Deciding between Cal and UCLA Computer Science?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

I’m currently a high school senior with the option to attend either UCLA or Cal for Computer Science (not CSE or EECS). I know that Berkeley’s CS program is ranked much higher than UCLA’s, but I also know that choosing a more prestigious program won’t necessarily make or break the amount of success I have in my career. That being said, I would like to clear up some rumors I’ve heard about Berkeley:

  1. I was admitted into FPF. Does this have any positive or negative effect on me as a Computer Science major?
  2. Objectively, how difficult is Computer Science at Cal? Is it feasible to balance a good social life with the courseload?
  3. I would likely want to join greek life if I were to attend Cal. Would I have enough time/energy to be active in greek life while maintaining decent grades?
  4. How is the startup culture at Cal? What options exist for those interested in pursuing entrepreneurship?
  5. My chief concerns with Cal are the seemingly lacking social/party life and things like "Berkeley goggles." The incredible education I would receive is definitely important to me, but I also want to make sure I spend the next four years enjoying myself. With this in mind, do you feel like you've had a decent college experience at Cal?
  6. Do you feel like the prestige of Berkeley has helped you significantly in the job/internship market, especially when competing with applicants from other schools?
  7. If you chose Cal over another school, would you pick Cal again?

As I’m sure you can see, this will be a very tough decision for me to make, but I would immensely appreciate any help in one way or another to help me inch closer to my final choice.
Thank you!

2

FPF has relatively limited course offerings, listed at http://fpf.berkeley.edu/fpfcourses.html . You won’t be able to start with CS 61A, or take math courses more advanced than Math 1B until spring. This should not delay graduation in L&S CS, but if you are itching to move full speed ahead on CS courses (and math courses if you are ready to go beyond Math 1B), then you would have to spend the FPF semester taking other courses (mainly L&S breadth or R&C). Another option as a spring admit to Berkeley is to take fall courses at a community college; if you are near Laney, you can take CIS 61 there, since that is listed at http://www.assist.org as equivalent to Berkeley CS 61A.

You can preview CS courses at http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/classes-eecs.html .