Last minute advice desperately needed!!!! (Berkeley vs NYU)

College Search & Selection
1

ok, so hey guys!!! i really really need some last minute advice today BEFORE MIDNIGHT PST

Friday I was admitted to uc berkeley off of the waitlist, but i had already committed to nyu (with the honors program in cas). I’ve spent the last week agonizing over which school to choose and have yet to come to a decision, even though the deadline to commit to berkeley is tonight (11:59 pst). Here’s a run down of the situation:

I’d be full pay at both (at berkeley i’m out of state). I’m hoping to study computer science and linguistics at either school. I know berkeley definitely has the stronger academic programs, but I’m not guaranteed to be able to major in computer science at berkeley (because the cs major in the college of letters and science has a gpa requirement).

As weird as it seems, I feel like i fit in at both schools, although i do like the fact that berkeley actually has a campus (but i like nyc more than berkeley/san francisco). travel wise, nyu is much closer to me than berkeley, and i have family in nyc (although i’m in ohio).

the honors program at nyu is the main reason nyu’s still in the running. it’ll give me opportunities to do research and being admitted into the honors program means it’s more likely/probable that i’ll be a big(ger) fish at nyu than at berkeley.

so basically i’m torn. i’d defitinely pick berkeley over nyu if i didn’t get honors at nyu, and what’s basically a major pro (and con) for berkeley is the strength of its programs–i want to challenge myself, but i’m scared it will be too challenging (also i heard that most double majors at berkeley graduate in 5 years?). someone has said that students at berkeley were all at the top of their class, but i’m not even in the top fifth of mine!

tl;dr: i like berkeley and nyu (and maybe berkeley more), but i don’t know if i can keep up with the academics and make the goa cut off for computer science. also i have only a few more hours to make a decision.

thank you for sticking through this post, and all advice is very much appreciated

ps i’m very fortunate that the cost of attending either school won’t be an issue.

2

You’re in the honors program for CS at NYU? Reread what you wrote in paragraphs two and four and it’s clear that you should stick with NYU.

Fwiw, you need to learn to be a bit more decisive in life. You aren’t always going to have the luxury of extra time to make decisions. Don’t leave things until the last minute like this. Good luck!

3

I’d recommend you go with NYU based off paragraph two and your preference of being in New York City.

Personally, I really don’t like Berkeley. The riots sum up the political landscape there.

Best of luck! Both great schools.

4

@Lindagaf OP was given less than a week to make this decision and only visited Cal yesterday.

5

@Lindagaf It’s alright to give OP your opinion of where to study, but it’s not alright to bash out on OP, assuming that OP procrastinated till the last second or that OP’s indecisive. First off, you’re unsure of that, and jumping to these type of conclusions is just wrong and rude. Give the person the benefit of the doubt and keep it at that. The question asked where OP should go to study, not whether she was decisive or not and definitely not whether she leaves things until the last minute or not.

6

And I knew that how?.. @Fangirl1999 , maybe you have inside info, but I read that again and don’t see where it says that OP visited yesterday.

Just saw your post @YoohooAddict , what??? Who’s bashing? I gave advice, I made a suggestion, I wished the OP good luck. SMH.

7

@Lindagaf
“you need to learn to be a bit more decisive in life” ~ Are you trying to say OP’s indecisive?
“Don’t leave things until the last minute like this” ~ Are you assuming that OP’s held it to the last second?

Even if OP didn’t mention that she/he was running short on time, you don’t have the right to automatically assume that OP had “the luxury of extra time to make decisions.”

8

@Faultystart I would pick UCB. With a CS major you have an excellent opportunity for Silicon Valley and if you don’t get into CS, you have many other options Haas, and other engineering majors. While NYU has Stern and pre- law.

9

Well @YoohooAddict , I certainly can make suggestions, and yes, it seems OP is indecisive and leaving it until the last minute. There is nothing rude whatsoever in my suggestion. I believe OP said “last minute” and is “torn” so it does seem that I am confirming that OP has left something until the last minute and is indecisive.

Perhaps you are taking issue with my good wishes to the OP? This is an open forum for people to ask for and receive advice and suggestions. I advised and suggested. You don’t like how I did it, and that is a shame. But in fact, I was not advising you, I was advising OP. If OP believes I was rude, then for that I apologize. OP can let me know, but I suggest keeping this thread open long enough to get more suggestions. I still wish the OP Good Luck, whether you approve or not. Signing off.

P.S. This is a great example of how things get lost in translation over the Internet.

10

@ucbalumnus , how competitive is admission into CS at Berkeley?

On the one hand, UCB is great in CS, but it’s very hard to get into. On the other, you know you’re going to be able to study CS at NYU, and in the honors program at that, and NYU is outstanding in its own right.

I think you should go where you feel the fit is best.

I think @Lindagaf gave good advice to the OP regarding decisiveness. Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of time, so being able to quickly weigh pro/con and benefit/cost is a good skill to possess.

11

@Lindagaf I know OP irl and so that’s why I was informing you. I did not intend to start anything.

12

@Lindagaf I get what you mean. What I was trying to say is that all OP asked for was which school is a better fit. So at the end, you didn’t really have to point out whether OP is decisive or indecisive or even waiting for the last minute or not. All you really had to do was say which is a better fit. And if you did really feel like OP is indecisive or that OP waited for the last minute, you don’t really have to put it out there for everyone on the forum to see. You could just message OP privately as a way of advice, but hey it’s 100% your decision at the end, and I, by no means, have way of stopping you from doing what you do. Anyway, let’s just forget bout this and help out OP

13

I think NYU is a better personal and academic fit.
You like the idea of Berkeley’s “prestige” but it doesn’t sound as good for what you want at all and you may even risk not being able to have your major! Since you’re full pay at both and can afford both, stick with NYU Honors. :slight_smile:

14

Ok, so I never actually responded here, but thank you all so much for your advice and opinions! I’ve decided to attend NYU after all :smiley:

15

Berkeley is more competitive and the “prestige” factor is there for CS. If you are willing to work hard(pass the GPA requirement) and be independent(find your own opportunities) then it is the better fit. NYU will be more close knit and more hand holding will be available but they are not known for CS. Berkeley is the top feeder into silicon valley, while NYU doesn’t even make it into the top 10. There is a reason you got into NYU through regular decision and Berkeley off the wait list.

16

I agree with the folks preference for Cal. If you want to work in Silicon Valley, then Cal would be better. Weather is better. There’s an actual campus. NYC is a wonderful place to visit, which we did over spring break, but I wouldn’t want to live there year round.

Riots? Yes, Berkeley has riots every day. 8-|

I have relative that attends Cal now. He loves it.

17

The OP has already decided to stay with NYU. Congrats on having a choice between two outstanding schools and making a decision.

18

it’s a no brainer, NYU.