So I was accepted into UIUC, Georgia Tech, and Berkeley. For UIUC and Berkeley I was accepted for Materials engineering, and for georgia tech i was accepted for mechanical engineering. I am from Chicago so I would receive instate at UIUC. I have visited Georgia and UIUC and loved them both. I have many friends going to UIUC. I have not yet visited Berkeley but I have heard many scary things about the culture there. I do enjoy going out and am not a super competitive type A person, which seems to be a little more abundant at Berkeley (not to be rude just from what I’ve heard). I would not enjoy a culture like the one I’ve heard if that is true. But also Berkeley is close to silicon valley which is definitely a huge factor. For materials engineering berkeley and uiuc are ranked practically the same (2nd and 3rd) respectively. However, as an OOS student berkeley would be an extra 40k per year (if not more because tuition keeps rising). Any thoughts from past or current students?
Basically I’m scared to spend so much more money at a school like berkeley and end up hating it. But the name recognition and proximity to companies are nice.
Also georgia tech seems like a nice middle ground in price and has nice weather and a beautiful campus and a more laid back feel (and is also ranked extremely highly), so I’m also considering it.
Also I like warm weather lol
As you can see there are so many factors at play here.
Berk is not worth an extra 160k+ when you have UIUC in-state, and like you said, these are peers in your field. You can always go to Silicon Valley after graduation if that’s where you want to end up.
The people I know who graduated from Berkeley are not cut-throat. Still, I wouldn’t enroll unless I had visited the campus. It’s one of those places you either love or hate. I also don’t think it’s worth going there for undergrad if you’re from out-of-state.
Whether it is or not Berkeley is worth its OOS price depends on your family’s financial capacity.
To a few Berkeley OOS and international students, Berkeley’s price tag is expensive. But to many OOS and international students there, it is just pocket change. If your parents can’t afford to send you to Berkeley, don’t force yourself on going there. But, if the cost is affordable for them, go for it. It’s the best school in your list.