Got into Stanford, but should I still consider Berkeley? Out of State.

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

I got into both Stanford and Berkeley. Although Stanford seems like the clear choice, are there any reasons why I should go to Berkeley instead? Money isn’t an issue. Interested in CS and History.

Thanks.

2

No

3

Lol go to Stanford.

4

If you dream about having a real mascot, identify with hot dogs, and call yourself Mr. Orange, then Cal is the place you oughta be.

If images of the Hoover Tower keep you up at night, then it’s probably Stanford.

5

But seriously, Campanile > Hoover Tower.
I can at least tell you Berkeley will give you top-notch CS and history programs.

6

Stanford would give you more/better personalize eduction since the classes are much smaller and the resources are much greater (and your GPA would be much higher overall). The price is almost the same, so I think it’s a no brainer.

7

no

8

The CS program at Cal and Stanford are both top notch. If this were a comparison between an Ivy and Cal, then Cal would win over, but Stanford has as good of a location as Cal does for tech jobs. Cal has a stronger history program, but history majors don’t get jobs so…

9

Not really.

10

Sorry to say it, but, for undergrad, Stanford is the place to be. Grad school is a different story.

That said, you wouldn’t be the first (or even the only in your class) to choose Cal over 'furd. 5% of cross-admits do it every year.* Some people just like Berkeley’s environment better, and, while the faculty attention and resources are wholly lesser at Berkeley at baseline, the research opportunities and caliber of peers (at the top ~ 25%, anyways) are quite similar, if not tipped in Berkeley’s favor. In fact, some thrive in the competitive atmosphere at Berkeley… I know, as an undergrad, I wouldn’t have, but some do! And the top of the top at Berkeley are highly coveted by employers & grad school adcoms.

Source: Berkeley PhD student, Colby College & Yale grad