<p>My Son got admitted to the Engineering Honors program (Chemical Engineering) at Texas, Austin (Class of 2018).<br>
We are texas residents. He also got admitted to the Chemical Engineering program at Berkeley. Being Out Of State the difference in cost is about 35K/year. More than the cost difference, I am concerned about housing and access to classes at Berkeley.
Are my concerns valid? Chemical Engineering is in the school of Chemistry. Do students here have a difficult time with classes? Is Housing an Issue? In terms of rankings, Berkeley is slightly ahead of Austin. However,would he be better off at Austin in light of my above concerns?</p>
<p>My son is finishing his second year at Cal in the CoC (although he is a Chem major, not Chem E). He has not had any trouble getting the courses he needs. In the CoC, spots in the required course sequences are reserved for students in the major. There is no concern about being shut out of those classes. </p>
<p>The required courses in math and physics are common courses required of many majors. There are adequate spots available to accommodate everyone. You sometimes have to be flexible about days/time/professor, but you don’t really have to worry about not getting the class (unless you miss deadlines).</p>
<p>As long as you are flexible about which classes you take, it really isn’t difficult to fulfill the breadth and elective requirements, either. My son says that getting necessary classes doesn’t seem to be an issue among his friends and classmates. Anecdotal evidence, I know. So take it for what it is worth.</p>
<p>As for housing, I assume you are talking about dorms. Entering freshmen are guaranteed two years of on campus housing (as long as application and deposit deadlines are met). Among my son’s friends, all of them opted for off campus housing after freshman year. Apartments within walking distance of campus are numerous, although not cheap!</p>
<p>UT Austin honors for ChemE is great. IMO, and I’m a huge Berkeley booster, Cal’s CoC is not worth the cost difference when you have such a great in-state option at a bargain price. Hook 'em! </p>
<p>orgeek,
No, I’m not a grad student at Berkeley. Sorry for the confusion in my old user name…Grad is meant to imply alumni. I was an undergraduate at Berkeley in chemical engineering back in the late 90s. I have an MBA from a local Cal State.</p>