If you like Rice community and they are giving aid, it’s a simple choice. They are both great schools, it’s not like you are compromising. Berkeley is too big and too much competition for every resource. Rice seems to be as rigorous but likely their small size, supportive culture and abundance of resources take stress out. Congratulations!!!
@Riversider What does Rice have to do with this? I got rejected from there so that’s out of the question for now.
Oh, sorry! Wrong thread. As you only have A&M in hand at the moment and it’s not easy to get in after being waitlisted, focus on A&M.
Anyone have any suggestions?
My guts say A&M but my dad’s guts say UCB.
@goodperson200: Does not matter what your Dad’s gut says right now, you have not been accepted to UCB so you and him should focus on Texas A&M. If you are accepted off the waitlist, then that is icing on the cake…
@Gumbymom I understand that. I just want to have a decision made up ahead of time because I’m not sure that I could make a good and confident decision in one week, which the time frame to accept the offer if admitted from the wait-list. I already submitted my opt in form.
What I was trying to say from my last post was that I’d still rather stick with A&M and just decline the offer if admitted, but my dad would insist on taking the offer.
That’s a very valid question. Before you got any offers, what was your plan? I agree 5 days isn’t enough time to make a decision, but at the same time I’m not sure if it’s worth spending too much time researching a school where there’s no guarantee that you would get in.
I don’t really have any advice on what you should do, but I have a lot of sympathy for you. I understand your hesitation to take the risk of going to Berkeley because their system is more rigid and you worry about the competition for the grades to get into CS. No one can really say whether you will breeze through or struggle to get the grades. Apparently high school records can’t always predict how things will be. I wish you had a choice of a college that gave you direct admission to CS.
@ProfessorPlum168 @BunnyBlue I’ve only been accepted to A&M for the time being, so I’ve accepted the offer of admission their. I got a second wait-list offer from the University of Michigan College of Engineering but their waitlist admit rate is SUPER LOW. I decided to do some research to get sort of an idea and ask around on CC to get more insight. I only check in every so often.
@goodperson200 That’s okay. I understood that you may not actually get off the Berkeley waitlist. I like your strategy of trying to work out a decision ahead of time just in case. Good luck with the U Michigan waitlist!
Call the CS dept and ask these questions, just say you are a prospective student. CS advising office, 379 Soda Hall, 510-664-4436, or via email at cs-advising@cs.berkeley.edu http://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/computer-science/
According to the 18/19 CDS, 37% of those waitlisted were ultimately accepted (1,536/4,127, section C2). https://opa.berkeley.edu/campus-data/common-data-set
If this years waitlist numbers/outcomes are similar (a big assumption supported by no data) and you did not apply for financial aid, your chances are probably better than average. Of course you still need good grades second semester and good scores on any AP tests you are taking. Lastly, you may wait a long time to find out if you get off the waitlist----could be into July, even into August is not unheard of. Good luck.