<p>I'm only a junior right now, in Southern California. I've been thinking whether i want to go to berkeley or Cornell (i know i can probably get in both). Here are some things im debating</p>
<p>Berkeley and Cornell are both prestigious.</p>
<p>I dont wanna be too close to home, im kinda not sure about going to the east coast ish</p>
<p>Ive heard Berkeley is huge and kind of "culture shock". how is cornell in terms of this?</p>
<p>Thanks for any feedback</p>
<p>Berkeley is pretty big but Cornell isn't small either. Still, there's about 10,000 population difference, so it depends on how large a school would have to be to be a culture shock to you.</p>
<p>Berkeley has the better weather, hands down. It's also close to a thriving metropolitan area (you are liberal aren't ya? Because otherwise...). However, Cornell has more nature, so if you like rural areas better Cornell is damn good at that (and I think Ithaca has plenty of things to do anyhow). </p>
<p>Cornell probably has the better undergrad experience as it's not quite as overcrowded as Berkeley. However, Berkeley has the much better cost for in-staters (though San Francisco is god damn expensive).</p>
<p>In my opinion, if you're a Californian, and Cornell doesn't give you significant financial aid, or you're so rich that you don't care about money, then I think it's a no-brainer to take Berkeley. On the other hand, if you are one of those people who gets enough aid such that Cornell actually becomes * cheaper * than Berkeley, then take Cornell. </p>
<p>I think you will also find that Northern California is significantly different from a cultural standpoint than SoCal, such that you will feel that you will have basically moved to another state. So I doubt that Berkeley will "feel" too close to home for you. </p>
<p>Other than that, the schools are rather comparable. Berkeley is bigger and thus may be more impersonal. However, the total aggregate of resources available to you at Berkeley is larger, it's just a matter of fighting for access to those resources that is the issue. San Francisco is a great city, the city of Berkeley is also quite interesting, and as said above, the weather in Berkeley is quite good. Cornell has fewer problems with impacted majors and may be able to offer a more coherent undergraduate experience. But otherwise, the 2 schools are not terribly different from each other.</p>
<p>Ive heard about "liberal" schools. what EXACTLy does this mean? What is the approximate class size or student to staff ratio of both universities? I come from a really small prep high school where you pretty much know everyone. Thanks for the feedback so far. By the way, where exactly is cornell? (i have only heard a couple things about it)</p>
<p>Whether or not Berkeley is more expensive than Cornell, go to Berkeley especially if you're going to major engineering. Many people would consider Cornell a top school, but UC Berkeley is a top of the top schools for sciences, IT, engineering, languages and economics.</p>
<p>As sakky said, it would be difficult to pass up the in-state tuition at Berkeley. </p>
<p>Cornell has a beautiful campus. Fall and Spring at Cornell are really very nice. </p>
<p>I am not familiar with the undergraduate classroom experience in engineering at Berkeley. </p>
<p>But, I can say that the faculty at Cornell are excellent undergraduate educators. For example, the Cornell faculty make an effort to explain the interconnections between concepts, courses, subjects, disciplines, and so on (often brilliantly). This requires going beyond the textbook. They draw on their own insights and discoveries. The practice of teaching interrelationships enhances your ability to think about engineering and can set you apart, after you graduate, from other engineering graduate students. This is just one example. </p>
<p>I think Cornell might be better for undergraduate engineering education than Berkeley. I suspect that Berkeley's reputation in engineering stems more from faculty research and from its graduate programs. Not sure.</p>
<p>What about the student to faculty ratio? I dont like a big city ish university that much.</p>
<p>arklogic,</p>
<p>student faculty ratios are probably the most non telling factor at any school. remember many schools "lie" about the student faculty ratio (cough penn cough) by including either medical faculty (where the student faculty ratio is usually like 3:1) or research staff that never teach. What you really want to know is how big are the classes in your major. you'll find that at both schools most if not all intro classes will be 100+, and at that point it doesn't matter if its 100 or 900 students. You want to see what the upper division classes are like...are they 50 students? 30 students? 15 students? </p>
<p>you probably can look at a course directory online for a school that will tell you the spaces for each class. I would check them out</p>
<p>I am thinking about majoring in engineering, but I heard that if you decide this during applications, your chances of getting in are lower.</p>
<p>Competition to get into engineering schools in both universities is certainly tougher than applying for most other majors(at least in an academic sense, anyhow).</p>
<p>
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Ive heard Berkeley is huge and kind of "culture shock". how is cornell in terms of this?
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</p>
<p>What? The only "cultural shock" you will experience is "hella." I think Cornell will be a bigger cultural shock. At least at Berkeley most students are Californians. East coast people are somewhat different. Of course, you can see this as a good thing.</p>
<p>
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I am thinking about majoring in engineering, but I heard that if you decide this during applications, your chances of getting in are lower.
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</p>
<p>Yes, this applies to both schools, although arguably more to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Berkeley. No question. Kids just don't seem that happy at Cornell. Too many choose it as a second choice "Ivy." Yes, big culture shock at Cornell, unless you are from NJ or NYC/LI region.</p>
<p>Culture shock at Cornell? Huh? Can anybody elaborate?</p>
<p>So i am better off at Berkeley?</p>
<p>Berkeley. No question. Kids just don't seem that happy at Cornell. Too many choose it as a second choice "Ivy."</p>
<p>... the hell? Even if that's remotely true, how's Berkely any better with many students going there solely because of cost and not preference?</p>
<p>i'd go with Cornell, easy choice for me. The only reason i'd go to Berkeley is if it was significantly cheaper. </p>
<p>As far as engineering, Cornell and UCB are both at the top few in the country and one will not be better than others, though the difference may come in class size and research opportunities where Cornell may have the advantage. </p>
<p>Cornell may have a bit of a culture shock. Unlike UCB, the majority of students dont come from a single state. The student body is very diverse, and this may take some getting used to for some. But, for most, it's a welcomed experience. </p>
<p>Believe me, the statement 'nobody seems happy there' at Cornell is far from the truth that seems more ego driven than fact driven. If it helps, the kid next to me last year transfered from UCB where he wasn't happy (especially 'fighting' for opportunities, as he put it). </p>
<p>both schools have their pros and cons, I firmly believe that Cornell has more pros than UCB does. Do some research on the schools like the viewbooks and websites, and make a decision for yourself.</p>
<p>Apply to and visit them both if you're accepted to both. Decide afterwards.</p>
<p>Posted by: Ray192 </p>
<p>... the hell? Even if that's remotely true, how's Berkely any better with many students going there solely because of cost and not preference?</p>
<hr>
<p>Is there any truth to this, or this is just another crap?</p>
<p>well, you can just look at the cost of tuition. Can you assume that all students at UCB recieved huge scholarships elsewhere??</p>
<p>^
In defense of my friend, MABUHAY.</p>
<p>OK, English is not my first language but I know what "solely" means. Wouldn't that mean ALL? </p>
<p>So, in effect, what they guy is saying is = all students at Berkeley went there only because of cost preference. If you're mind is stable, would you really believe this kind of crap? I' applying to some top US schools but applying to Cornell didn't even cross my mind. And I don't need a scholarship like many of Cornell's students.</p>