Hello! I was admitted into UCI for Comp Sci but also into Cal (UC Berkeley) for the College of Letters and Science (Intending CS …) However, I am torn between which school I should choose to SIR to. I live relatively close to UCI so I could commute, thus having very low loans to attend school there, but if I choose Cal, it would cost around 14k a year more or less. SO, I feel like it would be better to attend UCI so I have time to enjoy my major / work on portfolio instead of spending time doing work-study + stressing on 3 separate types of loans at Cal while trying to maintain a GPA to be eligible to declare a CS major. I’ve talked to several students from both schools and the majority of them have said that I should be okay with UCI… Agree/disagree, why?
Looks like you are more comfortable with assurance to your major and lower cost and loans at UCI.
Yeah, Cal competition can be insane, and you sound pretty much decided
@ucbalumnus Yeah… not sure whether the loans for cal is worth it. I feel like I might be changing majors and doing that on loans doesn’t sound fun. I also feel like there are similar opportunities for internships and what not at UCI… not as great as Cal but still pretty decent.
@Merppity It’s my current standing. I haven’t talked to any school admin since I saw my admission results. Only info was from my family + the students I spoke to.
Ah, well, from the way I see it, it seems like you’re thinking mostly of the prestige, cost and competition. Personally, you can ignore the cost part. Although 14k a year is A LOT, 56k to be paid off over 30 years or less isn’t the biggest deal, especially with a CS degree. If you do well, you’ll be rolling in the dough (although that 56k is the equivalent of a pretty good new car). It’s generally the intense competition and stress at Cal that gets to people. UCI is by no means a bad school, ranked at 29 ish for CS, and college is what you make of it. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you’ll do great, no matter which of the two you pick. The question is how you want to be focusing that effort.
@Merppity Right on target with my mindset. I was sort of coerced to apply to Cal, and at this point in time I feel like if I were to go to Cal it would be for the sake of my counselors and school (obviously for stats and bragging rights), and not for myself.
Paying more to choose an option that you desire less just to impress others does not seem like the best way to live your life. Everything else you said about what is important to you points to UCI; why worry about your pushy school and counselors?
Also, if $56,000 is the debt amount, that is larger than the federal direct loans and will require parent loans or parent-cosigned student loans. This is generally a bad idea. Also, higher debt means that you are more likely to be forced to chase the money when making career and other life decisions, rather than (for example) being able to choose a job with greater career development potential, but less immediate pay.
Considering that there are new inexpensive cars that are pretty good, $56,000 can buy two or three pretty good new cars.
@ucbalumnus Thank you so much for your input!