Kiddo was accepted off the wait list for UCB. But I see now where they predict that
getting into the CS major will require a 3.3 in the lower division CS classes. He’s always
been a top scorer but the I can see the grade distro only has about 40% of students making
that grade in the lowers. He bypasses Math 1A and B for AP so the 3.3 GPA would have to come
from CS 61A/B/C, CS 70 and Math 54. At UCSD he’s in the CS major from the get-go.
What would be so superior about Berkeley undergraduate CS over UCSD that
it would be worth the risk of having to earn your way into the major? I know Berkeley’s
reputation precedes itself and all. But I mean for an undergraduate learning experience,
what would be better (or worse) about UCB over UCSD CS?
Semester versus quarter system may be better or worse, depending on the student.
Berkeley is more convenient for Silicon Valley recruiting.
3.3 GPA to enter the major is more stressful and uncertain than the previous 3.0 GPA (and the 2.0 GPA before that). Obviously, UCSD is less stressful being already in the major. If he attends Berkeley, would he be willing to do an alternate major if he unable to get into L&S CS? Note that some other popular L&S majors also have GPA minimums:
ORMS: 3.2
Statistics: 3.2 in lower division math courses, B- or higher in upper division statistics course
Economics: 3.0
Math, Applied Math: 2.0, C or higher in Math 53, 54, 55
There is also a CS minor which gives registration priority (not as high as CS or EECS majors) for three upper division CS courses. This requires just a 2.0 GPA to have the minor noted on the transcript.
@ucbalumnus Thanks again. He already has a software internship in Silicon Valley this summer based on his past hackathons and independent coding. So maybe not getting the major might not even be such a disaster as he’s already shown he can code to a useful level. It would be quite a change of plan. But then he could still take a significant number of comp sci courses to expand his knowledge and pursue his interest. Hmmm. 
If he can code well enough to get a paid job already, then it is more likely that he will be able to make the 3.3 GPA needed to get into the L&S CS major. But he should still consider what alternate majors he would be willing to do if he does not get the needed GPA. Or he can take the safer route with the CS major at UCSD.
UCSD has a top-11 CS program and a top-17 engineering school, so it’s not significantly less “superior”. However, if he isn’t sure about CS and likes some alternatives, Berkeley may still be a worthwhile choice to consider.
In this situation I would take UCSD and just be in the major. It will be an excellent education and he will be able to do everything he wants there. Already having an internship means he isn’t likely to have any issues with Sr year recruiting, not that people do anyway. UCB may have stronger recruiting, but he is evening the playing field.
These two degrees, CS at UCSD vs CS at UCB, are distinct but that distinction will have only a small impact on the quality of your options after school (if any at all).
A CS degree from UCSD vs random second choice at UCB or switching schools?
Distinct and potentially a big impact on options, especially if he chooses to transfer schools.
I strongly discouraged my kid from applying to schools that had a competitive process to access the CS major precisely to avoid having to make this difficult decision.
What I repeated to him is that Freshman year of college should NOT feel like a 5th year of high school, looking over your shoulder at the grade book at every turn. It sounds like your son is on the ball and will probably be successful, but that is still a big risk to take IMO, if he is dead set on CS.
… and he went with UCSD. I let him make the call - he earned it. He took the full week and really considered all the angles and went back and forth. Thank you everyone for your input. It’s been an exciting time - sometimes stressful but fun too.
Congrats!
If he’s deadset on CS, I would advise the sure thing at UCSD (recruiting there is quite good as well). I’d recommend Cal only if he was considering other majors.