CMU SCS versus Berkeley EECS

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Hey guys, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. My (top) choices are between CMU's SCS and Cal's EECS, both of which are top-notch programs. I'm a Cali resident, so Cal's the cheaper choice financially, though I'm hoping for some money from CMU since I got some nice $$ from Cornell. But anyway, my problem is that I can't visit CMU. I had plans to go this week, but my mom canceled on me (and wasted $300 in refund processing fee. :|), and I won't have a chance to go before the May 1st deadline for SIR's. Since I can't visit the school, I'm relying on you, CC, to help me decide.</p>

<p>I like a smaller school like CMU in comparison to Cal, and I would love to get away (some more, Cal's not close enough for my parents to drop in on me every weekend). But I don't have a strong tolerance for the cold (or the warmth, I think my body's temperature control system is broken D: ), and I don't know what Pittsburgh is like. Also, the travel is going to be an issue with CMU, at least, I hear some bad things about planes to and from Pittsburgh in the winter-time.</p>

<p>So, questions:
Just what are the differences between the programs themselves, if any?
I'm looking to do computer science, hopefully with a minor in art. Is this even possible, considering how there's little to no course overlaps between the two? (goes for both schools)</p>

<p>And generally, just help me decide?</p>

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<p>I would say that the top half of Berkeley EECS (~150 people) rivals CMU SCS (~130 people). I think that Berkeley is more about software and programming whereas CMU is a little more about abstract CS. Both schools cover a wide range of topics and are solid.</p>

<p>Pick the school that you like more for its price and environment.</p>

3

<p>Wow.
This was, literally, my exact dillema one year ago.
I hated the cold, I wanted a small school, and I wanted to do computer science. It was either Berkeley EECS, or CMU SCS.</p>

<p>First off, I visited CMU and I liked the campus. I visited, though, in the spring, and it was bright and sunny. However, I couldn’t help but notice the massive heaters in the dorms and every building which were described as “sometimes not even sufficient for how cold it is in the winter”. I’m kind of like you - any sign of cold and my body wants to kill itself. Combined with pictures of a completely snowy campus, I couldn’t help but realize that I would hate to go out to class every day in the winter when it’s ridiculously cold outside.</p>

<p>But you then take a look at Berkeley, which is notorious for GPA deflation. You also look at the fact at your class is huge, and that in most lower-division (freshman) classes, you’re one of the 400, 500, 600, even 700 students. Talking to a professor from CMU SCS, he really emphasized the strong connection faculty and students had. I didn’t see a lot of that at Berkeley - all small sections are with graduate students instead of professors, and you had to make a strong effort outside of class (e.g. office hours) to even have the professor know your name.</p>

<p>Regarding the strengths of each school, CMU had a nice campus, small class size, more attention with faculty, but it’s really in the middle of nowhere (Pittsburgh? ***). Berkeley is in the middle of the Silicon Valley, great reputation, opportunities, etc, but there’s a lot of people and the area around Berkeley isn’t all that great. In the end, I chose Berkeley simply because of its opportunities, and I don’t regret it. Plus, it’s far enough away from home so I don’t have my parents visiting every week, but if an emergency happens, it’s really only a 45min-1hr flight away.</p>

<p>In the end, it doesn’t matter where you end up. Go where you would feel more comfortable - both computer science departments are top in the nation (top 3, or top 5 - something like that). The ranking doesn’t matter here, so just go where you feel you will do your best.</p>

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<p>I wonder what does this actually mean? that 75 EECS students at Cal aren’t as academically competitive as those 130 SCS students at CMU???
This is probably the most distorted comment I’ve read on CC.
I haven’t really thought that CMU students are more talented than Cal students. lol</p>

5

<p>Personally I would say going to CMU would give you more one on one attention with professors, and it would be easier to get research positions (less competitions). But it really depends on how you learn</p>

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<p>If you go to CMU, bring a leaded suit. The students there said the profs were relatively conservative. Also, the Cannonburg area of Pittsburg is classified as the most radioactive city in America. It had an open-air uranium burning plant that operated for 50 years.</p>