<p>I am having a really hard time choosing between UCLA Computer Science and Engineering or Berkeley EECS/Material Science. I am more interested in the EE field, but the fact is that there are more job opportunities in CS field.(I don’t mind working as a software engineer). Also, I am planning to go to grad school for either (CS or EE).
Berkeley
Top ranked EECS program
Focus specifically on micro electronic engineering
5 year BS/MS program (required 3.5 or higher gpa in Cal Kind of hard)
The major mainly focus on EE
Better job opportunities ?
UCLA
The program ranked lower
The major cover both area in EE and CS (allow me to apply grad school for both CS and EE)
Can get a job in both field
Easier to get higher gpa than at Cal (better for grad school admission)?</p>
<p>I don’t think either is particularly easy to get a high GPA at. You’ll be working hard at either school, and you could get good grades or bad at either.</p>
<p>As for EE vs CS, you’ll be taking some CS classes here as well. CS61A is intro to CS/OOP, CS61B is data structures, CS61C is architecture (speed, caching, processors), CS70 is discrete math, those are all required for EECS. You’re also free to take classes in either area, so if you wanted to take CS courses alongside your EE then that option is still open to you. So, if you want to do both EE and CS, you can… you just have to schedule it that way. Or you can choose to focus solely on EE, it’s up to you.</p>
<p>If you’re a transfer (you didn’t say but I feel like you might be?) you might also want to factor in which courses you’ve already got credit for. Oftentimes transfers don’t have credit for 61ABC, CS70, and EE20/40, and have to spend a lot of time playing catch up. That’s not to say you shouldn’t come here if you’re missing a couple classes, just it might sway some students one way or the other.</p>
<p>Personally I would choose Cal, but I don’t think you can go wrong with either school. What about other factors? Which campus do you like more, where would you rather live?</p>
<p>But my major in Cal is EECS/Material. It only requires CS 61A B C plus punch of EE and Material Science classes. I am afraid that I can’t apply for Computer science for grad school. </p>
<p>Grad school is for those who want it. As long as you have somewhat decent GPA above 3.5+, then just about any grad school in the nation is possible to get in. What’s more important is getting at least 3 solid letters of recommendation and statement of interest why you want to do grad school. 3.5 in Cal in any major is entirely realistic as long as you do what you’re asked to do.</p>
<p>As you take your introductory EECS/MSE courses in your first 1.5~2 years, you will have a good idea where do you want to focus on. It is certainly possible and feasible to apply for computer science for grad school with your EECS/MSE major. Just take the courses first and work hard and see what you like to do.</p>
<p>This is a Berkeley forum so I am obviously recommending Cal; huge variety of courses in any major, lots of research and work opportunities, chance to meet and interact with the smartest nerds, fine weather that you can wear the same cloth all year, etc. UCLA has a significantly better football at the moment, but if you’re o.k. with that, you won’t regret coming to Berkeley. Just work hard and a lot of good things happen here.</p>