Should I go to Berkeley or Claremont (Mudd)? PLEASE HELP!?
Asked by AkinaI want to major in math for undergrad. I have to decide VERY soon but I'm confused. I have taken all my GE at the community college, but Mudd is unlikely to accept it so I'd have to go through their core curriculum. Just FYI: Berkeley ranks as the 21st University and Mudd is the 15th Liberal Arts College in the nation. Berkeley Pros Close to home and friends Worldwide reputation They accept 70 of my community college credits Better food and a lot of options Half the price of Mudd Easy transportation into the city I only have one GE class and two lower division Math classes left More diversity=more potential friends Prettier campus Claremont (Harvey Mudd) Safer Awesome debate program Professors are chosen because they want to teach not do research All PhD professors and no TAs Small class sizes (9:1 student to teacher ratio) Less Bureaucracy Privately funded (state budget cuts won't hurt) Cool Honor Code Tighter alumni network Warmer (it's in socal) A lot of undergraduate research Berkeley would give me 4 years to do pretty much just upper division courses so I could probably graduate with honors and take courses from the best graduate math program in the country Berkeley dorms have kitchens and I like to cook (I just needed to balance the number of Mudd and Berkely arguments)
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Answered by Steve S
Tough question! I'm a Berkeley grad and a professor at a large midwestern research university. I met my wife (almost 42 years of marriage!) at a dance there. It's a great place (or, at least was, in the early 60's!!) You've outlined the pros well! The answer, though, is within you. You need to decide where you'll be more comfortable personally and intellectually. Berkeley math is the best there is! Do you need that as an undergrad? Competition and quality of students will be high at both. Are the finances a question at all? Getting credit for 70 hours of courses is a huge deal financially; you'd be able to take a larger variety of math (and other) courses, too. I've given many talks at small schools around the country and have been impressed. Yet, they lack support for so many things and the instructors have to do much themselves. Yet, they do that for their students. I've seen very close contact between faculty and students at such schools. While rarer at large institutions, it IS possible, but it requires you to be proactive and not a wall flower. Berkeley would have greater diversity, which is a plus. You're clearly a talented student who will do well at either. Either will provide you with a great education and open doors for the future. Good luck!!
Tough question! I'm a Berkeley grad and a professor at a large midwestern research university. I met my wife (almost 42 years of marriage!) at a dance there. It's a great place (or, at least was, in the early 60's!!) You've outlined the pros well! The answer, though, is within you. You need to decide where you'll be more comfortable personally and intellectually. Berkeley math is the best there is! Do you need that as an undergrad? Competition and quality of students will be high at both. Are the finances a question at all? Getting credit for 70 hours of courses is a huge deal financially; you'd be able to take a larger variety of math (and other) courses, too. I've given many talks at small schools around the country and have been impressed. Yet, they lack support for so many things and the instructors have to do much themselves. Yet, they do that for their students. I've seen very close contact between faculty and students at such schools. While rarer at large institutions, it IS possible, but it requires you to be proactive and not a wall flower. Berkeley would have greater diversity, which is a plus. You're clearly a talented student who will do well at either. Either will provide you with a great education and open doors for the future. Good luck!!
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