I would like to be part of the startup scene and internship opportunities which are my biggest worries. Please help me decide CC fam.
You should probably tell us which UT. Is this U.Texas Austin?
Also, would you need any loans to go to Berkeley? How much of a financial strain would it be? I know people for whom $55k/yr is impossible, and people for whom it is pocket change. If Berkeley is out of state, then I don’t understand why it is only $55k per year.
Sorry for not clarifying. UT here in texas is synonymous with UT Austin. Financial strain: family makes $280k combined so it is somewhat of a factor. @DadTwoGirls
UT sounds pretty appealing at 20k. I’ve seen a lot of kids a and parents lamenting that they didn’t get in. Berkeley has a fine reputation but far too left wing for some people. If you are like the folks I know from Texas (which is a statistically unimportant) would not have a great time there. More conservative and really like their Saturday football
But you may be perfectly happy there and this is just random observation by someone who knows nothing about you or your goals.
^ Uh, Austin’s fairly liberal.
But in any case, for CS, definitely take the cheaper guaranteed CS major at UT-Austin over the competitive expensive CS makor at Cal. I would say they’re close enough that they count as peers.
UT Austin CS requires a 2.75 GPA in entry-level CS courses to stay in the major: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/node/69868 . Some grade distribution information can be found at http://utcatalyst.org/grade-distribution/ . Looks like about two thirds of students in CS 312, 311, 314 earn B or better grades.
UCB L&S CS requires a 3.30 GPA in prerequisite CS courses to get into the major: https://eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate/cs-ba . Grade distributions for those CS courses can be found at http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/2071932-grade-distributions-in-prerequisite-courses-for-gpa-based-goals.html . Looks like about half of students in CS 61A and 70 earn B+ or better grades, and somewhat more than half in CS 61B earn B+ or better grades.
Since UT Austin CS is much less expensive, and the needed GPA threshold is significantly lower, it is the preferable choice.
“Hardest Decision Ever”. Doubtful. UT seems like a great choice . Good luck with the decision!
@PurpleTitan It’s in Austin. Good point. Texas is very diverse and geographically huge. I guess I was trying to envision any of my Texas buddies going to Berkeley and “ gel-ing” with the overall culture. And I am sure they could for that fine of an education. But they do love their UT at a very high level
It’s not a hard decision go to Texas.
Go to Berkeley. Seriously.
At Berkeley, there’s vibrant culture of entrepreneurial spirit amongst the students, faculty and staff. The startups scene is active, lively and productive. You’ll get plenty of help. Your adviser or faculty or dorm-mate or classmate can hook you up with people who have the same interests and passion and spirit as you. They can also hook you up with venture capitalists so funding would be a lot more accessible. https://startup.berkeley.edu/
If it were me, I would go to U.T. Austin. The financial difference is quite significant over 4 years. I have heard good things about UT Austin (although we didn’t look at it – we live way east and north of you). The name of the school doesn’t matter much for CS as long as you are at a good school. Also, to me Texas appears to be on an uptrend in terms of high tech.
“UT here in texas is synonymous with UT Austin”
That was my guess. Where I grew up (Montreal), U of T is something else, but is also a good school.
UT is a really great school with an awesome reputation. I have several friends who go to school there and love it! If if were me, I’d go with the cheaper of the two also. I guarantee you that you will find many opportunities there for internships and will find many determined like-minded individuals. Both options are amazing though and wherever you choose, I’m sure you’ll find your niche!
As a former UTCS graduate, this one is a no brainer for me. You’d be crazy to pay $65K (not $55K if your family earns $280K a year) to go to Berkeley for a pre-major with no guarantee to get into CS after two years. Austin is not silicon valley, but it’s silicon hill. Plus, all the major tech companies recruit on campus for internship and full time positions. In the first few weeks of Fall semester, you don’t even have to buy dinner – all the companies bring food to their info sessions.
As for political climate, Austin is one of the most liberal in Texas, but its not as crazy as Berkeley. At least conservatives have a voice and don’t have to fear for their personal safety.
@emily44 @DadTwoGirls @privatebanker @PurpleTitan @sevmom Thank you all so much for your inputs. Im visiting berkeley this friday so we’ll see how that goes :)>-
@nollagam The entrepreneurship spirit is definitely something that appeals greatly to me…Have you any idea on whether or not UT Austin has this as well?
@bogeyorpar My parents are telling(now borderline pressing) me to go to berkeley because my dad who works at facebook insists that the name of the school will matter a lot when I rise up the corporate ladder and that UT’s startup culture ‘sucks’ in comparison to cal’s. Could you comment on this?
Honestly, when the more expensive option could be a strain financially on the family I’d assume the parents would be the first to choose the less expensive school. Case in point, my parents - my choices are Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon, and despite the fact that I REALLY want to go to school in the east and get away from California (plus I’m not a fan at all of Berkeley’s environment, competition, big classes, plus all my friends are going to the east so I won’t be able to video chat with them as easily 
), it’s hard to pass up that in-state tuition over a whopping 74k/yr. Though they can afford CMU, they’re obviously pushing for me to go to Cal. If your parents are “pressing” you to go to Berkeley, I’d assume they’re sure it’s not a financial burden and they’re not particularly worried about saving money. In that case, I’d suggest that you visit and decide where you think you’d fit best. Berkeley’s proximity to Silicon Valley will be beneficial but honestly your opportunities would mostly be the same.
@rosaliefontaine Hey congrats on CMU!! I also made SCS(comp. bio) but my threshold for a reasonable tuition price was <60K which is why I dropped CMU from my list of perspective colleges.
Honestly, if the opportunities are the same then I would rest with no regrets that I might’ve missed out on a lot. Plus, the 3.30 gpa cutoff is definitely going to force me to forego time spent on developing startup ideas, clubs, etc.
@sorashiro thanks, and for sure! UT Austin is pretty coveted here as well; I applied and tons of other kids in my Cali school applied and could be going, esp for CS. You’ll definitely be fine, as Austin is a great location and you’ll find lots of opportunities.
If your dad is footing the bill then go to Cal, no brainer.