<p>Starting off, I'm a future EECS major (or EE). Hopefully some of you can dispel my concerns and help me pick my college!</p>
<p>UCLA: I love the place, my favorite out of the three in terms of environment. The students are all hardworking, yet they are not workaholics. However, the EE department seems like its still developing, and the faculty aren't as strong as say, UCB. </p>
<p>UCB: I know, world class EECS department. Top professors. Incredibly liberal setting. This seems like a good choice, except that I dislike the environment of it all. I'll be put among workaholics in a type of cutthroat academic rigor. When I go to college, I plan to work hard, but I'd like to get maximum returns for my hard work.</p>
<p>Rice: I'm not sure about this one. The plus is that I'll get the most attention out of this school. However, the students there seem to be not as bright as those at Berkeley and I feel like I won't fit in. When I stayed there, my experience was awkwardly hanging around with some pot smokers and going to a party. Not exactly what I'm looking for. Also, the faculty research seems to be rather insignificant compared to what's going on in the other two. </p>
<p>Also, I am interested in graduate school after my undergraduate education.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have already made your decision - go to UCLA. All three schools have great academics. Rice was perfect for me because I liked the small classes and I liked knowing my professors. The other advantage of Rice is that I never had an issue with getting into a class. I just chose the classes I wanted and I got them. However, the social scene is going to be completely different from the other two schools and if you like the big school feel of UCLA then you won’t be happy at Rice. I agree with your impression of UCB - an intense, cutthroat place in EECS. It’s all about the grades and not about the learning. And, I don’t necessarily agree that world class EECS research makes for a great undergraduate experience.</p>
<p>“the students there seem to be not as bright as those at Berkeley” I am not a Rice student but I know that Rice is very well respected academically (sometimes on par with Duke, UChicago, etc). I agree that Berkeley is a great school but I don’t think your statement above accurately reflects Rice students. Rice is more like an LAC.</p>
<p>^ That’s not likely the SAT scores for Berkeley EECS students. I honestly don’t think someone with 630 math SAT and 600 cr SAT would get onto EECS.</p>
<p>I agree with TheAnalyzer, comparison between Rice as a whole and Berkeley in EECS is like “hey dude, our army is stronger because our machine guns r stronger than your pistols”</p>
<p>Hard cold facts say it all but I bet Berkeley fans will never admit it (btw, again, I ain’t no Rice student)</p>
(btw, again, I ain’t no Rice student)</p>