Chances and Berkeley EECS vs UPenn EE vs UChicago(Physics, Economics, Cos)

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hi. I was deferred from Princeton early so now I am reevaluating my college choices. Realistically, I’ve become really interested in Berkeley’s Engineering School (I applied to EECS) , Penn’s engineering school (especially if I could get into Jerome Fisher, but of course the more realistically scenario of not getting in) and Uchicago. I was wondering if you anyone could help me evaluate realistically what I’ll probably be deciding between in the Spring (I am also applied to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, and was accepted to UMich engineering) and where I should choose to go given my interests and goals. I am well-read in and interested in finance (I’ve done some trading with technical analysis) and EECS and their cross-section. I would ideally have a career in traditional hardware and software engineering or in finance (algorithmic trading.) I appreciate any and all input and will return the favor if requested.</p>

<p>My Info
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2320(800M, 800CR, 720W) 2270 best single (800M, 760CR, 710W)
ACT:nah
SAT II:math 2 :800 physics:800
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.77
UC GPA: 3.96 (UC is just junior and sophomore right?)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):really no way of knowing, but should be top 10
ELC?: I’m in connecticut
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5s on BC, both Econs, both Govs, APUSH (5 tests)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, AP Chem, Multivariable Calc, AP Lit, AP Stats, Honors Latin Seminar (best you can do in Latin here), Independent AP Comp Sci study
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): I’m not that cool, just in school stuff like best at calculus or NHRP for being half-Mexican</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Golf, Finance Club President, Latin Club Consul (co-prez)
Job/Work Experience: Caddied, Hired to work golf operations at a country club, interned for an energy consulting firm in Mexico City (all during different summers)
Volunteer/Community service: I did some tutoring in a school program, but pretty dry
Personal Statement: Wrote about how I became really academic and then how I bounced back from a life threatening illness during October this year to keep straight As</p>

<p>Other
Applied for Financial Aid?:No
Intended Major: EECS (Economics at
State (if domestic applicant): CT
Country (if international applicant): 'Murica?
School Type:Public
Ethnicity: Half-Mexican
Gender:Male
Income Bracket:150,000 USD
Hooks (URM, first generation college, research, etc.): Claro que soy huerro, pero soy Mexicano tambien</p>

2

<p>Please excuse my pitiful sentence construction, and I think i did apply for financial aid</p>

3

<p>You’ve obviously got good stats for any of these programs, though the Jerome Fisher program is a stretch for anyone. What it’s really going to come down to is your essays - do they demonstrate sufficient interest, an understanding of the rigor of these programs, and a desire to complete them? This is what the admissions committees at both Penn and Berk will be looking at. </p>

<p>Also, regarding your desire to go into algorithmic trading - I began at Cal as a CS/Econ (math Econ, not business Econ) double major with the same intent, but now I’m going after typical Silicon Valley CS jobs rather than banking ones. The culture of the former is simply too addictive and interesting to ignore, whereas banking pays marginally more (overall, not hourly) but you have to deal with grade-A business types (which is much less appealing than I used to think). If you end up at Penn or Princeton, I guarantee you you won’t get the same immersion into Computer Science jobs/culture that you would at Cal. Just food for thought. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Be aware that UC financial aid will not cover the $23,000 additional out of state tuition.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I feel that I didn’t sufficiently convey that to Princeton, HolyDuck. I plan on getting a rec from my MultiVarCalc teacher, a letter from a friend at Princeton, and my own letter to send to Princeton to convey my hunger for challenging material (i.e. my appreciation of a system with grade deflation.)</p>

6

<p>I think you have a great shot at all of these places. That being said, you could play it safe and go to Cal with the intent of algo trading, and if your interests change you could pursue Silicon Valley jobs. Chicago will limit you to algo trading or, more broadly, finance (or academia). Not sure about Penn.</p>

7

<p>I agree with many of these comments - your chances are great everywhere! For your trading/investment interests, it’s my opinion that there isn’t really a better program out there besides Penn M&T. Wharton’s the #1 undergraduate business program in the country, with the #1 finance department, and Penn engineering is nothing to sneeze at. Also - you definitely have a shot at getting in! Essays are likely most important when it comes to admissions the program (it’s one of the nation’s most competitive for undergrads - I know people who turned down HYPSM for it so essays are really the only way to distinguish yourself) - hopefully they went well.</p>

<p>Berkeley would be a fine second option. M&T has a bit of silicon valley sway, but Berkeley obviously has a better base there. Berkeley engineering is great, and there are lot of business opportunities there even for engineers.</p>

<p>UChicago would be most restrictive because of the lack of engineering. I think engineering is an important element of a lot of finance jobs today (especially algor trading), but that’s just my opinion.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>