Ok, so I was waitlisted at UC Berkeley. I am kind of happy because no one from my schools has ever gotten in or even waitlisted before. My parents do not want me to bother accepting a spot on the waitlist because I have other fairly good options (umich w/LSA Honors and Carnegie Mellon). I live all the way across the country, so my parents are concerned about the distance and cost of airfare. I applied because they have one of the (if not THE) best statistics program in the country (my planned major), but I have actually never visited the school. If I got off the waitlist (and they seem to take many off) I would have 7 days to decide. Since I’m obviously OOS we would receive no aid, which my parents also do not like. My mom said budget cuts are hurting the UC schools, but I argue it is still an amazing school with one of the best statistics programs in the country.
The only other waitlist I was offered was UVA, so I will definitely accept a spot on that one.
Are the costs of your other options similar to OOS tuition at Berkeley or have you gotten any financial and/or merit aid elsewhere? Are you instate for either UVA or U Mich? Berkeley is a great school, but it’s not inexpensive for OOS students.
Will you have an opportunity to look at any/all of them? Can your parents visit with you?
You have some great choices and won’t go wrong with any of 'em.
@LoveTheBard Thanks so much for your response. I’m out of state for all the public schools. The cost of UMich would probably be about the same as Berkeley since UMich gave me no aid (ouch). I think UVA gives some aid to OOS so if I got off that waitlist it would be a little cheaper. Carnegie Mellon is the cheapest because they gave a significant amount of grant aid.
I have visited UMich, UVA, and Carnegie Mellon (and will be visiting UMich and Carnegie Mellon again for accepted students days). I will unfortunately be unable to visit Berkeley because my parents do not want to spend the money on airfare since I am only on the waitlist and may not get off.
I think CMU it a great choice for you – it’s math programs are very highly ranked (ranked #2 in Quantitative Analysis in USNWR). What were your impressions when you visited?
You’d have some really compelling reasons to go OOS to either Berkeley or UMich, and unless UVA coughs up some significant aid if/when you clear the waitlist, in your place, I’d go to Carnegie Mellon in a heartbeat.
Besides, if you parents aren’t keen on spending money for airfare to visit Berkeley, how will they feel about helping you with tuition?
@LoveTheBard Your advice is so helpful. I am revisiting UMich and Carnegie Mellon this coming week, so hopefully I will be able to make a choice after visiting. My parents are pushing for CMU because of the aid. When I initially visited CMU, the man running the info session kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but I don’t want to not go just because of one guy running an info session. I thought the campus at CMU was lovely and that the students all seemed quiet, but intelligent and focused. (I am not the party type so I could see myself fitting in)
And yes, CMU has a great Statistics Department. I mean UMich has great statistics too, but CMU was one of the first schools to have a Statistics Department. CMU even has different concentrations within the major which is very unique.
But I really loved UMich when I visited, and I was just accepted into the Honors Program.
I guess it seems silly to my parents to bother with the Berkeley waitlist since I have two other options I like and Berkeley is far away, expensive, and I don’t know what the campus is like.
Are you going to be able to do overnights at CMU or U Mich? You shouldn’t let one unpleasant bureaucrat dissuade you from a school that otherwise feels right and is a good choice from a financial standpoint; try to sit in on some classes and spend time with students. Is U Mich giving you any money?
Berkeley is a great school, and if you were instate, I’d say it would be a great option (as are your other choices) But paying OOS tuition and fees just doesn’t make sense if CMU is giving you a good deal, and CMU is especially strong in the areas you are interested in.
See how you feel about CMU and U Mich after you visit again. Either way, you’ve got some great options.
Or frankly, why not just waitlist? It doesn’t cost anything, the worst you have to do is write a personal statement. You keep the choice open, because you never know what’ll happen. (And having more choices is always a plus!)