UC Berkeley or Brown Engineering

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

Hey guys,

I have got into Brown for engineering and UC Berkeley for materials science engineering and I’m really conflicted about which university to chose.

I am an international student and the fee difference between both the unis isn’t a concern.

This is my initial judgement:

1)UC Berkeley offers a well know and strong engineering curriculum whilst Brown’s slightly weaker.
2)Brown will guarantee greater attention, research and internship opportunities due to it being a small private school.
3)Brown will present networking opportunities on the east coast especially within the Ivy league community whilst Cal is right in the cradle of innovation by the Bay area and will offer unparalleled tech opportunities.
4) Cal seems to be a very cut throat engineering school, where classes are marked to a very high curve. However, Brown offers a pass/fail system.

Which university should I chose and why?

Thanks a lot,
Yashtag

2

I’m currently an engineering student at Berkeley…congrats on getting into Brown and Berkeley, both are great schools! I’m probably a bit biased, but I would recommend you go to Berkeley.

  1. You are right in that Berkeley has a (significantly) higher engineering ranking than Brown - Brown is more focused on liberal arts, whereas Berkeley is a very STEM heavy school.
  2. The size of Berkeley is definitely intimidating at first, especially in certain departments such as EECS. However, there are plenty of opportunities to "reduce" the size - by going to office hours, discussions, etc. Profs are typically approachable, and although there is greater competition for research, there are lots of labs and opportunities.
  3. For science and tech, Berkeley is in the heart of innovation. There are plenty of engineering companies scattered throughout SV and the bay area, and plenty of opportunities. I don't think the east coast can say the same about engineering.
  4. The environment here can get "cut throat", and grading can be harsh. However, in the end, it's more about what you learn and not so much the grade you receive. I would overall argue that here at Berkeley, you typically will get the grade you deserve, and the grade typically reflects how much you have learned. Furthermore, grad schools/companies generally know of Berkeley's tough grading, and will adjust expectations as such.

Good luck!

3

Thanks for your prompt reply…the points you have made are really interesting and ill definitely take them on board!`
Thanks again :slight_smile:

4

I would choose Berkeley for the Silicon Valley connections alone.

5

Personally, I would choose Brown just because it is Ivy League. Ivy League is highly regarded in Silicon Valley. Also, the fact that the environment at Berkeley is very competitive and can be hard on the GPA, are factors in choosing Brown.