My parents will pay up to $35k per year, and I’m trying to decide between UC Berkeley EECS, where I will graduate with $0 debt, and Stanford (CS or CS + Music), which gave me $12k in grant aid, plus work study. I would eventually owe the my parents the difference between the federal loans of $27k for the four years, any work study/summer earnings and the cost of attendance. I am a serious musician so the quality of the orchestra is also important to me in addition to CS opportunities. About me: I don’t plan on joining a frat; I’m social but nerdy (into stuff like competitive Magic the Gathering, online Pokemon leagues, etc.) and politically conservative. Are the opportunities at Stanford worth the extra expense over Berkeley? Any advice from current students at either of these two schools, or parents?
On the CS stuff, I can give you some advice based on my professional experience: between these two schools, the difference in education you are going to get is going to be completely irrelevant when looking for a job, or a graduate school. Given the differences in financing, visit both schools and decide for yourself whether Stanford is worth the money. Also, check out the music scene around both. For concerts, you’ll likely taking some public transportation to San Francisco…
IMO, I think those loans are manageable and the experience will likely be more fruitful and better.
Adding a bit to it: I know a lot of people who did not like the Berkeley experience at all - the sheer size of it and its classes, the competitiveness, etc (at least that’s what they told me). I studied at Stanford and heard nothing of the kind from anybody, and had a great time there. My choice would still be Stanford, but only you can decide.
I think the learning experience will be better at Stanford.
How much would you owe your parents for each year at S? Plus you’d have fed loans?
UCB EECS is really elite, right? Why not there?