I am pretty sure that the max loans would be 250k. My parents neither I would not be paying during the duration of school. After I graduate and begin working, I am planning on taking full responsibility on that. I understand where your coming from, and as a QB finalist, have an outstanding opportunity to attend Williams, the best LAC in the nation, but Berkeley’s prestige is really making me question my instincts.
Williams is the sound answer here. It is well respected throughout the world and coming with a zero price tag. It’s wonderful that Berkeley gave you a yes but that debt to you and your parents isn’t worth the name. It isn’t worth any name.
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The greater issue appears to be that you do not seem like an ideal match for Williams, partly because you are not a fan of its remote location. Academically, however, the classroom experience at Williams would be unlike anything you would find at a huge school such as UCB: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=great-classroom-experience.
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I do believe I am a fit, or otherwise they would not admit me. In terms of strictly preference, I am not a fan of the remote location, but that’s something I considered having Berkeley as another option.
Yes, they even are offering 10k bonus for books and supplied in the year, on top of that, since I have been admitted as a QB scholar. UC Berkeley on the other hand, is better known and internationally recognized amongst employers.
I agree with other answers. It is exceptionally unlikely that you plus your parents would be capable of borrowing enough money to pay for four years at UC Berkeley. Worst case you might get part way through, already have massive loans, and not be able to borrow enough to finish. This can be a very bad result. If you have an EFC of zero, you will not be capable of paying for four years at UC Berkeley.
If you were to manage to graduate from UC Berkeley with $200,000 or more in debt, this much debt would be devastating to your future. This is a horrible amount of debt to take on.
The other issue is that Williams College is a superb school. You will get an excellent education there. One listing that I looked at recently had it as the #1 top ranked liberal arts college in the USA.
If you walk into a bar somewhere in the middle of the US and ask people about UC Berkeley versus Williams College, the result you get will depend upon who you happen to run into. However, “what is Williams College” is a possible result.
If you speak to a graduate admissions staff anywhere in the US, or to most hiring managers in the Northeast of the US, they will know how excellent Williams College is. The people who need to know have a great respect for Williams College. There must be a lot of such people for Williams to be ranked #1 LAC in the USA by US News and World Report. There is a LOT of high tech in Massachusetts, and the hiring managers in high tech companies in this area will know how strong Williams College is.
This is a no brainer. Avoid the debt. Go to a great Liberal Arts College somewhere close to my corner of the country (we live in the Northeast).
I would like to add: Congratulations on your acceptance plus great financial offer from Williams College. This is truly a great opportunity. You must be a very strong student to have earned this opportunity. Plan to work hard and keep ahead in your studies when you get to Williams. Say hi to the Berkshire Mountains for me (they are beautiful).
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Hi I believe Berkeley does not admit by major but by school, the only exception is EECS within the engineering school. All CS majors (the BA in CS @ berkeley have to take the pre requisities courses to get into the major, once they are there.
Parent Plus loans have a loan origination fee of 4.something percent, so that would be an immediate expense that you and your low income parents probably cannot afford. Of course, the 6.something percent interest is also a considerable amount.
Plans do not always go as planned. There is always the risk of an economic or industry downturn when you graduate that makes it difficult to find a job at graduation. While that can be bad if you have no debt, it can be a much bigger problem if you and your parents have $250k debt.
Also, declaring L&S CS requires a 3.3 GPA in the three prerequisite CS courses (about half of students in them earn B+ or higher grades), because the department does not have capacity to take all interested students.
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How would you compare UCB vs Williams in terms of academic opportunities and prestige? Those are the two factors also to consider in making a final decision for me.
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@Malaj_Ara. Also the loans are capped by max COA. Where will you get extra $$ for travel, incidentals, deposits for off campus housing? The list goes on. The financial stress is huge. Do not underestimate this. Do not count on some part time work that will eat i to your time for studying.
Williams is committed to offering support for all its students . It is a top tier LAC. They will take good care of you.
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So you are a U.S. citizen U can get $5500 the first year.
One has to qualify for a parent plus loan and you are talking a huge amount. They may qualify for some but not all
If you are staying in the US, Williams is, in my opinion, more prestigious than UCB.
You want to work in tech. You can from both.
One puts you, depending on if you are in state or not, potentially 300k in debt. The other none.
You would have to take a low wage job so u could get forgiveness.
This is really not a legitimate question. Sorry. As I said it could be Wyoming or Western Michigan instead of Williams and the answer would be the same.
And in this case, per various rankings…the WSJ, Niche and more, Williams is better.
You’re obviously a very bright guy but this is not really a legitimate question. Sorry.
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That you are taking responsibility is meaningless. They are responsible.
By the way interest rates are going up, College costs more than they tell you and you pay a fee just to get the loan. Interest also accrues while you are in school so while you are not paying you are being charged.
Sorry. You are 17 or 18. You don’t yet understand life. This will not happen nor should it.
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Williams is the highest rated liberal arts college in the country. It is extremely prestigious. Moreover, you will get an outstanding education with faculty who are dedicated to you as an undergrad. It is the type of place that defines lives. Berkeley is great- but you can always go there for grad school. You don’t get a second chance at a Williams experience. I would advise you to choose Williams, even if they cost the same. It makes no sense to me to advise you to go into terrible debt when a better undergraduate institution is offering you a free ride. Good luck and Congrats.
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I understand where you are coming from. But within CS/Data Science, the opportunities for Berkeley are unmatched. I do know even certain students who take onto debt for even lower ranked schools almost 200k, albeit not a very good, and rather foolish decision.
I am fortunate to be able to attend Williams, that too for free and no loans, but had I not applied to Berkeley, the decision would be much easier.
The decision is still easy. Take the free ride at Williams. When you applied to Berkeley, you were really trying for a Regents’ scholarship, not merely admission. Admission but unaffordable (which $250k debt is to you and your parents) is effectively the same as rejection.
Whatever differences in academic opportunities and prestige (which may favor one or the other, depending on the situation) are nowhere near worth $250k of debt that you and your parents cannot afford.
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Sorry. Williams wins both here. Maybe not the breadth of courses or in placements of all disciplines etc but Williams is a superior name to UCB in answer to both of your questions.
Going to college guarantees you nothing. There are failures from UCB and millionaires from Sonoma State.
You are giving way too much credit to a name and you are dismissing, quite frankly, a better name (IMHO).
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The majority of current Williams students exceeded the academic requirements for admission to UCB. With an acceptance from Williams, it should not be surprising that you also received an acceptance from UCB.
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Who knew? To be honest, UCB OOS was something I applied on a whim, and did not even know that Regents Scholarship existed, and hence did not apply. In fact, I was not aware of UC Berkeley’s prestige, or its insane OOS difference in cost of attendance, until formally applying.
My friend, no one is taking on $200k debt unless a financial institution has a means to collect.
In your case, your parents have no assets. So they have no means to collect…good credit score or not.
They have to pay the loan…not you.
Btw you say the opportunities are unsurpassed. When you get a job, your salary will likely be the same as your co workers from Fresno State, UNR and others. Companies pay by job and location.
Anyway everyone here has told you the same thing. And I can’t imagine you could pull it off anyway.
Your opportunity at Williams is beyond incredible.
Congrats. I’m done 
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I have worked in high tech for my entire life. I have degrees from MIT (bachelor’s) and Stanford (master’s). If I had gone on for a PhD it would have been at UC Berkeley. I know how strong these three schools are. Williams really is at the same level. You are talking about superb schools for all four of these. You will have smaller classes at Williams (compared to UCB) and will get to know your professors. This in turn will open up internship and research opportunities.
Then you will graduate. You will find yourself working alongside graduates from MIT, Stanford, UCB, Williams, U.Mass Amherst, UNH, Rutgers, various universities in India, possibly Toronto and Waterloo, and a very long list of other universities. No one will care where you got your degree. They will however notice how well prepared you were by your bachelor’s degree from Williams. Your bank account will notice that you are not sending huge checks out to cover your debt.
I understand the appeal of UC Berkeley. It is a great school. You cannot afford it. Williams College is also a great school. You really are looking at the very best of the best here, and one of them is very affordable.
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