<p>I’ve been on these forums for a while, and some of the UCs (namely Berkeley and UCLA) seem very difficult to get into, even for in-state. I was just wondering what the East Coast equivalent of Berkeley or UCLA would be? I have the east coast notion that the middle of the class goes to State Universities, but it seems like only the best kids would end up at Berkeley or UCLA. Any ideas?</p>
<p>I think the best state higher education system would belong to Virginia. They have so many good public schools including UVA, James Madison, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, George Mason and Mary Washington.</p>
<p>The east coast equivalents of UCB and UCLA would be UVa and UNC.</p>
<p>oh equivalents? UNC, UVA, and Michigan would be the equivalents (naming all 3 so that people don’t start bashing me about leaving out one)</p>
<p>please don’t start a conversation arguing whether UNC, UVA, or Michigan are better than each other.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I didn’t include Michigan because I don’t generally consider it to be an East Coast school. I think the poster was asking which public schools in the east coast seem to stand above the crowd somewhat like UCB and UCLA do in California. Feel free to correct me if I was mistaken though.</p>
<p>haha I know what this means but there are some (I won’t name names) Michigan students/alumni lurking on this forum haha</p>
<p>there is no East Coast equivalent to the UCs. UCs are funded by the state of california at great expense, and no East coast state is willing to put up that much money.</p>
<p>great East Coast public universities include UVA, VAtech, UNC, W&M, some SUNY’s (although not as good as ones previously mentioned), UMD (somewhat), GAtech (again, somewhat), and others. but keep in mind that most good East coast universities were founded hundreds of years ago by wealthy philanthropists, and are thus private, whereas universities out west were founded when the areas were settled, and projects like universities were the domain of the governments financed by the west’s riches.</p>
<p>I would say that Michigan is the Eastern USA (east of the Mississippi River) equivalent to Berkeley.</p>
<p>In terms of systems (not anywhere near as quality, though), probably the SUNY system.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call Virginia Tech a “great university.” It’s a good school, don’t get me wrong, but not really on the same level as UVA / UNC / UMich, etc.</p>
<p>But yeah, there really is no equivalent to the UC system–it’s pretty unique among public universities.</p>
<p>I think the UVA/VT combo serves VA well in covering all bases.</p>
<p>don’t forget William & Mary in the VA system!</p>
<p>W&M is more the equivalent to Pomona/Claremont Mckenna than to any of the UCs.</p>
<p>I was not saying that W&M was comparable to UCLA or UC-Berkeley, I was simply responding to chuy who forgot to mention William & Mary</p>
<p>I am confused as to whether you are asking for the east coast equivalent of the UC system, or for the east coast equivalent for Berkeley/UCLA.</p>
<p>Pierre-</p>
<p>Understood. I was really making a general separate comment. Not aiming at you. Sorry.</p>
<p>I think the Suny system may be compared to the UC system. Though the schools may not be as great, you will still get a good education.</p>
<p>SUNY is most similar to UC in terms of structure, but obviously the quality of the latter is superior. Binghamton and Geneseo are the only SUNY schools worth mentioning in the same breath as UCs like Berkeley or UCLA. Beyond these two SUNYs, a few others (Buffalo, Stony Brook, Purchase) have strong specialties, but the rest are pretty poor.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There is also no East coast state that approaches the size of California (with the exception of New York and its respectable SUNY system). Then again there is also no east coast state that approaches the disastrous fiscal situation of California (again, with the possible exception of New York)</p>
<p>Georgia Tech – if someone is an engineering student.</p>
<p>And we’ll see what the state finacial crises does in Ca.</p>