UC Budget Cuts & Impact

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Just wondering how much worry there is over looming budget cuts in the UC system. My son turned down Berkeley in favor of Georgetown, and the future outlook of the UC system was one reason. Many private professional college admission counselors are telling their clients to avoid the UCs if they have a reasonable private University as an alternative.</p>

<p>Following is an excerpt from a CNN Money article (note the last line):</p>

<p>While Brown has refrained from issuing a dire "all-cuts" budget plan, others have offered insight into what would happen if tax hikes aren't extended.</p>

<p>Under one scenario outlined by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office, California's schools could lose $4.8 billion in funding. That could mean that class sizes would rise above 20 kids in the early grades and kindergarten would be restricted to those who are age 5, closing the door to 135,000 children.</p>

<p>Also, tuition at the California State University's schools could rise 10% and at the University of California campuses by 7%. And the teaching staff could be hit with $408 million in personnel reductions.</p>

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<p>Wondering, carlsbaddad, if the hullabaloo is about ‘worse case scenario’ of tuition rising at 7% a year- when private universities have risen (and expect to continue to rise) at 6% a year.
In the private sector this is just expected. Is anyone demonstrating? Nah, the rich just keep flocking, maybe even more happily. Because the more expensive the school, let’s face it, the more of a gate-keeper it is.
All the University of California campuses and UC Berkeley in particular continue to be the greatest value and opportunity for in-staters. I hope your son will be happy with his choice, and I expect he will be. But his reasons for choosing must have had more facets than the ones you stated.</p>

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<p>I would agree with this even without the looming budget cuts, and IFF the parents have the money. Private schools have more money to spend on stuff. Advising at UC is universally poor. (Given Cal’s prestige and the quality of its students, its success in national and international awards, such as Rhodes and Goldwater, is really low. HYP has a whole staff that is dedicated to helping students apply to such programs.) On-campus housing costs are rapacious. Private colleges tend to operate their own study abroad programs, with its own students. Just a few examples. </p>

<p>All before the budget cuts.</p>

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<p>^ That’s too much generalization. You mean that if you were to study undergrad CS, you’d rather do it at Emory than at Berkeley? Really??? Would you rather have a JHU engineering than a Berkeley EECS? Really?? Would you rather have a business degree from Marshal than Haas? Really???</p>

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<p>Sorry blue, but I’m also with RML on this one. If my S didn’t get into MIT and Stanford (which he didn’t), I’m very happy to have him accepted and attending Berkeley for Mechanical Engineering-- even with the budget issues.</p>

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<p>I just don’t get the Rhodes/Gates thing which blue is over-hyping… My wife went to pursue a master’s at Cambridge and she wasn’t a Gates scholar. But she did well at Judge and is doing pretty good now – socially and financially. </p>

<p>Rhodes awards 50 students only, more or less, so it isn’t a good measure of how a school is better in advising. Of those 50 students, only 4 or 5 students were from Harvard. If that is a good indicator of having a good advising…, why didn’t everyone who graduated with top honors from Harvard make it? So, clearly, Rhodes picks awardees on random and from several schools regardless of prestige level. </p>

<p>And, in case you did not know it yet, Blue, Berkeley has produced more Fulbright, Marhsall and Rhodes scholars combined (223) since 1997 than any university in the nation save only Harvard. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4278422-post90.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/4278422-post90.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Blue does have some valid points. Berkeley can improve its services. However, I believe Berkeley offers great value (esp. for in-state students) compared to most out-of-state and in-state privates.</p>

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<p>For those of us with children in or about to enter the California university system there is much worry and concern about how the budget cuts are going to impact the education of our children, but for me Georgetown would be out of the question. As a doctor I a make too much money to qualify for financial aid but I do not make enough that I can afford $45,000 a year to send each of my sons to a private college.</p>

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<p>Agreed. It is a general statement.</p>

<p>I have posted often that Eng & Chem are (near) tops in the nation, and well worth the price of admission, even OOS. But a generic liberal arts degree, where most students matricluate (aka “general” students)…yeah, Emory can be just as good. Plus, Emory has much better finaid, so for most instate students (aka “in general”), Emory can be cheaper to attend.</p>

<p>Dunno much about CS in L&S, but is it that much better than a degree from 'SC, for example?</p>

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I’m flattered, blue!
signed, ChemEng…;)</p>

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<p>I’m an upcoming OOS freshmen in the College of Engineering. I am currently registered as a Bioengineering major, but I would like to switch into EECS during my first year. Anyway, I was accepted into Cornell, Northwestern, Michigan, NYU Stern, among other schools, and while I did not receive a significant amount of financial aid from these colleges, I ultimately chose to enroll at Berkeley and pay full OOS tuition. Hopefully I won’t run into much problems involving the budget cuts while I’m a student here haha. What do you guys think of my decision?</p>

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<p>^^Not sure where Stern fits in…did you apply to Eng at Cornell or AEM? How about the others?</p>

<p>But, I have heard that it is difficult to switch into EECS. As an OOS’er, I would have recommended Cornell over Cal, but that assumes that you like Ithaca. IMO, besides location, Cornell and Cal have a lot of similarities; for full pay, I’d go with the private. I’m sure others will disagree.</p>

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<p>oops sorry for the confusion haha, NYU was the only business school I applied to, the rest were all engineering, Cornell was CALS for Bioengineering. I have talked to numerous people involving the switch including ESS, and I think that as long as I achieve a decent technical gpa first semester ( >3.2) switching from Bioengineering to EECS is not difficult since they are both in COE. At least that’s what I’ve been told, hopefully its true I really like the Berkeley environment more than Ithaca and Cornell’s haha so what do the others think of my decision :/</p>

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<p>^ Good choice! ;)</p>

<p>Welcome to Cal!</p>

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<p>Personally, I think it is obvious that those going to Cal, those about to go to Cal, or parents of those students are knowledgeable about the budget issues and concerned about the future. Cal students and parents are a bright group and I’m sure everyone is staying abreast of the situation. I find it odd that the parent of a future Georgetown student felt the need to post the text of an article regarding this on the Cal forum. Anyhow, that being said, my son wanted to stay in California for his education. He wanted the full college experience and a large university with diversity in student population and ideas. He wanted a top school in engineering (he’s since settled on EECS.) He knew from the very beginning he wanted to go to Cal. He has not regretted his decision. He’s had no problems getting his classes; he finds all his professors very accessible; he doesn’t mind the large class sizes because he gets the small class feel in discussions; his advisor has been great and he thrives in an environment where differing viewpoints are encouraged and contemplated. He knows all about the budget problems, but he always tells me that Cal is more than worth it, and that he loves being at Berkeley. I think the University of California is still one of the best university systems in the nation. For Californians, it’s a good deal even with budget increases. I feel just fine with my son attending Cal and whatever comes about, we’ll adjust and move on. Isn’t that what life is about? Adjusting to challenges and excelling in spite of them. A Cal degree is something in which to be proud. Go Bears!</p>

<p>P.S. Ballpointpen - Great decision! You get a top school, San Francisco, and super weather. How can you pass up that?? Welcome to Cal!</p>

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<p>Interesting chain of discussion. </p>

<p>Cal is a great school, let me get that out first!</p>

<p>Does anyone like to avoid news they may not want to hear? That’s not a good idea for a successful life. Reality cannot be hidden from, but rather confronted and dealt with. Not sure what momfirst3 was implying.</p>

<p>Clearly, if you make under $70K/yr and are a Calif resident Cal is a good choice economically. You will get good aid. Where I reside in San Diego my family home would be a cardboard box on the street at this income, and I can’t get a job in my industry in many of the more economical areas to live in the state.</p>

<p>The argument about about UCs being a good value vs Privates doesn’t hold water to me. That is the natural assumption for people who simply don’t do their homework. The idea that privates are only for “rich elitists”. That is bunk. </p>

<p>Private institutions, especially many which have large endowments per student compared with UCs (including Cal), come out to be much lower cost than UCs in many cases including for those residing in state. My son was accepted to Cal, Davis, UCI, Oxy, USD, Carleton, Brandeis, Bowdoin, Fordham, Williams and Georgetown. The most expensive of the bunch (parent contribution)? Cal. The lowest cost, Bowdoin, % of students going on from Bowdoin to get a graduate degree - 80%. % of graduating students getting accepted to first choice top ranked medical and law schools, much higher than Cal.</p>

<p>The smartest (not richest) kids from my sons’ public HS class went to LACs. All turned down Cal. One of his friends turned down Harvard for Pomona College. And yes, he is extremely smart and hard working and not wealthy. IMHO his decision shows just how smart he really is… </p>

<p>Cal is a great school, no doubt. Any child should be proud to be a Bear, it is a great achievement. You can and most likely will get a great education there, and the average person around the world recognizes the Berkeley name and will assume (rightfully so) you are very smart if you went there. But to ignore the states budget woes, impact on education and risk looking forward is to hide from the reality of the situation. It is very serious and you cannot simply ignore it hoping for the best.</p>

<p>Why post this here (since mom asked)? I’m a native Californian and state school alumni. Not from a wealthy background at all - absolutely not. I care, and think our education system here is headed for the rocks. I hope more people let the state government know this is not acceptable. University and college education made Ca great, it’s on the decline, and something needs to be done to bring it back. No one in DC will care, so why post this on GU site??</p>

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<p>Are you kidding me? You just lost all due credibility in this thread. L&S CS and CoE’s EECS share the same CS department… Perhaps a BA is a turnoff for some, but the difference between a BA and a BS is very subjective. What is objective, however, is that Berkeley’s CS department is the top in the world.</p>

<p>Given that the department is the same, and assuming you just want to do CS, the choice between EECS and L&S CS differs in only whether you want a science-y based core or a humanities based core.</p>

<p>Yes, that is the main difference, I would say. EECS majors are not intrinsically better than L&S CS majors. Sure, they have a tougher admittance standard, but that’s all there to it.</p>

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<p>I’m not ignoring it and seeing things through rose colored classes. I’m also not avoiding the issue. My son has made his decision. He’s there. We are doing all we can to change the situation, but it is what it is. I feel badly for the students that have selected Cal that have to hear constantly that their university of choice is on the skids. I know the problems but let’s see how this all plays out before we project what will happen. I am a realist and I takes things as they come. I think that a degree from Cal in Engineering is an excellent choice. I don’t know if my son would have attended Cal if he was majoring in something else, but that’s not applicable to him. I can only speak as to his experience. He wanted engineering and he went to Cal - a good decision in my opinion.</p>

<p>Just so you know, I have three kids. Two went to private universities (one just graduated in December) and one went to Cal. The lowest parent contribution - Cal. I am an 8th generation Californian and care about this state. I fully agree and acknowledge that there are some very big problems that need to be dealt with and solved. However, I still believe that Cal is an excellent university. Private vs. public is a debate that has gone on for years. There are pros and cons to both. It’s an individual decision with many factors involved in making the choice. I’m happy that Georgetown was a good fit for your child and wish him the very best.</p>

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Of course it would be…you choose to live in Carlsbad. </p>

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Not all kids are bright enough to get merit scholarships to private universities…and the uber-elite privates don’t offer merit scholarships, just need based aid. Therefore, for an upper middle-class family looking at paying full freight, Berkeley at $12k/year tuition vs. a USC at $41k/year is a no-brainer.</p>

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<p>^^ That’s a very good point. My son was only considering the uber-elite private universities. The fact that they didn’t offer merit based aid was a big issue for him. In the end, he didn’t even apply to those schools because they just weren’t what he wanted for engineering. He applied to MIT (waitlisted but took himself off) and Harvey Mudd (accepted with significant aid) but they just didn’t have the vibe he wanted. People literally can’t believe that his dream school was Cal but it was.</p>