Hey everyone, so I got recently accepted to berkeley’s eecs major but waitlisted at CalTech. (Also as a side note rejected at MIT) I was recruited for soccer at MIT and CalTech and based on what the coach has been telling me I think he can get me in at CalTech if I’m willing to accept the offer since I’m his #1 recruit. In reality I’m not a huge fan of playing soccer and was actually about to quit today until I got an email from the coach at CalTech. I know the undergraduate body is only 900 at CalTech whereas its 30,000 at Berkeley and there’s also grade deflation at Berkeley. I 'm looking to double major in EECS and either Econ or Business at Berkeley or in Comp Sci and BEM at Cal Tech and I was just looking for some feedback on the situation as to which is better for both what I want to do as well as entrepreneurial resources and connections. Thank you to anyone who responds I’m really stuck right now.
There is no grade deflation at UC Berkeley. We just don’t have as high grade inflation as other schools.
Anyways, doing a double major in EECS and Econ will be very, very time consuming. Doing EECS and Haas is almost unheard of. I can’t speak about Caltech, but doing these major combinations at Berkeley will be very, very difficult.
Caltech is also really hard (in any major). Caltech with a sports commitment is even harder. Especially if you are not that into soccer any longer.
Berkeley has actually the M.E.T program. – http://met.berkeley.edu
Away from major, Berkeley is more diverse and has more social opportunities (concerts, sporting events, gym, etc). It is huge, relatively anonymous, campus.
What would your commitment to soccer be if the coach pulled strings to get you into Cal Tech? Have you met the soccer team at Cal Tech? Can you see yourself fitting in with that group of students?
what did you decide?
Visit both and see which you like better, after speaking to students in your major. The two schools have a very different feel. Very few people will be happy at both schools, and you need to see which school fits you better. If you can’t afford to go see them, then watch tons of student videos.
I would say Cal Tech if you are still trying to decide, this is because
1-Cal Tech has a higher ranking and overall better reputation (I’m not saying that Berkeley is bad, just that Cal Tech is even better)
2-You get the benefit of a smaller class
3-You already have connections there (at least the coach), trying to be someone more recognizable in a big campus such as Berkeley is much harder (if that is what you want, like leadership positions and for professors to know you better).