For the Best and Brightest, Berkeley Rocks
Written: Apr 23 '01 (Updated Apr 23 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Top-notch research & professors, location
Cons: very big
The Bottom Line: The best university on Earth, if you're among the best students on Earth!
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| arthurmerlin's Full Review: University of California-Berkeley |
If you're one of the best of the best -- as an undergrad as well as a grad, Berkeley is the place for you. This review will be most applicable for those interested in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics.
Undergrad Life
Initially, the classes are large, but if you're really good -- one of the best few in your classes of 100 or more, you can be sure your professors will notice you. Try hard, and interact with your professors. Join honor societies. Take honors and graduate courses. If you pick your classes carefully, they will be small and taught by excellent professors. My median class size was around 20, and I took one fascinating course with just 2 other students! You will have access to opportunities not found anywhere else in the world, save perhaps MIT. You should know that many famous professors around the world would leave their universities in an instant if they had a chance to join the faculty at Berkeley.
If you're not the absolute best, Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford might be a better choice for you. There you will get more hand-holding and attention. If you don't have those choices, though, on the basis of my friends' experiences, I'd strongly encourage you to go to Berkeley. Just the atmosphere there is enough to make it worth it! But be careful to have good friends to help keep you sane and on the straight and narrow.
Grad Life
The above is only more true for graduate students, but then you probably already know that, and are just reading this review for kicks!
Final Notes
Most things have already been said about Berkeley in other reviews -- it is a very big place, and it is easy to get lost in the crowd if you're not exceptional. On the other hand, Berkeley is optimally located in California, with tremendous opportunity all around. Even if you aren't the best, it could be worthwhile to go to Berkeley anyway for the culture. Everyone I know who has spent any time at Berkeley has fallen in love with the place.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
arthurmerlin
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Reviews written: 5
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