Should I go to Berkeley?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>This is the only american school I got into but I'm going to have to pay 35k a year??? Unless I apply for residency, which will be really hard to get and hardly worth it because I have to be financially independent in california for 2 whole years (which means I'll end up paying 70k for those two years alone anyway). The major i declared was molecular and cell bio (MCB), which i've heard really bad things about, so that's giving me second thoughts for sure.</p>

<p>That being said, I got into Queen's engineering (in Canada) and am waiting for Mcmaster Health science in early May. But since I have to decide if I want to go to berkeley before May 1st, I guess there are 1 of 2 decisions I can make here:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Go to berkeley. Here I have 2 further options: pay 140k for undergrad at berkeley or somehow become financially independent for 2 years to apply for residency and pay 90-100k for all 4 years. If I go to berkeley, my major will also be really hard especially to get into grad schools or med school AND there will be grade deflation. I could change majors and take the premed prereqs but is it still worth 100-140k?</p></li>
<li><p>Decline Berkeley's offer and hope mcmaster accepts my ass (very competitive program, but I think I have decent chances? then again, I thought I wouldnt get rejected from virtually all the schools I applied to, so yeah) while also begging Brown to take me from their waitlist lmao. If mcmaster fails I'll end up at Queen's engineering, which was definitely not a first choice, but what can you say, that's life.</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>I personally would actually not go to Berkeley. It is not the best school, and I swear to you you would be better at your other schools.</p>

3

<p>Hey I saw your post asking for an appeal; are you only telling me not to go to berkeley because you got waitlisted? That’s kind of sick don’t you think? :P</p>

4

<p>Sorry, it was just a bit underhanded that’s all. It’s not that I don’t want to go to berkeley, it’s just that it’s so expensive and I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth it or not.</p>

5

<p>This sounds kind of flaky but I’m not 100% dead set on MCB, do you know if it’s hard to change majors? And thanks for your detailed reply, it was actually helpful :)</p>

6

<p>Not flaky at all, everyone in the College of Letter & Sciences is considered “undeclared” when they enter school, regardless of what major was on the application. You are free to take whatever classes you need to declare your new major in your 2nd or 3rd year.</p>

7

<p>Seriously? Thank jesus ■■■■ ok this changes a lot</p>

8

<p>There is a perfectly acceptable third option: You can deposit at Berkeley and if you get in elsewhere or off a waitlist you only lose your deposit…better to hedge your bets…</p>

9

<p>really that’s a thing? wouldn’t they penalize you more? How much is the deposit? Sorry I’m such a noob that I didn’t know that wow</p>

10

<p>k nevermind I figured it out it’s 100 dollars. Thanks for all the replies!</p>