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So I've been accepted to both of these places and it's really a hard decision. My intended major is Mechanical Engineering but that's not really set in stone. Costwise, Berkeley is slightly more since I'll be a non-resident student. Engineering-wise, Berkeley is ranked higher. Class size-wise, Rice is definitely better. Environment friendliness scale? I'm not quite so sure. I live about 45 minutes from Rice so it's really convenient for me to just drop by but I've yet to visit Berkeley. Anyone got advice?

By Scetoaux (Scetoaux) on Friday, April 09, 2004 - 10:50 pm: Edit

You should decide whether or not you like large colleges or small ones.

With two good choices like that, that are very different, you need to decide based on which one seems like the better choice for you and less on what USNews says.

By Abz1986 (Abz1986) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 04:04 pm: Edit

UCs are losing state funding these days :-/ but the name is more well known than Rice's name (esp in engineering) and there might be more oppurtunities because its such a big school...

But then again, $30000 for a public? I'd rather go to University of [Insert your state name here]. Hows the financial package btw?

By Abz1986 (Abz1986) on Saturday, April 10, 2004 - 11:28 pm: Edit

"Berkeley is slightly more since I'll be a non-resident student"

If Berkeley will cost more, I'd definitely go to Rice. I mean Rice is kinda like a liberal arts college will some research stuff. The size is small and theres lots of student focus, so you're undergraduate experience will be very good (better than Berk's I mean). Berkeley is a large state school thats a bargin (no tuition) for in-staters.

But Berkeley's pros are that its engineering school is one of the top ones in the nation, and its located in sunny california. It also has a better football team So there are reasons to still consider Berkeley, I guess :-/

By Ulaia (Ulaia) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 02:29 pm: Edit

Well...I'm glad to hear advice from different people. Thanks guys. I'll be visiting Berkeley in about two weeks, and I hope that helps. but, it just seems like picking between Froot Loops and Lucky Charms for breakfast in the morning (besides that with those two it doesn't really matter). Rice and Berkeley are so different it's so hard to compare. I filed my Financial Aid application package early, but again that's as good as gone since I'm an only child with parents who both work. Of course they're paying for my college regardless of where I go, but it just seems like I'm so clueless right now and although people are giving me a lot of good tips, I can't find the deciding factor. Oh well...keep up with the advice. I really appreciate it.

By Abz1986 (Abz1986) on Sunday, April 11, 2004 - 06:46 pm: Edit

hey no prob, gl on your college search...

By Flamingo (Flamingo) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 10:49 pm: Edit

I have the same decision you have to make, only I'm from California--so it becomes a little easier. I'm majoring in BioE, and Rice and Berkeley are closely ranked for undergraduate BioEngineering (UCSD is phenomenal for BioE, but they didn't give me anything super special like Cal did).
When you visit Berkeley, you will probably get a better feel about whether or not you would be happy there. I don't think Cal is the best place for me and what I want out of life, but I can't handle Houston weather coming from California. There are a lot of homeless people on the Berkeley campus, and the Berkeley city is depressed, but overall it is one of the best engineering schools.
Rice is very secluded from the rest of Houston, and it is absolutely beautiful.
Berkeley's a big school, but granted that you got accepted into Rice, I'm sure you are smart enough to do extremely well at Berkeley--which would really help for grad schools.
Good luck with your decision!

oh yeah, and I wouldn't worry about the budget deficit affecting Cal...they hardly rely on state fundings and Cal has made sure that no programs would be cut (only the amount of applicants needing financial assistance, which is wrong but necessary). Besides, engineering and the sciences is where the money is, so any UC would be extremely cautious before cutting programs.

By Ulaia (Ulaia) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 10:28 pm: Edit

Hey thanks Flamingo! I just got back from Berkeley and absolutely loved it. And yes, I saw homeless people and all...it was cool. but then again, i guess i'm just like that. i know many of my classmates who prefer a small private closed family feel place like Rice. me personally, i liked Rice and people there really wanted me to go, but i just felt that for all its prettiness and familiness, i would get bored staying there for four years. oh yea...and i also know more about houston than other people and it's just too boring 4 me. then...i've got less than 4 days...and i'm really leaning towards Cal