Cornell vs. Berkeley, Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Sorry if this is very repetitive. Yes, I've read all the many other posts on this topic, but I still haven't reached a conclusion yet. I've posted this on the Berkeley forum as well, but I would also like to see Cornell students' take on this.</p>

<p>I'm currently debating between the two for engineering, probably mechanical. I am in-state, but I haven't received financial aid statement from either yet. However, I think fin aid will make both universities cost about the same. Before you unanimously vote for Cornell, please read over my concerns.</p>

<p>These are the strengths/weaknesses I found for each school:</p>

<p>Berkeley:
+Top public
+Ranked 3rd engineering
+Nice setting/weather, stuff to do around campus/in bay area
+Lots of companies nearby (Silicon Valley) to intern in, etc.
+Opportunity to network more, and possibly attend Haas as well (though very difficult to double major)
-Very competitive, especially when it comes to research opportunity and internship opportunity
-The sheer size causes impersonal treatment to students; lack of adivising, counselling, etc</p>

<p>Cornell
+Highly ranked school as well
+Has good engineering program
+Smaller size and private university cause more opportunity for research, co-op and internship
+Faculty adviser, etc.
+Not as competitive
+Good food
-Bad weather (I like snow, but not that much)
-Secluded from the rest of the world</p>

<p>Can someone add to the list, or verify the validity of my claims? I am looking for a university that gives me a good education, which no doubt both do offer. Also, I am planning to go to grad school after, so I would like to go to a school that is well-represented in grad school admissions, and prepare students willing to take this route. Which school would be good?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>i agree with everything you said. but if you feel you really need that 'guidance' then go with cornell. if you think you can manage without, go with berkeley. its more convenient i think, and its better for engineering. traveling that far that many times a year can be daunting. you're pretty lucky to live in CA. both schools are great for grad school placement. i don't know what to tell you. just don't feel like youre missing out on something when you make your choice. good luck.</p>

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<p>I picked Cornell over Berkeley (with Regents nonetheless). Money was an issue also.</p>

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<p>Also at Cornell u can EASILY take courses at the 6 other colleges: ILR, Hotel, AAR, CAS, CALS, Human Ec. GREAT opportunities! </p>

<p>Nice add to the list is that Cornell is an IVY. Superficial, but a great thing.</p>

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<p>Honestly, don't worry about rankings for undergrad. Cornell and Berkeley are the same caliber for undergrad, and only slightly different for grad, so there is plenty of world-class research at both schools. No grad school will take a similarly statted Berkeley student over a Cornell one just because of the name, so no worries there. </p>

<p>Your list is actually pretty good, just don't underestimate the sheer size of Berkeley. In lower div courses you really are just a number. I am just finishing up my Mech E. undergrad there, and things improve as you you move to electives, sophmore/junior year, but things can be pretty rough before then. There are people who can give guidance and advice if you need it, but you have to seek them out. Personally, I went through a period freshman-sophmore year that I completely lost all motivation to be an engineer and considered switching majors. I didn't really have anyone higher up to talk to during that patch, and because of that, my gpa suffered a bit, which has hurt me when it came to grad school admissions to the top 3. The school is trying to improve counseling and really push it on engineers, but there's only so much they can do with so many people.</p>

<p>Yet, there are - as you noticed - so many plusses. I mean, had I wanted to switch, pretty much every program there is a top 10. The professor's are all geniuses, and are mostly willing to talk to you, and help you understand material if you seek them out. The business school is, of course, great, and they've got a budding program going for promoting entrepreneurship in engineering. </p>

<p>Basically, Berkeley is very much built around the grad students. This means a lot of high level opportunities for undergrads, but only if they seek them out. If you are a timid person or not dead certain you're in the major you want( like my case), then Cornell would be better for you. However, if you know what you want and you come in focused and prepared - such as by reading the berkeley forums - then Berkeley, in my opinion, does offer the better experience overall. San Francisco vs Ithaca? No contest. Both schools are excellent, and you can't really go wrong either way. I faced the same decision as you, but from the opposite coast, and despite my early struggles, I would still pick Berkeley hands down. </p>

<p>Feel free to PM if you have any questions. I'm on the Cornell forum, because I'm considering it for grad school.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the response everyone! Yes those are exactly what I thought. The thing is I'm not sure if I will be able to survive the Berkeley's academic atmosphere. However, everyone is telling me to go there because it is a great school and has a much livelier social atmosphere.</p>

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<p>haha cornell def has a more "lively" social atmosphere than berkeley, if thats something you are concerned with.</p>

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<p>Ya Cornell is definitely lively...</p>

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<p>You say that you will "probably" do mech. engin - at Berkeley, were you accepted as a mech. eng. major, or undecided? My S was accepted into the mech. E program at Berkeley last year, but one reason why he chose Cornell was the flexibility Cornell gives its freshmen to change majors (and even colleges). (Check out the Berkeley engineering website for the detailed procedures to change one's major - not easy, and not guaranteed.) He is having a great time at Cornell, and now says that he will formally declare himself as an EE major! Maybe you should look at both websites for the detailed requirements for your intended major, and see which you prefer.</p>

<p>Like you, I was concerned about Berkeley's academics for S, so I emailed the Assistant Dean (Robert Giomi, I believe - very helpful and responsive), who provided some statistics showing that the attrition rate for Berkeley engineering is very low - much lower than at UCLA, for example. That email is in my office computer, and if you are interested, PM me and I will retrieve it for you. Of course, the information is a year old now, so you may want to email Dr. Giomi yourself with your own questions. Good luck with your fin. aid package and your decision. You really can't go wrong either way.</p>

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<p>Not sure what you mean by lively. If that means close-knit and intimate, then that's probably true. But if you're talking about things going on in campus and the energy of the school itself, there's not a chance. Even if you ignore the everyday chaos of sproul plaza, ithaca doesn't have a prayer of matching the small city atmosphere, not to mention the huge city 20 mins away.</p>

<p>It is true that some majors are hard to transfer into though. For example, I believe EE is considered impacted, and is nearly impossible to transfer into, unless your GPA is 3.8 or above. ME is slightly impacted too. But the other engineering majors are generally ok.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the wonderful response so far, everyone!</p>

<p>The major, for me, is not that bad since I am accepted into Berkeley's Undeclared Engineering, meaning it guarantees transfer into any program. Also, I think at Cornell, transferring within the engineering school isn't that hard. So I guess that's a good thing (or bad, since it doesn't resolve any difference...)</p>

<p>I'm also wondering that since Cornell is isolated, would there still be the opportunity to intern/work at places during the school year? It seems like Berkeley has the upper hand in that regard.</p>

<p>As for liveliness, I know Berkeley is probably more lively because of its proximity to big cities, and the weather to an extent as well. What about Cornell? Does it get tedious being only able to go to places on campus?</p>

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<p>how will you even find the time to intern during the school year as an engineering major? though, i guess its possible if you don't include yourself in any extracurriculars around school.</p>

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<p>biggyboy: I don't really know... I'm just trying to see what is possible for me in the upcoming years. Is it really hard to do internship during the school year? Do a lot of students do it?</p>