<p>I just think it's interesting how many Nobel winners were either affiliated, taught, or graduated from Berkeley. Berkeley is in 6th place in the WORLD for being affiliated with a staggering 65 nobel winners, beating out institutions like Cornell, John Hopkins, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Cal Tech, Oxford, PENN....etc. In fact, the only institutions affiliated with more Nobel winners than Berkeley are Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Chicago, and Cambridge. It's just interesting. Don't look too deep into it. For all you California natives, if you combine all UC's affiliations with Nobel winners you get the absolute MOST nobel winner affiliations in the world(Even UCR has one). I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the most Nobel prize winners in the world were educated or taught in California at one point in their lives. I think it's safe to say that California is the global leader in public college education (I'm not even counting the private schools in California). So quit complaining and rioting and protesting about tuition hikes when your getting a deal for a world class education as it is.</p>
<p>where’s the Cal State love?</p>
<p>I think Berkeley get the short end of the stick when it come to the overall school rankings. USNEWS rankings rank the school top 3-5 in pretty much every major, yet its overall ranking is 20 or 21? That doesnt make sense. Seriously look it up. I guess thats just more proof that US NEWS ranking are full of it.</p>
<p>Another funny thing is that UC San Diego has been affiliated with twice as many Nobel Winners than UCLA. Interesting.</p>
<p>US News is full of it. They rank Berk and LA Top 10 in pretty much everything and then they don’t place them up there. Why you ask? A big part of US News’ ranking formula is the amount of money the school has. This pretty much guarantees that ivy’s and private schools will get a huge boost over public schools, even if their actual academics are not up to par. Not that rankings mean anything in the long run, but if you’re gonna make a point of ranking, why be whack about it?</p>
<p>Maybe it’s they’re rating those departments for departmental excellence and the school for the quality of education. So, for example, say Berkeley is leading globally in science research and has many Nobel laureates part of the science departments, beating out the ivies and other privates, but has 400+ class sizes mainly taught by GSIs. The privates’ smaller class sizes and other monetary related factors (like their housing-sooo much better) would bump them up. </p>
<p>Plus with these recent budget cuts, most UC students aren’t able to get the classes they want, and many can’t get even what they need to graduate on time. Recent problem, so that doesn’t account for UCB and UCLA’s low ratings before, but I would definitely move them farther down the list for that.</p>
<p>^I’m not sure if this applies to every major, but I’m at UCLA. On here(CC), there is this notion of budget cuts affecting class selection or not getting the classes one wants, which I find to be somewhat false(especially if the comments are made by people who perceive the situation, instead of those who actually go through the process of enrolling at a UC). To be honest so far, Ihave never had trouble getting the classes I want. Even if I’m placed on a wait list, or have to go in person the first day of class, I always have been able to register for the classes I want.
The only delay in not graduating on time, I would attribute to students who don’t know how to pick their classes, taking classes that probably don’t count towards their degree requirements. Most majors require you to take upper division courses that can frankly be fulfilled any quarter. It’s not like they only offer one “philosophy” or “psych” or “poly sci” class in a department once a quarter. There are many classes that can fulfill the upper division courses that are required during any given quarter. The only issue that might exist is if whether or not you find the course “interesting” or not. And if you don’t, don’t blame it on there not being classes to take.</p>
<p>Berkeley has two elements named after them, Berkelium and californium. There are no other schools with elements named after them!</p>
<p>@liek
The budget cuts have definitely had an impact on certain majors. For example, UCLA canceled all math/econ courses (Econ 140s) for the Spring and Summer and may discontinue them next year. That’s a pretty big deal considering those classes are one of the main components of the major. If the classes are indeed discontinued, that’s going to imply a radical change in the major itself.</p>
<p>^ Yeah it really depends on your major. In PoliSci the department was already so big that the worst I’ve really felt is lack of TA’s and fewer discussions. However, I have friends in other majors that may be seeing the same amount of cuts but because there were not as many classes to begin with they are feeling the effects much more.</p>
<p>sooooo…about them nobel laureates. hahaha</p>
<p>I’m surprised that UCLA has not attracted more Nobel peeps considering it’s reputation. Like I said, only 10 have been associated with UCLA. My favorite is William Tillard (I think that’s his name?) the guy figured out that you can use carbon 14 to date ancient objects (carbon dating). Oh wait, Bertrand Russel went to UCLA too i think. Hey Obama went to Harvard law, Columbia, and he either lectured or studied at University of Chicago. There’s another Nobel winner that Columbia can boast about (Columbia has by far the most Nobel winners on it’s roster including the first American to win the peace prize Teddy Roosevelt)</p>