With May 1st quickly approaching, I am still very unsure of where I will commit to. I was accepted into Berkeley EECS and Duke Pratt School of Engineering, likely to pursue to a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Also, I think my situation is a bit different as most people choose Berkeley because it is cheaper, but it is the opposite for me. Here are the factors I am currently considering (btw everything will seem fragmented because I am writing things down as I think of them):
Financial:
I will be paying about $60,000 for Berkeley OOS and about $30,000 for Duke. My parents will contribute $100,000 to my education, so going to Berkeley would put me in a lot of debt. However, i am unsure of how much the tuition will increase as a result of pursuing a double major (If anyone could provide a number, that would be great). Also, would California’s high cost of living significantly hinder me from paying off all that debt?
Quality of education:
Obviously, Berkeley’s EECS program is more prestigious. Duke has more flexible academics, and I may decide to pursue computer science and biomedical engineering. Getting in touch with professors is easier at Duke. Also, the overall quality of the student body is potentially higher at Duke because of lower standards for in state students at Berkeley. There is also more competition at Berkeley for opportunities(professors, internships, class availability). Also, there are concerns at Berkeley with budget cuts and a lack of resources for students. But there is a also a greater potential for participating in a startup at Berkeley. Berkeley will also better prepare me for a job right out of undergrad with their greater emphasis on programming as opposed to theory in regards to CS.
Opportunities upon graduation:
Berkeley’s location is definitely better for going into a tech related field. However, with the rigor of the EECS curriculum and grade deflation, I would graduate with a lower GPA, hurting my chances for grad school. On the other hand, if I try to enter the job market upon graduation, Berkeley would likely be better. As a plus for Duke, the smaller size will allow me to know my professors and peers better, leading to better connections in the future.
Social:
I am more conservative in my beliefs and come from a smaller, suburban high school, and in that case, Duke would better suit me. However, there are more social opportunities at Berkeley and the surrounding area(more clubs, increased variety in the neighboring city and a greater variety of people) Also, as an Asian, going to Berkeley would make me feel comfortable than my high school, which was 95% white.
Environment:
I think the area Berkeley is in is more beautiful that Duke’s and the weather would suit me better after years of cold and inconsistent Ohio weather.
Overall:
I want to have a completely different experience in college than I did in high school, and Berkeley looks more attractive to me than Duke. However, I am unsure if I can graduate with a high GPA in the EECS curriculum and deal with approximately $100,000-$120,000 more in debt afterwards.
Unbiased opinions please!
