<p>ISP is one of the top programs at NU. It will absolutely provide your son with a top education and top opportunities.</p>
<p>This being said, UC Berkeley is an excellent university and provides excellent opportunities too. Perhaps ISP will give an edge in grad school admissions, but going to Berkeley will not close any doors.</p>
<p>End of the day – I think NU-ISP is the better program.</p>
<p>However, what is the cost difference? What will it mean to your family? Will you have to sacrifice? Will it impact on the ability to pay for grad school? If your son goes to Berkeley for economic reasons – well, it’s an excellent school, and no one here would fault that decision.</p>
<p>Intangibles – where would your son prefer to go. When faced with a choice between two excellent schools, intangibles should play a factor. While I think NU-ISP is an elite program and the better choice, objectively Berkeley is not a bad choice under any circumstance.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>