<p>Oh, and if you’re wondering</p>
<p>Don’t worry, I’m not arrogant enough to assume I will have the choice between Berkeley, MIT, UPenn, and/or Harvard. I simply enjoy reflecting upon which school would probably be the “best option”, or the “dream option”. And in the process, the points brought up in the discussion will help many others with their various decisions as well.</p>
<p>Stick with Berkeley and save the travel costs.</p>
<p>OP, I am a computer science graduate from Cambridge. My past experience, which was my first job, was a Software Engineer for an American IT company based in London. Many colleagues there were Americans, mostly from top US schools. Many of my friends from Cambridge joined with banks, mostly as investment bankers, so computer science graduates are not limited to developing software programs. In 2006, I took a postgrad diploma at Stanford, the alma mater school of my parents. That was the beginning of my exposure to CS programs in American schools. </p>
<p>Anyone who has earned a computer science degree from a top school would know the caliber of Berkeley. It is considered a top school by the elite IT professionals, as well as, employers and academicians. Lots of references for comsci/IT were written by Berkeley graduates, or people who, at some point, were connected with Berkeley. In short, there is no better school than Berkeley for comsci, only rivals and three of the major ones are MIT, Stanford and CMU. If you want to seriously consider comsci and you want to be at a top American school, you don’t want to be at Emory. It is not known for comsci and the top employers for IT know that. The top comsci schools know that as well. Emory is a good school. But it is not in the league of Berkeley for comsci. Not at all. Forget about the exaggerated undergraduate experience one can get at Emory. You’ll get the same, if not better, undergraduate experience at Berkeley. My wife had the best college experience at Berkeley. She enjoyed Berkeley much more than she enjoyed Cambridge, where she took a course at Judge. And having gone to Berkeley for comsci is much more rewarding the moment you begin searching for high-paying jobs or applying for postgrad comsci. You’ll have a tremendous network of rich, influential and powerful alumni in the IT world, something that Emory can’t match. </p>
<p>Now, if you have acceptances from HYP, that’s worth considering especially if their offer is free tuition. Between UPenn and Berkeley for the same amount for CS, I would still encourage you to pick Berkeley. </p>
<p>The schools that are as good as, or slightly inferior to, Berkeley for CS that are outside of HYPSM are Mudd, Caltech, CMU, Cornell, Michigan, Brown, U of Washington and UIUC. I my have missed a few schools. But Im quite certain that Emory isnt one of those Ive missed.</p>
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<p>Okay; I’ll just leave it like that.</p>
<p>RML, out of complete curiosity, if you’re such a big shot, then what the hell are you doing here?? This is the last place for someone like you should ever be in.</p>
<p>Missed U. Wisconsin - typically ranked above Brown and Michigan, along side Cal Tech.</p>
<p>IN IT contributions, Berkeley is only a little behind Stanford. It is comparable to MIT and CMU.</p>
<p>In terms of Turing awards (‘Nobel’ prize in computing) ties, Stanford > Berkeley > MIT>CMU.
Emory is not a factor in CS and IT.</p>
<p>Alright, datalook. Thanks for the extra obviously important information you’ve posted. It was very helpful for the OP, who has indecisively decided which schools are good for him * because * of the very important info you’ve posted.
All hail datalook. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Alexandre, or other moderators, please close this thread. It’s over.</p>
<p>They are both wonderful, prestigious schools offering great financial aid packages. Neither school would hold you back from any opportunities. The collective opinions of collegeconfidential users is irrelevant. </p>
<p>Where did you feel more comfortable? Where would you rather be? That’s what your decision should come down to, in my opinion. If you’re truly undecided, and believe that you would be equally happy at both locations, then I would pick Berkeley because it’s stronger in the field of computer science.</p>
<p>lolwut?</p>
<p>Transferring to Harvard and Penn to study CS? Shows how much Berkeley’s supremacy in CS really matters to the OP.</p>
<p>MIT and Stanford are the only two schools as well-regarded as Berkeley in CS and at the same time as affordable (CMU is just not generous at all with FA). Cornell is also an option, though a step down, though I don’t know how its financial aid awards compare to those of its peers. </p>
<p>[Rankings</a> - Computer Science - Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-computer-science-schools/rankings]Rankings”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-computer-science-schools/rankings)</p>
<p>Penn and Harvard shouldn’t be options. The only “worthy” transfer option would be MIT… if you can get in. MIT happens to be equal in rankings with Berkeley for both CS (#1) and undergrad business (#2). You would get even better financial aid, a better location to New York, plus all the amenities of a top 5 private school. Berkeley could however accomplish the same as MIT, with slightly more effort on your part. The “core education” would remain the same… we’re only talking about a slight advantage with regards to convenience and comfort.</p>
<p>I would say you’re in an excellent position and have no better options, other than the possibility of MIT. Nice!</p>