<p>hahah, me too.. UCLA v. JHU, bio and premed</p>
<p>But I'm leaning toward JHU.. even if I will be $200k in debt after I get my Bachelor's.</p>
<p>Is a non-bioengineering major (such as neuroscience, biomolecular engineering, or any other science) worth giving up bioengineering at Cal? The main reason I applied to JHU was for biomedical engineering, but since i didn't get into that major, I don't know whether to go for the intended major at Cal or JHU. Anyone else in a similar situation who got rejected from BioE at JHU?</p>
<p>last time i checked...i think chem biomolecular eng, and etc were considered bioengineering majors hehe lol. anyhow, i think you guys can check out the 101 reasons to attend blah blah for each schools you guys are considering and compare things that you guys value most
edit: one should take into considerations the pos/neg of private vs public schools.<br>
publics have almost no advising, never saw any 5 yr programs, almost no chance of double majoring, and etc. but then on the other hand publics are usually cheaper (huge +especially if one will need loans =(...) =D</p>
<p>Same problem for me too! (Wow, this is a frighteningly common dilemma!) Berkeley vs. JHU, premed. But I didn't get Regents to Cal so... $$$ either way. :( In any case, I suspect the environment will be the deal-maker/breaker, so we'll see come spring break.</p>
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In any case, I suspect the environment will be the deal-maker/breaker, so we'll see come spring break.
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<p>I agree. I think the little things will end up making the decision for all of you. They are both quality schools, but very different in non-academic ways.</p>
<p>As you guys consider Cal and JHU, there really are two major points that I feel you should take note of as you consider your college choice:</p>
<p>1) Enrollment</p>
<p>Hopkins Undergraduates: 4,686
UC-Berkeley Undergraduates: 23,482</p>
<p>Entering class size (Class of 2010): </p>
<p>Hopkins: 1,217
UC-Berkeley: 4,059</p>
<p>This is a HUGE difference. You really have to consider carefully what level of attention you 1) want and 2) need. I think it's important to note the Hopkins environment is intimiate but not claustrophobic and Berkeley is large but not massive. </p>
<p>2) Student Body</p>
<p>Percent out-of-state / SAT Range
Hopkins: 83% / 1370-1530
UC Berkeley: 10% / 1230-1450</p>
<p>Knowing that 90% of the people who attend Cal are from California really gives you an idea of the student population. I think in this case Hopkins attracts the top scholars from across the globe to put into a freshman class without showing any preference for where they are from. This makes for a very global environment and a much more national university. Despite the amazing quality of Cal, it's still a state school meaning it's 90% in-state.</p>
<p>Also, the English department is rated as one of the top in the country...something like #8 nationally.</p>
<p>er, just because people major in IR and things outside of science doesn't mean jhu is more well-rounded than berk lol ... Cal really is more well-rounded.</p>
<p>i think you should really visit both campuses, the atmosphere of both schools are drastically different and you really can't get the feel through reading guidebooks and talking to people. </p>
<p>if med school is a significant factor, i'd push for jhu.
though the benefits attached to the regents scholarship are pretty appealing.</p>
<p>i say just visit -- and while both schools have open house days/visit days, i'd strongly recommended staying an extra day and just roaming the campus on your own to get a real feel that isn't planned out, etc. </p>
<p>are you from norcal or socal? a big factor for me in going to jhu -- though it turned out not to be the best place for me -- was that i thought i didn't want to stay in cali -- and it is nice to experience a whole different culture/atmosphere/area whether or not you end up liking it or not. </p>
<p>academics/financial reasons aside, </p>
<p>i really think it's about fit and only you can really pick the right decision, which probably doesn't help since i bet that's what most people have been telling you.</p>
<p>Berkeley is an excellent school, but there are significant advantages to attending JHU. Last year approximately 93 percent of pre-meds got into medical school. JHU is the number one research university in the nation. Berkeley is so large that you may feel like a statistic. JHU is a private school not dependent on State budgets. JHU has an international reputation based on academics. Berkeley has a reputation for academics but also for protests, rebellion, etc. </p>
<p>The reality is that you will be fine at either school; but if you attend JHU you will learn to love the great things about JHU and learn to appreciate those things about California that you might take for granted now. Possibly you could return to Californial to attend medical school.</p>
<p>I am in the same situation: Hopkins or Berkeley? I am probably not going into any science. Does that mean I should stick with Cal? Also, does applying for the Cal Alumni Scholarship eliminate you from the Regents? I heard you get more for Alumni than Regents.</p>
<p>Definately visit the campus of JHU if possible! I'm considering between two or three schools and going to revisit.</p>
<p>I visited in the summer and got a REALLY bad impression (just blah architecture, uninspiring) which was just bolstered by interviewer making it sound kinda dull and boring. (So jhu is sorta bottom rung for me now)</p>
<p>Like everyone else said, definitely try to visit both campuses. I had written a long post on how the two campuses are different, but it got deleted, so in summary, the environment and cultures are both schools are drastically different. Both are great schools, so it really comes down to where you "fit" better and where you think you'll enjoy the next four years</p>
<p>Visiting any school in the summer is blah as students are not really there. Most people think Hopkins is beautiful.</p>
<p>Yeah, well the thing is, i'm getting 24,000 for Hopkins, so does that mean i should do to Hopkins instead of Berkeley? I still have my Cal Almuni interview, so i'm not sure about the scholarship amount for cal yet</p>
<p>do cal almuni interview to see if you get $$$ =D gl!...atleast for the people in my school...students usually choose to go privates unless they are financially unable or due to the location...but then that's just my school hehe =D</p>
<p>i'm in the EXACT same situation as everyone else. Cal regents v. JHU
after talking with many of my friends (like 10+ ppl) from cal, the consensus was that i should go to JHU even if i have to be in HUGE debt.
here're a couple of reasons THEY gave me - NOT to go to Cal. but i'm still visiting both schools to make up my own mind.
1. no crowds
2. social circles are less polarized (supposedly at cal, people who know each other in high school tend to hang out together)
3. the sheer amount of people majoring in MCB (major i applied for)
4. degree from JHU sounds better
5. better premed advising
6. student jobs @ the med school (from student attending JHU)
7. seasons!
8. less competition in getting into the classes you want (premed is still deadly)</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>CAL just because it's cheaper. Haha.</p>
<p>JHU has an international reputation based on academics. Berkeley has a reputation for academics but also for protests, rebellion, etc. </p>
<p>Most people outside the U.S. don't know Berkeley for its rebellious streak, that's primarily within the U.S, which is why I feel it doesn't get the credit it deserves within the U.S.. Berkeley is probably in the top ten, or even five most internationally famous american universities for academics, especially in Asia. Its grad depts are probably its primary source of presitge- 35 of 36 are ranked in the top ten by the NRC, US News ranked all its phd programs in the top five in their field. . It ranked number one in both these reports out of ALL universities in the country. Also look at international rankings done by the London Times and the SJTU rankings in China.It's undergrad is very good too, esp. in Business and Engineering. If the OP decides premed and I think JHU would probably give you an easier at med school.....thats what the school is known for and Berkeley doesn't even have a med school so that another disadvantage I would think. Also Berk is known for grade deflation, but if you work hard at Berk, you can get into pretty much any med school. If you decide Engineering obviously Berkeley- its one of the 3 engineering giants along with MIT and Stanford.....does JHU even have an engineering major?</p>
<p>ucb's engineering for grad school is a giant among mit, caltech, etc...there is a separation between grad quality and undergrad quality especially at public schools...eg: most undergrad classes covered in ucb are taught by graduates, etc., while most classes for grads in ucb are not taught by other grads lol...international rankings done by londton times and sjtu rankings done by china were elliptical covering grads programs also instead of only undergrads. NRC rankings are based on grad programs also.
even us news supports the data that ucb ranks among the highest in most of their grad programs; however, it's undergrad doesn;t fair so well in the rankings. anyhow, i still believe any top 100 schools or so offer great opportunities, just visit and see which school you will fair more comfortable and enjoyable in =D many differences betweeen public/private =D!</p>