<p>Let me start off by saying the ONLY reason i am considering Vanderbilt is because of financial aid. They gave me so much that i only have to pay 20 k/ yr. Berkeley is 50 k/yr plus 4 k/yr in work study. CMU and USC have not given me their packages yet. However, my mom is willing to pay for Berkeley and wants me to take it (because of its prestige both in the U.S and internationally)</p>
<p>For Berkeley my major would be computer science in the letters and sciences which would be good due to proximity to Silicon valley. For CMU my major would be economics w/ a minor in computer science (also, QSSS honors program student). For USC my major would be in accounting. For Vanderbilt, I have no clue because I don't think Vandy's econ programs are that good and i got into arts and sciences. </p>
<p>So a little about me. I'm quite liberal. However, I refuse to do drugs and alcohol and I don't want to hang around people who drink/smoke (in college it will be hard to avoid, but i'll do my best). </p>
<p>For CMU, Vandy, and USC I will aim for grad school. For Berkeley I'll try to get a job right out of college. I want to work on either the west coast or the east coast.</p>
<p>I think prestige is the most important because I'm aiming for either top schools or top companies. So, in your opinion, what is best??? </p>
<p>I probably want to have research experience when I graduate too. I am also indifferent between economics, accounting, and computer science, but i still want to work at a top company (if econ, then IB or some form of banking. If comp sci, sillicon valley) or I want to go to a top school for a phd in economics (MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, etc.)</p>
<p>Final question (sorry). Does Berkeley feed Berkeley? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wait until you get all financial aid offers.</p>
<p>It is very hard to recommend paying $140,000 more, unless your parents are wealthy enough that the amount is a trivial matter for their finances. This is despite Vanderbilt’s heavily fraternity/sorority culture (43%, versus 11% at Berkeley), its much less math-oriented intermediate economics and econometrics courses (heavy math intermediate economics and econometrics courses like Berkeley Economics 101A, 101B, 141 are better preparation for PhD study in economics), and its lack of Berkeley’s location and reputation advantage in CS.</p>
<p>Be aware that while investment banks recruit at Berkeley, they apply a very selective process, as opposed to taking a third of the class at some “prestige” schools; see <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1321246-economics-investment-banking.html#post14204944[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1321246-economics-investment-banking.html#post14204944</a> . No idea how Vanderbilt stacks up here.</p>
<p>My EFC is 24 k/yr btw if that helps and thanks!</p>
<p>It sounds like you are out-of-state for Berkeley – you must be really lucky if your EFC = $24,000 but your parents are willing to put up an AFC >= $50,000 (can they do it would debt or seriously compromising their personal finances?).</p>
<p>They’re willing to take on some debt for it, yes. Shouldn’t be THAT big of an issue. I dunno why my EFC is that low either. My parents make 150 k total… I’m also looking at Vanderbilt salaries and they seem to be extremely low…<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/career/employers/#empStats[/url]”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/career/employers/#empStats</a></p>
<p>If they have to take on debt to afford to pay for your school, then that is a warning sign that their personal finances are being overstretched. You may want to talk to them to make sure that they are not digging themselves into a financial hole, or setting themselves up to be dependent on you finding the highest possible paying job at graduation, even if you would otherwise prefer some other type of job or go to study for a PhD (funded with a cost of living stipend, but not really what you can use to pay off large debt or support your parents).</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon gave me nothing…It will cost me 42 k/yr and I would take Berkeley over that. So now it’s just Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley, and USC (but USC is unlikely)</p>
<p>BUMP… Berkeley 46 k/yr computer science, or Vandy econ (maybe physics) for 20 k/yr? CMU is 42 k/yr and i don’t think it’s as valuable as a Berkeley education.</p>