<p>Berkeley is quite expensive for OOS and International Students. And the school does not give any form of scholarship, grants or even discounts to those coming from outside of California (OOS). Last year, about 20% of the enrolled freshmen students were from OOS/Int’l. This year, that percentage is expected to rise to 30%. </p>
<p>At schools like Duke, Chicago, Northwestern, Rice, Emory, all the Ivies and all other top privates… scholarships and discounts, “so to speak”, are abundant. If none of those schools would offer student grants and aides or loans or discounts, I wonder how many will eventually enroll in those colleges…</p>
<p>I’m glad you made this thread. I wanted to see if anyone actually chose Berkeley over the Ivies. My son didn’t even apply to the Ivies because he didn’t want to go back east. Anyhow, he didn’t apply to many schools, but he turned down Harvey Mudd, UCLA, UCSD (Regents) and UCSB (Regents). Berkeley was his top choice.</p>
<p>Well, to be perfectly fair, the same logic also ought to apply to in-state students who chose Berkeley. Berkeley (and the entire UC system in general) could be said to be effectively providing a large grant to every in-state student who enrolls. I wonder how many of them would still choose Berkeley over a private or OOS public school without the California in-state subsidy?</p>
<p>It’s surprising to see so many people turning down Stanford for Berkeley, because I know SOOO many Berkeley students that would take Stanford in an instant (including myself).</p>
<p>idk… i’m out of state but berkeley gave me a good amount of gift aid to ease their expensive tuition and dorms. It could be better but out of all the schools I got in, I got the most aid from berkeley.</p>
<p>I find it difficult to believe that they would do so for reasons other than money. Of course, that isn’t to say that there aren’t reasons to attend Berkeley, but rather, almost everyone would choose Stanford if money were not a problem. Also, admissions data from Stanford shows that while Berkeley is the school that has the most cross-applicants with Stanford, Stanford takes 98% of the cross-admits (only a small handful, fewer than 13, chose Berkeley last year).</p>
<p>^ Thats part of the point I was making. In looking at the schools that people chose over Berkeley, it is also interesting to note the reasoning. Nothing against Berkeley, but I picked it over some private schools simply because it was the best option I could afford. As a resident of California, Berkeley comes at a bargain price so I am quite fortunate. I just dont know a whole lot of people that would pick Berkeley over Stanford or an Ivy league school although I am sure they are out there.</p>
<p>For him, it did come down to money, even though we would have let him attend Michigan if that’s where he thought he was the best fit. Cal is a great school for the price, for in-state residents, and they were generous with all forms of Financial Aid.</p>
<p>The point that I was making to singh2010 - and now to the others - is that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to go to Stanford. But if you’re at Berkeley, first of all, appreciate it. It’s a world-class school. And if you want it to be better - more like Stanford, if that’s your cup of tea - don’t just sit around whining about it. Stanford was in Berkeley’s shadow for most of its existence, a good regional private like USC but nothing more. But in the early 1950s it started to change, largely because its alumni really stepped up and it had great leadership.</p>
<p>Whether you like it or not, Berkeley is going to be attached to you for the rest of your life. So instead of complaining, make it better. First of all, support the school with your donations. It’ll help with finances/the endowment and the US News ranking. Second, get the “SOOO” many people you know to independently write to Birgeneau and other campus leaders that you want Cal to be more like Stanford - and that your future alumni contributions depend on it. Reduce class size, grow the endowment intelligently and aggressively, focus on a more residential and close knit campus, more national and out of state students, and better advising and hand-holding.</p>
<p>Be proactive for your University’s excellence.</p>
<p>I wish you could “like” or thumbs up posts on this site. Anyway nice post, m3csl1994.</p>
<p>I turned down UCLA/UCSD/UCD all with Regents, USC, NYU. Pretty easy decision, Berkeley had the best reputation by far. Money wasn’t really a consideration, my parents didn’t even let me interview for the USC Trustee (full scholarship) because I had already gotten into Berkeley by that point.</p>