<p>Hey, all!
I'm an int'l student coming from China (ya, THE exporter), now deciding between Berkeley and Cambridge for econ. Any comment or thought or vote is welcomed:)</p>
<h2>I plan to major in econ but am ultimately open to any track and career; love debating (mostly BP) and studio art (the irresistible magic of Chinese watercolor printmaking!). </h2>
<p>Berkeley:
Pros:
- interdisciplinary studies and double majoring (wish I could understand the world a bit more before I trimmed down my interests) Is it that most Golden Bears double-major?
- Haas
- Bay area, California sunshine, Asian food
- easier to fit in considering how many Asian Americans and Asians are there</p>
<p>Cons:
- way too many Chinese
- way too big a school; prefer more tight-knit communities where ppl really know each other</p>
<p>Cambridge:
Pros:
- can accept focusing on econ simply because it's such a broad subject that allows much exploration
- arguably more prestigious
- the awesome debate society
- a very beautiful campus
- England and Europe is so small that travelling would be easier
- Tutorial system + the college I got in operates debates very frequently; this could put me at a disadvantage because I don't speak English as my mother tongue and at an advantage because I could get more personalized help from my tutors</p>
<p>Cons:
- plan to go to grad school in the States; the schedule is a bit too crammed to juggle study-work-life balance very well
- econ only for threee years during which I could have explored more about the world intellectually and geographically!
- immense pressure, like everyone is dying from what I know
- food... weather... yuck...</p>
<p>It is likely that only a few Berkeley students have more than one major. However, most liberal arts majors, including economics, take up about one third to one half of your courses, leaving you space to add a second major or elective courses in any area of interest, whether additional courses in your major subject or courses outside of your major subject.</p>
<p>I think you have the advantages and disadvantages listed correctly.<br>
You can’t really go wrong. You’re obviously a very smart student. Did you visit the schools? It can help make your decision easier. I think more people here would say Cambridge because it seems more exclusive.</p>
<p>I’m in exactly the same position as you are… I’m an international student from Germany and was accepted at both Cambridge and Berkeley for Physics. Berkeley has always been my number 1 choice but Cambridge is amazing too.</p>
<p>I agree with all your pros and cons but one more (big) con for Berkeley for me is that it is so damn expensive. At Cambridge they offer student loans that only need to be paid back when earning a certain level of income after graduation while it is difficult to find any loans for international students in the US. </p>
<p>One pro for Cambridge is that you might be able to do your masters degree in the same time (4 years) that you will be able to do your bachelors at Berkeley. Having both a masters and a bachelors degree is definitely a bonus when applying to grad school (I also want to go to the US for graduate studies for sure). Also, being able to go to university in two different countries adds to the level of diversity you can offer any may make you stand out!</p>
<p>As you can see I’m tending toward going to Cambridge but I’m really not sure yet. I kind of wake up every morning and change my mind about where I should go to university… Such a tough decision :S</p>
<p>(What college did you get into at Cambridge?)</p>
<p>Movethemoon, so glad to find someone struggling like I am lol! I applied via open application and got into Selwyn. </p>
<p>Another pro for Berkeley is that opportunities abound in Cal and having more free time allows you to take such opportunities. I’ve just talked to a current student majoring in CS at Cambridge and he told me he got literally no free time to pursue anything other than his academics. It seems to me that the challenge facing a cam student is more one-dimensional, and while it is definitely the place for focused intellectuals, Berkeley challenges you more in multitasking and can arguably help you grow much more not just in studying. </p>
<p>UCBChemEGrad, I have travelled to Berkeley in summer but never been to Cambridge. Actually ppl around me have been suggesting me, in one way or another, choose Berkeley. How much do you think you have benefited from its geographical location - sunrise industries, innovations, opportunities, etc.?</p>
<p>Jaselian, I’m a born and raised Californian from Los Angeles. I went to school at Berkeley because it was the best school to which I applied. I loved the Bay Area and it was the perfect distance from home in LA. </p>
<p>I found Berkeley to be a much more intellectual place. I was a chemical engineering major. The education has carried me well. There are numerous opportunities I can pursue with my degree. However, I’m really close to family and work in LA. I feel for me, there aren’t as many opportunities in LA for my degree versus a place like the Bay Area or Texas. I just don’t want to move at this point. </p>
<p>For CS opportunities, Berkeley and the Bay Area is among the best places in the world right now. </p>
<p>I like Berkeley and I applied there more than a decade ago but was denied, so I ended up in Cambridge (and stayed in Girton College). But I was doing computer science which is one of Berkeley’s strongest departments. </p>
<p>If this was computer science or engineering that we’re talking about, I would recommend Berkeley. But for economics, I would suggest that you go for Cambridge. Cambridge economics is amazing, period. Top banks go there regularly to scout talents. You’re assured of a job coming out of Cambridge economics. </p>
<p>^ I’m sorry I didn’t get what you’re asking. Were you asking if it’s easier for foreign students who graduated from Berkeley to land a job in the US vs a foreign student who graduated from Cambridge to find a job in the UK? My bet is, Cambridge grads find jobs in the UK much easier because Cambridge has special ties with top companies in the UK. Add to that the fact that in the UK, there’s really only one uni that technically rivals Cambridge, and I guess you know which uni is that. </p>