EECS grads are on the CS side of things. Similarly for L&S CS you can make it almost all EE if you want.

Having two strong programs gives you the luxury of investigating the programs in detail. A side-to-side comparison should be interesting. Is she interested in CS in general or is there a specific branch that interests her?

@glasshalffull123 So what did your daughter choose?

Thank you for all the input! It was a tough choice. She loved both schools when she visited them. Cal being much closer and half the price won out. She also really loved the people at Cal. She felt she related to those kids a bit more.