<p>Stuck between Cal and NU for chemical engineering (and I guess…chemistry). The one thing that I keep hearing over and over about Cal is that the classes are huge and will kill your GPA.</p>
<p>LloydShin,</p>
<p>NU has very good chemE and chemistry programs. It’s not ranked as high as Berkeley but it’s still highly ranked. Chemistry at Northwestern is particularly notable. I am not sure how but quite a few chemistry grads have won prestgious scholarships in the past few years, especially Cambridge Gates. Also, you can switch major or double major easily. At Berkeley, switching can be difficult (though probably no problem between chemistry and chemE since it’s in the same college).</p>
<p>The Chemistry at Cal is more prestigious than NU’s. But that’s because Cals’ Chem is probably the best in the world. An element is named after Berkeley. More than 17 elements have been discovered there. It has a huge resources; occupies 3 large buildings with an additional one that has just been inaugurated. Research funds aren’t really a problem despite the university budget cut because research funding is usually private sponsored and there are loads of private companies that tap Cal for science and engineering. </p>
<p>having said that, I would still say that you choose the school based on personal “fit”. I take it that you’re Asian–based on you holder. if you’re Asian, I won’t recommend that you attend Cal or any UC school for that matter. There are loads of loads of smart Asians at Cal. If you’ll go there, you’ll just be another smart Asian on campus. At NU, the Asian population is only about 30%. (maybe less.) I think that’s a healthy proportion of Asians to the whole student body. Besides, NU and Cal are peer schools, by and large. Unless you’re talking about EECS or computer engineering and computer science programs which Cal offers those quite excellently, a degree from neither school will be regarded equally.</p>
<p>Go to the school that is the best fit. If Cal gave you a better financial aid package, go there. RML is right about one thing: UCs has a lot of Asians (30%+), whereas NU is only 20% Asian. Cal will be extremely competitive in the STEM majors.</p>