However, my theory was that the vast majority of those who chose Berkeley over Rice were STEM peeps (which I’m a part of), and STEM majors at Cal only account to about 30% (or less) of the whole student body. Rice would be more attractive than Cal for arts and social science majors, save for economics.
@nollagam Maybe, I don’t know much. But just going off personal experience - I was admitted at Cal (albeit for bioengineering, but apparently its one of the more competitive majors along with EECS in the CoE) and straight up rejected at Rice lol.
Also, the CMU/Berkeley one is interesting - those two schools are my top choices, and as a Cali native whose main goal throughout this process was to leave the West Coast, I argued with my parents a LOT about wanting to go to CMU. If I’d gotten into more of them and cost wasn’t a factor, I would’ve picked any of my non Cali private schools - regardless of prestige - over Berkeley just because of Berkeley’s proximity to me and my dislike of its culture (also the fact that 20+ kids from my HS are going there; a petty reason, but I’m honestly not too excited about having to see them all again for the next 4 years. None of my friends included, however - they’re all going to Ivies/Ivy tier schools in the East Coast. ) Ah well, money’s important and I got no FA, so I can’t really justify paying twice at much at a school apparently less people prefer anyway.
@rosaliefontaine See you at cal day maybe? I totally feel for you on wanting to get away from fellow highschool classmates… 60 or so kids in my grade will be going to UT.
Rest assured you’ll never see them let alone talk to them or be in class with them. Both are HUGE universities. Friends have to take out a planner to eat lunch together.
My question is: why do you want to get away from your high school classmates? If you can’t stand them, what makes you think you can tolerate your college classmates?
A friend of my son went far away to a prestigious private university (and his family is paying the $70+K per year). Son asked him about his experience with the professors and classmates. He said, “it’s the same everywhere – half of them are jerks and the other half are great.”
@sorashiro yup! although i doubt we’ll see each other because there’ll be so many people, i’ll be there! hopefully there’s no crazy protest tomorrow or something
At schools this big, you certainly can avoid your high school classmates if it is that important to you . There will be plenty of opportunities to meet new people.
) Ah well, money’s important and I got no FA, so I can’t really justify paying twice at much at a school apparently less people prefer anyway.