<p>I’ve been accepted to Brown University and UC Berkeley (College of Engineering; MechE) and am having a very difficult time choosing between the two. Maybe you could help me out? Finances are not a consideration since I’ll be paying full tuition at both schools. I’m an international student from India.</p>
<p>As of now, I want to major (concentration) in Mechanical Engineering. I also might minor or double major in Economics. From what I’ve heard from many friends currently studying at Cal is that it is more competitive than Brown and has stronger departments in both Engineering and Economics.</p>
<p>Brown has the obvious advantage of providing me with the freedom to experiment, derived from its flexible curriculum. Having said that, I’m looking at more practical aspects, such employability, starting salaries, competitiveness within major and to a slight extent, prestige, all with respect to Berkeley. (Not in isolation, because I know that Brown is quite good in and of itself)</p>
<p>I’d love to hear opinions of alumni, current students or recently admitted students trying to decide between Brown and another school for engineering and economics.</p>
<p>The lack of opinions and abundance of views leads me to believe that no one really has anything good to say about the Engineering or Economics programs at Brown. Is that so?</p>
<p>Fellow Brunonians, since not one Brown student/alumni (not only on CC, but on Facebook as well) could justify why I should choose Brown, I am now officially a Bear ;)</p>
<p>Congratulations! I’m sure you will be very happy at Cal. </p>
<p>Now please stop making broad generalizations or fault an entire U. or its students/alumni after not receiving a response on an anonymous forum within a day.</p>
<p>Serene, would you say contacting 14 current students and my interview was less?</p>
<p>I think I should’ve pointed that out before. I’m sure Brown is a great place, and I didn’t find fault with the university itself. Plus, I’m sure that even you’ll agree than given my interest of studies, Berkeley would’ve suited me better.</p>
<p>I don’t need to convince you, but just to be clear on the ‘prestige’ factor, now that you’d be attending Cal, this would be a good read:</p>
<p>According to the Times’ analysis of the reputation rankings, Berkeley is part of “an elite Anglo-American cadre of six global university ‘super-brands’ ” that has emerged. Rounding out the sweet six are Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, Stanford and Oxford.</p>
<p>Let me get this straight. Because no one replied to your first message in 15 minutes, you make a conclusion about two departments at Brown. After no response in 3 hours, you diss the whole school?</p>
<p>I can assure you that both the engineering and economics departments at Brown are fabulous, but if this is how you make important life decisions then I have to question why Brown accepted you and frankly, I’m glad you are going to Berkeley. Brown’s unique curriculum requires a lot more maturity than you seem to have.</p>
<p>Oh God, haven’t I explained myself already? CC wasn’t the only source I was using. Anyway, as said before, I’m not dissing the whole school. I’m grateful to have been offered a place there. And to think how far a small miscommunication can go.</p>
<p>Fireandrain, you give me a lot less credit. Believe me when I say that I did not base my decision on the lack of replies to my query on this forum. Your condescension is apparent in lambasting my decision - and choice to keep the people following this thread informed of my tidings. Frankly, and I would felt embarrassed if I’d said this in real life, seeing that you are an adult (Brown Interview Thread), but your jumping to conclusions puts me off.</p>
<p>Go re-read my posts, I do not once diss Brown, in fact, I go as far as to acknowledge that Brown is a great school, just not a good fit for me.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t blame you. If we were having this same discussion face-to-face, you would’ve listened more carefully. The anonymity of this forum does afford some causticity to posts and opinions.</p>
<p>Edit: I could label your conclusion of questioning my admittance to Brown by viewing just this one thread and my opinions here as careless and immature. But hey, let’s keep things happy :)</p>
<p>Considering Berkley carries more weight in the employment world than Brown, I would say Brown. Honestly, Berkeley will take you a lot further in your field than Brown as far as job opportunities, salaries, etc. go.</p>
<p>Now hang on a second, I saw on a TV show once that you can change your mind right up until two months into the first semester and then still switch schools, so theres still time to convince the OP that her public school doesnt hack it</p>
<p>My daughter chose Brown over Berkeley but was not in Engineering or Econ. She was in CS and just finished another summer at Google. So I didn’t have any comment for his specific interest and since she didn’t attend both, I couldn’t compare.</p>
<p>I think, due to the overseas bias for brand names, he chose best he could. There are other factors to think of, but they are not as likely valued as brand.</p>
<p>This is pathetic, OP denounced the school because he did not get a reply in a day on CC or FB. Well Brown’s econ is much better than Berkeley, but the engineering at Berkeley is better than brown. Brown has many many intelligent people, many of whom hail from wealthier families. So, Brown would be a better place to make connections.</p>