<p>Sorry for the multiple posts, but I'm an incoming freshmen who was accepted into both Berkeley (out of state) and Cornell. I am interested in doing EECS/Computer Science at both universities and I chose Berkeley because I thought the environment here had so much more to offer me compared to Cornell's (at least when I visited). I will pay roughly equal tuition for both, so cost is not really a factor. Frankly, I do like Berkeley a lot more than Cornell in terms of the atmosphere, student body, surrounding -- but with all those budget cuts, larger class sizes, harder to get into classes, and even MORE budget cuts over the next five years or so...is going out to Berkeley for a EECS/CS degree still worth it over Cornell's?</p>
<p>I would say so. I don’t think EECS will be affected that much, honestly.</p>
<p>I don’t know if my son has just been fortunate, but he has had no trouble getting his classes. None. Berkeley is one of the best universities for EECS and I honestly don’t think that will change.</p>
<p>Bad choice. But now we got you trapped and your OOS tuition is gonna go straight into my financial aid. muhahahaha.</p>
<p>Most of the [Computer</a> Science courses at Berkeley](<a href=“http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Computer+Science&p_dept_cd=COMPSCI&p_path=l]Computer”>http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Computer+Science&p_dept_cd=COMPSCI&p_path=l) are offered in both fall and spring semesters.</p>
<p>But many of the [Computer</a> Science courses at Cornell](<a href=“http://www.cs.cornell.edu/Courses/ListofCSCourses/index.htm]Computer”>List of Computer Science Course Offerings | Department of Computer Science) are offered only fall or only spring (unless you want to take summer sessions). This includes some of the courses most needed to fulfill Computer Science major requirements like 3410, 3420, 4410, and 4820.</p>
<p>So the supposed “harder to get into classes” problem would not necessarily be worse at Berkeley; you can try again every semester if you do not get in. Whereas at Cornell, if you miss a class due to scheduling conflict or it is too full, you are more likely to have to wait a year before it is even offered again.</p>
<p>Berkeley engineering still requires you graduate in four years. Like everyone has been saying on these boards, undergraduate education hasn’t been affected much.</p>
<p>Berkeley is looking for efficiencies by first cutting its bureaucracy…and those are good steps. The budget cuts have forced Berkeley to become more efficient, and it will eventually be better because of this budget crisis after some initial pains.</p>
<p>Berkeley’s proximity to employers in the Silicon Valley cannot be denied for an EECS education vs. bucolic Ithaca.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m an in-state student and had this concern too. However, I recently visited and got a tour from a really nice EECS student. EECS (and even L&S CS-which I was admitted to, but may or may not change….) have plenty or resources, and plenty of new resources. These include about $500 million in equipment in a semiconductor fabrication lab, which you apparently can use if you take the right classes. 
(Professor, may I please keep my wafer?)</p>
<p>It seemed like a lot of funding is still coming through for research and from other sources in the industry. So I still have my doubts, because I really just don’t like the UC system (it’s just me), but after my second visit I came away REALLY liking Cal!</p>
<p>If you are a freshman admit to “L&S CS”, you are admitted to L&S undeclared. You can declare CS later after taking the prerequisite courses. CS has an application process from when it was a capped major, but it is no longer capped.</p>
<p>L&S CS and EECS select from the same CS courses to take. L&S CS students can take EE courses as well, but some of them require EE 40 instead of EE 42 (L&S CS students can take either, while EECS students must take EE 40).</p>