Michigan vs Berkeley

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys,
I got rejected from my reaches unfortunately but I did get into Michigan and Berkeley which I believe are around the same academically. I know the obvious and practical choice for me would be to go to Michigan since I live in Ann Arbor and it's in state however, the issue is I'd really like to get away for college. Since I live in Ann Arbor, since high school I've practically lived on the Michigan Campus and I know it's quite nice but there's the problem. I'd really like to go out somewhere and just meet new people (rather than just hanging out with 1/2 my graduating class at Michigan). I realize that Berkeley is around 2x more expensive or so but my parents said they can pay for it if I want to go (another reason I want to go is to get away from my parents, who are rather stereotypical Asian parents). I'm not sure if I would be ok with making them pay that much extra just so I can get away from them and Ann Arbor.</p>

<p>To make issues slightly more complicated, my parents somehow decided to apply me to the LSA college since apparently they decided I wouldn't be able to get into the slightly more competitive Engineering college (I know -.-; bad idea letting them 'help' with my application) while I did apply at Berkeley's Engineering college. I realize you CAN switch after the first year but I'd like to be housed somewhere where I'd be able to make friends with the other Engineering students during freshmen year which wouldn't be possible (or as easy I guess) since LSA is housed downtown while North Campus is a decent 15 minute drive. </p>

<p>To make issues EVEN MORE complicated, I'm still not sure what I want to major in. I'm fairly talented at computer science but I'm not certain if I want to do that as a lifetime job in the future. I'm also decent at math I suppose but I don't like it enough to major in it like some of my friends.</p>

<p>Also, I got in to Carnegie Mellon (which my parents say they COULD pay for if I helped contribute) if that needs to be another choice (the only reason I think I'd go would be for the computer science program but I think UM and Berkeley are on par with it)</p>

<p>Rawr, confused.</p>

2

<p>What is your major?</p>

3

<p>Go to Michigan. CMU and Cal are not worth paying twice. Transfering to the college of Engineering is easy provided you have a 3.0 + GPA in LSA. Just live in a dorm and Skype with your parents to have that authentic, away-from-home feeling!</p>

4

<p>Haha Skype! But in all seriousness, I would have to say Michigan. It is on par with Cal and so much cheaper!</p>

5

<p>Even if half your high school class goes there, Michigan is so big that you still wouldn’t be seeing them everywhere. Go to Michigan. If you don’t like it, transfer somewhere else.</p>

6

<p>^^^Not reallly true, but I still would go to U-M for the savings in cost.</p>

7

<p>What major did you get accepted into Berkeley?</p>

8

<p>

Collective opinion of ~2,000 academics think otherwise. ;)</p>

9

<p>UCB, the slight difference is not worth $100,000 over four years.</p>

10

<p>I dunno, he got into Berkeley engineering and it’s really far away from home. I myself think that going to college is about getting far away and experiencing things that you aren’t able to otherwise. Yes, it costs more money and yes, the academic programs are comparable, but it seems to me as if he’d be so much happier going to Berkeley. So follow your dreams!</p>

<p>Also don’t go to CMU lol, it’s where the fun goes to die (although not as much as Case Western).</p>

11

<p>It says “Electrical Engineering and Computer Science”</p>

<p>My parents are going to pay for the majority of my tuition irregardless so the only problem is whether going there would be worth putting the additional financial strain on my parents simply because I want to get out and explore the world a bit more.</p>

12

<p>It’s not worth it to pay OOS tuition to Berkeley.</p>

13

<p>Berkeley EECS is one of the top 3 programs in the country. Proximity to Silicon Valley…San Francisco Bay Area is awesome and you can get around easily via public transportation (BART trains) to both local area airports (OAK and SFO), downtown San Francisco, etc.</p>

<p>Lots of kids from OOS pay for Berkeley’s EECS program.</p>

14

<p>Go to Berkeley! The gap between Berkeley and Michigan is kinda big.</p>

15

<p>"The gap between Berkeley and Michigan is kinda big. " </p>

<p>This is simply untrue.</p>

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<p>^
USNWR PA score:</p>

<p>Berkeley 4.7</p>

<p>Michigan 4.4</p>

<p>or, USNWR rank:</p>

<p>Berkeley #21</p>

<p>Michigan #30</p>

<p>or, ARWU 2009 ranking:</p>

<p>Berkeley #3</p>

<p>Michigan #22</p>

<p>or, National Academy of Engineering Membership:
Berkeley, 78 members</p>

<p>Michigan, 22 members</p>

<p>:D (which gap do you prefer?)</p>

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<p>The $130K savings gap.</p>

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<p>UCBChem, 4.7 vs 4.4 is not that significant a gap, lest you concede that Stanford’s 4.9 is significantly better than Cal’s 4.7.</p>

<p>And Michigan is not ranked #30 according to the US news ranking, it is ranked#27. But do you really believe in the USNWR. Do you honestly believe WUSTL at #12 is significantly better than Cal?</p>

<p>Cal is #2 in Engineering, Michigan is #7. In electrical Engineering, Cal is #4 and Michigan is #6. There just isn’t a $130,000 gap in quality between those two universities or programs.</p>

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<p>^ I agree (I was kidding). But for someone who has grown up in Ann Arbor and if parents are willing and able to pay, Berkeley EECS is one of the best programs in the country and will allow the kid to get out of dodge.</p>

20

<p>I totally agree. If the OP’s parents are wealthy, the experience is worth paying for. But it seems that money is a concern.</p>