<p>damn berekely oos is crazy competitive. my friend from NJ got into stanford, but rejected from berekely..</p>
<p>I know a number of people who that happened to. </p>
<p>Of course quite a few are URM's. Stanford has AA, Berkeley doesn't. I don't want to turn this into a discussion of AA, but the point is, Stanford and Berkeley admit using different criteria. By the same token, a person with lots and lots of impressive EC's and/or writes really good essays may stand a better chance of getting into Stanford than into Berkeley OOS. The Berkeley admissions process is pretty mechanical. Yes, they now use the comprehensive review, but the truth is, given the sheer number of applicants they get, it's hard to really dig into any one applicant.</p>
<p>how would your friend possibly know of his/her admission decision to Berkeley? They don't come out until the end of March.</p>
<p>Could be Early Action or a past applicant.</p>
<p>Must be a past applicant. Berkeley (or any UC, for that matter) does not offer Early Action or Early Decision.</p>
<p>What is OOS?</p>
<p>Out-Of-State</p>
<p>....</p>
<p>Really, eh?</p>
<p>~worries~</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>Actually, if I get into Stanford and not Berkeley, I certainly won't complain :p</p>
<p>Stanford is a good backup school for UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>no way. Stanford over Berkeley any day.</p>
<p>(for undergrad maybe, and not factoring in CA resident "tuition" for choosing Berkeley)</p>
<p>Yeah, even if you want to go into a field where Berkeley's department is far superior (astronomy, my field, is a good example), Stanford is still the top choice by far.</p>
<p>Maybe for most, but no, not for everybody.</p>
<p>Anybody have stats on the average OOS SAT's and GPA compared to in-staters? It seems like the gap should be pretty large.</p>
<p>Stanford < Berkeley for instaters. Thats for sure. It anit worth 20,000 a year more to go to Stanford.</p>
<p>stanford has better financial aid, so you basically end up paying less than or equal to what you'd pay at berkeley</p>
<p>Well, although Stanford has generally better fin aid, what you're talking about really depends on a case by case basis. Do you realize that there are some programs that Berkeley has that Stanford does not, just as Stanford has some programs that Berkeley does not have? They have different surrounding areas and atmospheres, and some people might prefer one much more than the other. Is one definitively better than the other? What if you hate one place and not the other? What're you trying to prove, people?</p>
<p>if i got accepted to Stanford and rejected at Berkeley, i wouldn't mind. but if vice versa, i'll go into a hunger strike.</p>
<p>Stanford over Berkeley anyday for me. definitely.</p>
<p>Having spent a good deal of time at both places (obviously more at Berkeley) I can honestly say that I'd much rather be here. True, stanford has a better name, but I know for a fact my program (english) and thier program are very similar. So it comes down to feel and environment, which sways greatly towards berkeley. Even stanford students will admit that palo alto is super duper boring, and the campus itself is isolated from anything fun. Unless you're some paranoid, scared kid who can't stand to be in cities, there is no comparison about which environment is best. That said, if someone decided the exact opposite and went to stanford (as I assume the majority would do) I wouldn't condemn then at all. Stanford is an amazing, amazing school and you will most likely have a good time there.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you want. Berkeley's academic environment is sink or swim and the quality of professors can be haphazard. </p>
<p>Stanford you will definitely come out with a stellar gpa and a pretty easy time. If you like a small group of close-knit friends you will probably like Stanford more. If you like a big party-school environment, then Berkeley will be a better fit for you. </p>
<p>Berkeley's departments are definitely a better value for people in-state but if you're out of state, Stanford all the way. Berkeley actually costs as much as stanford now for an out of stater (possibly more if you prefer singles). They've been jacking up the tuition on out of staters the most with California's financial crisis because out-of-staters can't vote. </p>
<p>Also, you will find more tolerant people at Stanford than Berkeley as a whole. The groupthink of liberalism is far more persuasive at Berkeley. And the clubs at Stanford are actually full and can get great speakers, wheras at Berkeley you're lucky to get more than 10-15 out of a huge campus. </p>
<p>In-staters have a choice. Out-of-staters ... its a no-brainer.</p>