<p>I saw that berkeley makes engineers take some humanities classes, but are these classes actually useful. I’m currently deciding between berkeley and columbia (both for engineering). One of Columbia’s major claims is its core curriculum, which allows engineers to get a well rounded education. Even though I’m into the math and science classes, I do also like the humanities. Do you think Columbia’s core makes a big difference from just taking humanities classes at berkeley?</p>
<p>If you were accepted to both Berkeley and Columbia engineering, then I'm guessing that math and science are you strengths, and that you would do better in math/sci courses than in core/humanities-type courses.</p>
<p>At Berkeley you'll learn more tech-type material (though grad school teaches you all the material you actually need), and you'll develop better quantitative reasoning skills, which is very beneficial.</p>
<p>I personally think that since undergrad engineering education is so broad as is in the US (lots of math, physics, chem, comp sci, engineering courses), you don't need to be distracted by more than 2-3 non-tech courses per year (Berkeley's amount), but that's coz I really don't like humanities-type courses (though at Berkeley I can choose econ).</p>
<p>Btw, how much will each cost? Presumably you'd be paying out-of-state fees at Berkeley? Berkeley ranks much higher for engineering than Columbia does, but Berkeley is no Ivy. At Columbia your peers will be stronger, and you'll be treated better... and the laymen will assume Columbia is better.</p>
<p>i've definitely seen already that "laymen" will assume columbia is better. but do you really think the peers will be stronger and treat me better?</p>
<p>nbanyk, you get a <em>choice</em> of what humanities you want to take. if you want to take a class (or a few) in our top notch english department, then go ahead; </p>
<p>there are tons of classes you can take, and i'm sure youll find interest in a least a few of them</p>
<p>no, i didn't mean the peers would treat you worse at berkeley, i meant that as 2 separate things: 1. the students that are accepted and attend berkeley engineering are weaker than those that are accepted and attend columbia engineering (however, that's mainly in the first 1-2 years, because at berkeley the first 1-2 years are "weeder" years in which many of the weaker students are effectively forced to transfer to an easier major or to completely drop out, whereas i can't imagine that happens to many people at columbia).</p>
<p>my 2nd, separate point, is that columbia is a top private ivy league university, with fewer students. therefore, you will receive better treatment from faculty etc, and have more personal attention with advisors etc...</p>
<p>i don't know any of this stuff as facts, this is just what others on this board have written.</p>
<p>are the columbia engineering students really stronger? i know there are a lot fewer students columbia's engineering school, but I'm not so sure if they are stronger. i've been on columbia's forum, looking at SEAS acceptees and their scores (SAT/GPA) looked pretty low. on berkeley's accepted forum, i haven't seen anyone say which they school they got into (like engineering) so I can't really tell. i also got a likely letter at columbia, so i don't feel like it could be that strong.</p>
<p>I think the average Berkeley engineering acceptee's SAT is about 50 points lower than the average Columbia engineering acceptee's.</p>
<p>However, as I said, many many of the Berkeley kids get "weeded" out within 1-2 years. Ultimately, the Berkeley kids are probably better.</p>
<p>^ Actually, you have to add about 30-50 points to Berkeley's average SAT because Berkeley uses one sitting SAT vs. best verbal + best math for privates. </p>
<p>I don't think Columbia's engineering is even ranked top 15. Also, Silicon Alley is not exactly a R&D powerhouse when it gets compared to Silicon Valley. </p>
<p>I would say internationally, Berkeley and Columbia's reputation are pretty similiar. With the slight nod going to Berkeley. </p>
<p>I have no idea why someone would go to an Ivy for engineering. This is a field (like math) where no amount of prestige will make a dumb engineer look good. And I imagine most engineering colleagues will laugh if u say u went to Columbia for engineering.</p>
<p>Given that Berkeley's departmental strengths lie in every single subject imaginable, one thing that gets left out is interdisciplinary education.</p>
<p>Personally, every single one of my economics and international relations professors stressed the huge importance of technology in this modern world. Unfortunately, from what I seen at schools like Chicago and Columbia, is that technology is more of a "hidden phenomenom". </p>
<p>If you want to learn humanities, arts that is top notch in their field, and be able to translate what you learned with sciences to develope interdisciplinary viewpoints about the the direction of society, you can't go to a better school than Berkeley.</p>
<p>i kinda find it funny how the best ivy for engineering is cornell, yet i have heard some refer to it as the lowest ivy.</p>
<p>yeha, i agree with West Sidee.</p>
<p>btw nbanyk, i chose berkeley. i think it's more important what grad school admissions and employers think than what the laymen think. berkeley is ranked 3rd for a reason, and there you'll have better and more prestigious professors, (who can give great recs etc...) </p>
<p>check out <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=55541%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=55541</a></p>
<p>berkeley is much more renowned internationally than domestically. it ranks #1 engineering in the world on some of these ranks, and top 5 on all other international rankings... columbia doesn't come close (i don't even think it ranks top 25 for engineering).</p>
<p>^ domestically, Berkeley is held in very high regard. </p>
<p>For some reason, people seem to think that undergraduate ranking on the US News translates into UNIVERSITY prestige. </p>
<p>Domestically, I think Berkeley is very prestigious. Most people like to blabber about ivies because they're from the east coast, and the ivies represent a symbol of east coast stodgy prestige. Then lately, they have turned it into a battle of privates vs. publics. And Berkeley of course is heavily targeted because as a public school, it is more prestigious DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY than many of the ivies. </p>
<p>Public schools exist for a reason, and that reason is that everyone who goes to ivies, ends up like George Bush. And imagine what a country full of George Bush's will do to you. </p>
<p>Yup.</p>
<p>thanks for the help guys. i've been visiting berkeley the last couple of days and have beenloving it. just have to see if the parents will support the long distance...</p>