<p>I know these are two totally different schools, but I am having the toughest time deciding. I'm a bio major, so that doesn't help narrow it down either. I have reservations about Cal because of the large class sizes and whatnot, but I visited Hopkins and it was kind of blah in terms of social life and the surrounding area is nothing compared to Berkeley. Please, if you have any support for or against anything I said, help me out. And yes, I do plan on doing research.</p>
<p>Check the class schedules at each school’s web site to see class sizes. JHU class sizes are smaller, but are not really small (200-300 student lectures in introductory chemistry and biology instead of 500 student lectures, although it looks like JHU has 40-100 student labs versus Berkeley’s 30 student labs).</p>
<p>[Home</a> Page - Online Schedule Of Classes](<a href=“http://schedule.berkeley.edu%5DHome”>http://schedule.berkeley.edu)
[Course</a> Schedule | Office of the Registrar | The Johns Hopkins University](<a href=“Registrar - Homewood Schools (KSAS & WSE) | Office of the Registrar | Johns Hopkins University”>Registrar - Homewood Schools (KSAS & WSE) | Office of the Registrar | Johns Hopkins University)</p>
<p>Net price and debt at each school?</p>
<p>A lot depends on where you are from?</p>
<p>I’m from LA so obviously Cal is closer, but I don’t mind being far from home. Also cost is not really a factor in my decision.</p>
<p>Considering the relatively low pay job prospects of biology majors (and the high cost of medical school if you go that direction), it would be wise to avoid debt, though.</p>
<p>I just peaked at the JHU enrollments for upper level BIO courses. I don’t see a real strong case for Hopkins unless there’s something else you like about it - English, engineering, politics, etc.</p>
<p>You should probably look and see what happens in courses other than the Bio. ones. I’m also not certain if the JHU numbers are limits or actual enrollments.</p>
<p>Did you get in at any LAC’s?</p>
<p>I’m not taking out any loans → no debt.
Also, both are top in the country for biology… I’m really looking for an insider perspective on what it’s like at either.</p>
<p>You may want to take a look at the course offerings and faculty rosters to see what subareas of biology each school is strong in. Biology is a rather large subject with many subareas.</p>
<p>However, do not be surprised if biology courses tend to be on the large side for any school, due to the popularity of majoring in biology.</p>
<p>You’re mistaking limits as actual enrollment UCB and rhg3rd. When I went to JHU, intro class size for chem was around 100-150 students not 200 or 250 as was the limit. Same goes for the lab sizes. Berkeley still has issues that need to be resolved with regards to getting classes needed for graduation (as attested to by posters on the cal forum). Has Cal had any progress on this issue? Besides having students take summer courses to graduate on time?</p>
<p>Links to those threads Blah?</p>
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<p>100 to 150 is still not a small class. Do you mean to say that the labs with limits of 100 enrolled about 50, which is still quite large for a lab?</p>
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<p>Who claims to have been delayed graduating due to not getting needed classes? I did ask before there, and no one said that s/he did. Actual four year graduation rates have been rising over the years.</p>
<p>People do complain all the time about not getting the time that they want (e.g. having to take the 8am section) or the instructor that they want. But that happens everywhere.</p>
<p>Go with Cal. It’s probably cheaper for you being in-state. Bay Area is a good distance from SoCal…cheap flights on Southwest vs. transcontinental flights to Baltimore.</p>
<p>Berkeley and the Bay Area offer much more than Homewood Baltimore.</p>
<p>I will parse though the forum in a bit. Tons of Cali people choose to come to JHU and east coast elites despite the cheaper in-state tuition. It’s not always as cut and dry as lower cost and “more to do” with homeless people everywhere.</p>
<p>Yes, key word is “parse” for a scant few posts. I’ve yet to see full threads of kids complaining they aren’t graduating on time due to lack of required courses. </p>
<p>I’ll await the McKinsey research report.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1458115-hard-get-required-classes.html#post15454218[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1458115-hard-get-required-classes.html#post15454218</a></p>
<p>If you’re in a popular major (my example is EECS/CS, since I’m an EECS major) and you don’t register for required classes relatively early in your academic career, you might not get into one that you need.</p>
<p>I’m taking CS 170, and many people who are having a hard time getting into the class but need it to graduate have been stressing out. This could have been averted if they had taken it earlier. (Not that this is necessarily their fault; the administration is being rather slow about responding to the situation.) If you plan your coursework out, you will have few problems eventually getting into the classes you need to graduate.</p>
<p>(Of course, this is harder if you start your coursework later, especially for junior transfers who start taking the introductory CS series here.)</p>
<p>Part of it depends on your major. EECS/CS had a lot of disappointed people this semester, a bunch of classes (CS170, 161, 160, 169…) had a hundred more students than they could accommodate, which made enrollment difficult. Non-majors were being kicked off of waitlists, 160 had students filling out petitions to get from 200 students down to 100, etc. So, if you’re EECS/CS, maybe. :P</p>
<p>That said, every department’s not going to be like that. Enrollment/waitlists also tend give priority to students majoring in the subject, and to graduating seniors. And if you still manage to find yourself in a “can’t graduate without it” situation, most professors are pretty understanding.</p>
<p>Most requirements are flexible anyways, so even if you don’t get your top pick you’ll be able to find something that fits.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1333586-berkeley-awful-new-admits-stay-away.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1333586-berkeley-awful-new-admits-stay-away.html</a></p>
<p>This might be fueled a bit by finals anxiety, but my sentiment has remained the same for over a year. I have been here three semesters and still think I should have gone to UCLA (or elsewhere had I applied). The tuition is through the roof, the buildings are falling apart, the class sizes are managed so horribly that you end up registering to be on the waitlist for all the classes you need to graduate, the campus atmosphere is pretentious and the off-campus atmosphere is dirty and rape-y. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/309451-ask-current-cal-student-anything-111.html#post12983707[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/309451-ask-current-cal-student-anything-111.html#post12983707</a></p>
<p>I am a new OOS MechE major this fall, and I am currently getting somewhat tele-screwed for two classes, my chem requirement and elective. I am 28th on the waitlist for the only Chem 1A lecture that my schedule makes it possible to take, with a class size of 523. This is the tough one; this is a required class and i could theoretically pass it with the 3 I got on the AP test way back in sophomore year but I’m not sure if that would be a good idea. I’m already enrolled in a Chem 1AL lab; will that help my chances? Should I just skip the class and hope that I know enough for when ME40 rolls around?
Also, I’m 13th on the waitlist for Geography 70AC, which has a class size of 110. Is it reasonable to assume that I’ll get in if I attend the class? As of now (the end of my Phase II Telebears) I am enrolled in History 7A; I would much rather take Geog 70AC but would not be opposed to taking 70AC in the spring. Should I drop Hist 7A now and just attend Geog 70AC? I plan on taking this elective, whatever it is, pass/not pass.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Royal28</p>
<p>Class size of 523 for Chem 1? Are you Berkeley people serious with this comparable class sizes argument? Berkeley’s intro class sizes are filled to the brim and over enrollment. Find me JHU posts that state intro chem is actually 300 people large. Extremely doubtful to say the least. No need for McKinsey level analysis here - I’m sure your daily postings give you just as “valuable” expertise around here ucbchem.</p>
<p>This one is a very close call.</p>
<p>I would tend to lean towards JH, since it is so highly regarded in the medical field.</p>
<p>Wait lists while frustrating are fairly normal. Most get in the required class off the wait list. Rare the case to delay graduation. The graduation rates have been increasing (according to posted CDS) despite the worries over budget cuts.</p>
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<p>That’s a great thread. In particular, i remember this post:</p>
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<p>Can’t say i recall to many UCLA students/alums saying anything to that effect :D</p>
<p>I can find threads too…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/379990-why-does-ucla-suck.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/379990-why-does-ucla-suck.html</a></p>
<p>Go with Johns Hopkins. I think it’s just the better school, especially when it comes to sciences.</p>