What is better - Berkeley or Caltech

[eldar373]

Hi everyone! If anyone can provide any information (subjective opinions are welcomed too ), please write what would you choose -

Berkeley Mathematics or Caltech Applied and Computational Math

my interest is applied mathematics related to physical sciences.

i am coming to US with my wife and prefer a little bit more quiet life, not boring though.

Thanks in advance

[skibum1981]

It depends on what you want to do. If I had no predisposition as to what I wanted to do a PhD in, I personally would choose Berkeley over Cal Tech any day of the week. However, if there's a certain advisor at Cal Tech that's a leader in the field you want to study, go to Cal Tech. For example, one of my interests is Compressed Sensing, and both Candes and Tropp (two big names in the field) are at Cal Tech in the ACM department. It all depends on what you want to do.

If you don't know what you want to do, pick Berkeley. There's just a heck of a lot more breadth there, pure and simple.

[skibum1981]

Also, whatever you do, DON'T go to Harvard. That dept. isn't anywhere near as good as Applied Math and Engineering Depts. at other schools, especially Cal Tech and Berkeley...

[eldar373]

Thank you very much!

I think I'm in situation when i'm not ready to say, what i want to do.

I should probably explore more about the faculty in both places.

[skibum1981]

What kind of math do you want to study?

I should also say there's a rather talented young field's medalist at UCLA should you get in, also a big name in compressed sensing he he he. Terrence Tao.

[eldar373]

I want to study math modeling related to physical sciences - something like computational fluid dynamics or materials science.

I am strongly inclining to Berkeley, cause there are really a lot more opportunities for choice - tens of faculty members. there's also LBNL and MSRI which give additional opportuinities to choose a field and projects to work in.

It's just hard to let caltech go, cause ACM accepts only 6-8 candidates every year and about 3-4 of them international, so, for me, it's really a great honor to be accepted.

[skibum1981]

I don't know much about that field. I'd see if there are faculty members who match your interests, and if so, consider Cal Tech. But it's not like you have a bad option with Berkeley -- it's a fantastic institution.

[ardavan]

I wish I had your problem of choosing between Caltech and Berkeley

I'd add LLNL and NASA Ames Research as major research institutes that are close to Berkeley.

Do you have the opportunity to come to the U.S. and visit these two schools and the places they are located at?

The strength and diversity of programs at Berkeley gives you more options in your field of Applied Mathematics, specially for someone who has yet to choose his field of studies within the Applied Mathematics.

Before making any decision, do yourself and your wife, a favor and visit these two schools.

[eldar373]

thanks for advice! i can not visit schools right now, having some problems with my passport

Surprisingly, i am now almost ready to choose Caltech - will do it in a couple of days. I have a better fit in faculty there, all financial conditions are equal, pasadena is more quite than berkeley - its better for me and wife.

I may act like a moron, but i kinda like the "essense" of Caltech much more. i may be wrong, but this is my decision) hope i'll help someone waitlisted at Berkeley

[skibum1981]

If you're foreign, I'm not sure, but you might not be able to work at some of the labs.

Also, right by Cal Tech is NASA JPL.

[eldar373]

about JPL - yes - and I heard there are even some applied math projects. thanks for mentioning - i'll ask, if i can work in all of these labs

[skibum1981]

Whatever decision you make you'll have great options. But FYI, at least in EE and Statistics (my main two interests), Berkeley has a better reputation than Cal Tech.... so the "essence" argument doesn't quite convince me! But I'm not sure about your particular field so....

[tony]

i'll definitely vote for caltech!

first of all, the campus of caltech is super nice! i'm studying in caltech, and i've been to berkeley for summer exchange, so i also know the environment near berkeley or san francisco quite well. berkeley and san francisco are definitely good places to live in, but pasadena is just fantastic! it's both quiet and comfortable, and there is also night life if you go to hollywood or in the old town of pasadena, which is a splendid place to have a drink. all the houses in pasadena are gorgeous, since the neighborhood of caltech is full of rich people, and you can go for a very nice run around the area when you need some relaxation. personally, i find berkeley is not comparable in this sense.

secondly, the relationship between caltech and jpl is so close that you almost can't distinguish the two. many graduates will go to jpl for work after they get their phd, which is just a fantastic place for science research.

thirdly, the ranking of caltech in applied mathematics is higher with a smaller faculty, showing that they are all the leading characters in their respective fields! besides, the academic atmosphere in caltech is very strong, since everyone here is either in the academia or is going to enter the academia. you can always find people from all different areas of science and engineering to talk to, and they are always ready for a highly intellectual discussion!

so caltech is definitely the right place for you!

[eldar373]

hi tony! thanks very much for info. I have already accepted an offer from caltech:-)

I have talked to the professor from caltech, and liked it a lot - he told me about his work, about projects with JPL, about the environment - everything's gorgeous)

there are also differences in finaid conditions - caltech gives a first-year fellowship and full freedom for the first year, berkeley gives TA - it is smaller, and I have to teach starting from the first year.

i also heard that pasadena is more calm and nice than berkeley.

so, hope to see you in caltech

[tony]

nice! i'm looking forward to meeting you too!