<p>I am trying to decide between UC Berkeley and Santa Clara University. A year or two ago, I would've chosen Berkeley without hesitation. Now, from all I've seen and heard about protests, cuts, impacted majors, etc., I'm not so sure. I'll list some of my thoughts and please comment with yours.</p>
<p>Berkeley definitely has the prestige over a small private like SCU. However, at SCU, I wouldn't have to worry much about choosing a schedule that will let me graduate in 4 years. </p>
<p>With larger classes, it might be harder to learn at Berkeley. Also, it will probably be harder to obtain recommendations for grad school. </p>
<p>Even with tuition increase, I think Berkeley is still cheaper than SCU, though the gap has closed a bit.</p>
<p>I would like to double major in philosophy and business administration. That may be too hard to do at Berkeley. </p>
<p>I'm Asian and tend to fit in with a more Asian community, which points to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Depends on your major. In those like my own (math), people flatly tend to ignore the protests and move on with their lives, complain minimally about fee hikes, and benefit from a great department and faculty. There are plenty of tiny classes (I had one with 3 people). As far as limitations for grad school, I’ve had none, and in fact had plenty of assets because the faculty here are so famous that their letters of recommendation mean more. How things work out for me will depend on my fortune now, and in now way did attending here do anything but help.</p>
<p>You might have problems in some other majors, so you should address those in those specifically. Also, be broad, because you may change your major later – happens to quite a few people.</p>
<p>I’d say no, but I agree w/ mathboy in the fact that it depends on your major. Take a look at both schools, spend a day going to some classes that you will likely be enrolled in, and see where you feel more comfortable and happier.</p>
<p>OP, my daughter would face the same dilemma IF she is accepted in Berkeley. She already got acceptance EA in Santa Clara. In addition to the pros/cons you’ve listed, there are a few more things in our minds now. First, Business Admin is not direct admit in Berkeley, you still need to apply in Sophomore for Haas. Historically, only about 50% Berkeley applicant get into Haas. While in SCU, you’re admitted into Leavey in Freshman year. Secondly, If you make into Berkeley, chances are you are a strong applicant, then you might be awarded merit aid in SCU, that would bring down the gap in COA. Finally, where are you plan to work after graduate, if it’s out of bay area/Calif. Berkeley might be a better choice since SCU is not well-known outside west coast.</p>
<p>EDIT: I agree with the above poster you should visit both. But I warn you, once you visit SCU, it’s hard NOT to fall in love with SCU. My daughter visited, think it’s the most beautiful campus she has visited. She spent the shadow day there (attending class, overnight), love it even more.</p>
<p>if you are really interested in business, Haas really blows SCU out of the water. And if you don’t get into Haas our economics department is still really good.</p>
<p>In most cases, I think Cal’s faculty will be a much better asset to you than SCU.</p>
<p>Also, to be honest, SCU has almost no name recognition, which will definitely hurt in the long run.</p>
<p>If you (or your daughter…to the guy who has a daughter) isn’t into name brand college and isn’t thinking about one of berkeleys reputable majors. I would suggest going to SCU. The campus is quite fantastic, dorms are comfortable, it is in a safe location, small class sizes…i could go on. Berkeley is in a terrible atmosphere, the city is horrendus, and I always discourage high school students from coming here if they are lucky enough to gain admission into UCLA.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s the “grass is always greener” thing, but I have a feeling that the college experience is different at Berkeley…not in a good way.</p>
<p>Well, the thing is there are so many majors that are very distinguished. It really depends what one wants out of college generally. I’d advise to take generalized views with a grain of salt and inquire about specifics. </p>
<p>The class sizes can be large or very small, depending on major and class level. The professors can be frightening to really friendly – you just have to have your eyes open. Students can range from surly to bright and cheerful. What did I just do? Give a useless set of completely opposite ends of spectra. This is to get the message home that Berkeley’s big, and there’s little generalizing. What’s for sure is some majors are competitive, some are crowded, many are world class in terms of the faculty, students are on average stronger in some, and people who are not overly GPA-obsessed tend to like it better.</p>
<p>mathboy98, for pre-business major, do you think a mild, non-aggressive, but hard-working girl would survive the first two years and make it into Haas? Not intersted in Economics.</p>
<p>I think no matter how hardworking you are, you need to have some degree of aggressiveness to you to survive in the pre-business track in your first year or so at Cal.
A lot of freshmen are VERY aggressive in getting into organizations, leadership roles, landing good internships, etc. Those are all pretty vital to your Haas application.</p>
<p>Now why would a mild individual want to do business by itself </p>
<p>In all seriousness though, I know someone who isn’t really a shark, and made it into Haas. The real question, however, is whether this individual would enjoy the culture of the business majors. I find that it’s best to explore one’s options early in college and possibly decide on a major and subsequently pursue an MBA if management type positions are interesting. Business sounds like the sort of thing with a certain culture attached to it. Someone I know started off doing business and found it didn’t fit her educational philosophy/interests.</p>
<p>If you plan to major in some random humanity subject (ex. X studies), then just go wherever that’s cheap unless you have a really good reason why you are going to have a good job to pay the loan off.</p>
<p>If you plan to major in science or engineering, come to Cal. I was deciding between Cornell and Berkeley and I am so glad that I picked Cal. I am a MCB major and I have to tell you Berkeley has one of the strongest MCB department in the US. My PI is an academy of science member and is HHMI. His letter really goes far and wherever I go, people always recognize his name and immediately get really interested in my research. Of course the classes are hard and competitive, but if you put in the effort you will be fine. There is no other way to be successful in life anyways. I am not so worried about my post-grad plan because I know if I succeed at Cal I have the skills to do well in other places too. Also, I love the location of Berkeley. It is so close to SF and I really appreciate being able to go to the city once in a while. </p>
<p>Regarding funding, the only thing that annoys me is how the libraries don’t open as often as they used to be. Other than that the funding situation isn’t really affecting my upper div MCB classes too much I think? My lab is still very well funded anyways because most professors get their grants through NIH or other private sources but not UC Berkeley. However, I have heard that the budget cut is affecting the lower div science classes a lot. O well … that sucks! I guess try to take those at a cc before you come here. It is not THAT bad anyways. They still let ~1000 students into Chem 1A every semester and unless you are super super unfortunate, you will probably get the classes you need.</p>
<p>The student needs to feel comfortable in the college she or he chooses but also needs to plan ahead. Don’t think short term. It’s important to think long term. Visit the schools, write down pros and cons, and remember most of all- it’s what the student does after she/he chooses and attends the school. Good luck!</p>
<p>While the dorms and environment maybe nicer and “cleaner”, at the end of the day Berkeley beats SCU in terms of searching for a job. Hands down you will have so many more good opportunities.</p>
<p>Job placement for a business major is all over the place and Haas is definitely heavily recruited by the Big 4 accounting firms. Only a small percentage break into the elite management consulting and IB space because space is more limited.</p>
<p>I didn’t read all of the posts but I just really wanted to note that Haas receives massive private funding, so budget cuts affect it very minimally.</p>
<p>Certain majors at Berkeley receive donations and funding from outside sources as well as internal sources, so budget cuts don’t affect them as much. CoE and Haas are prime examples of this.</p>
My daughter visited, think it’s the most beautiful campus she has visited. She spent the shadow day there (attending class, overnight), love it even more.</p>
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