<p>I was offered admission to Cambridge University (computer science), and I feel really great about this. I have to pay about $14,000 a year. I also applied to Stanford and Berkeley. Stanford deferred me, and I need to send my TOEFL scores to Berkeley in order to meet the requirements.
Ok, here's the point: I am unsure whether I should even bother thinking about Stanford and Berkeley. The problem is that I would have to pay everything (~$45,000) if I'll make it in there. I doubt that Stanford is that better than Cambridge, even in computer science. </p>
<p>What do you guys recommend me to do? Normally, I would go on with Stanford, send them additional things, etc. etc.
What would you do in my situation? Choose Stanford or Cambridge?</p>
<p>Stanford, Berkeley, Cambrigde.. those universities are all awesome and have a great reputation, BUT there are some differences you should consider in your choice:</p>
<p>-Climate: There is a huge differnce between California and UK ;)
-USA vs. UK, have you ever visited one of those countries? Even both? Which did you like more, where do you want to spend the next 4 years?
-et cetera, et cetera</p>
<p>good luck, you have amazing options and I'm sure you'll choose the right one!</p>
<p>p.s. I you want to turn down Cambride and go to Stanford you could ask them to enhance their financial aid...
"Actually I prefer Stanford, but the offer Cambride gave me is very flattering and I don't want my parents to pay so much for my education. Might it be possible that you could think about my financial aid package again?"</p>
<p>Yeah, well, I think I like Stanford more because of the climate :). But Cambridge is so great, still. Has a great party scene ;). What really drives me away from Stanford is the huge cost. And I applied for no financial aid at all, btw. I am not eligible to get any aid.</p>
<p>And consider how the university system in GB differs from the American one.
At Cambridge you will get your degree faster (3 years instead of 4), but you won't have electives outside your major.</p>
How do you know you're going to get into Stanford in the first place?
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I don't know at all. However, if I know now that I don't want to go to Stanford in the end anyway, then I can stop improving my application. It comes to the question whether I want to go to Stanford or not.</p>
<p>I would complete the other two applications and see what happens. If you are not admitted to the two schools, you wouldn't even have to choose.
That way in a few months you won't ask yourself what if...</p>
<p>By all means, continue your Stanford and Berkeley applications!!! There is absolutely NOTHING you can lose. You've put in so much hard work and you just wanna stop in the last round? Come on, you know better man. And not applying for aid as an international student will help you A LOT!!! I guess the only bad thing is that you'll be broke if you actually attend. I'm pretty sure you'd make it into Berkeley, cos not a lot of int. students can afford the tuition. IMO though, Cambridge is better than Berkeley, so if I were you, I'd only try to improve my Stanford app. Didn't you apply for aid last year? Did you suddenly become rich?</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I'll continue on my Stanford thing. Do you remember me from last year? Cool ;). Well, I had applied for financial aid, and got rejected in the regular round. This time, I just wanted to take all the risks and see what happens. I think that if Stanford was my only choice, I would definitely go there (and even pay the money). Knowing that Cambridge takes me for far less money, however, is something else.</p>
<p>Wait for stanford's decision. If they reject you then you have no choice to make. If they accept you then you should go there.(I am assuming you can afford it but you wouldn't mind saving the money)</p>
<p>Stanford's CS beats Cambridge's CS hands down. If I could afford both schools I would choose Stanford.</p>
<p>I know that Stanford's CS is better than Cambridge's. But is it really ~ $110,000 better? I mean, I am not sure my parents can afford it. Maybe. Anyway, this money makes a lot of difference.</p>
<p>A cambridge degree will open many doors for u. u would be insane to pay that much more just to go to stanford.</p>
<p>when u get a great job following the completion of ur cambridge degree, and r not 110,100 in debt u will realise there is no point in debatin this</p>
<p>Yea I remember you, aren't you ableness? Tbh, if you want to work in the US, Stanford is prob a way better choice. Fact is that Cambridge is a bit easier to get into and I've heard from recruiters that they consider this fact when they hire ppl. Gees, where do you get all the money from? No offense, but you'll prob be really broke after Stanford, ^^</p>