Is UC Berkeley better than Harvard for undergrad?
I've been trying to research colleges and I'm really torn between UC Berkeley and Harvard. I know Harvard has the worldwide reputation and all, but I've heard Berkeley is actually better in some areas, especially for STEM.
For someone who wants to double major in computer science and maybe something else, would Berkeley be a better fit? Or does the Harvard brand still open more doors? I don't want to just go off what people say online, so if anyone has experience or maybe chose between these two, I'd love to know what went into your decision.
Location, professors, networking, all that stuff matters to me too. Do employers value one over the other, especially in tech?
For someone who wants to double major in computer science and maybe something else, would Berkeley be a better fit? Or does the Harvard brand still open more doors? I don't want to just go off what people say online, so if anyone has experience or maybe chose between these two, I'd love to know what went into your decision.
Location, professors, networking, all that stuff matters to me too. Do employers value one over the other, especially in tech?
6 months ago
•
89 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Both UC Berkeley and Harvard offer incredible undergraduate opportunities, but the "better" choice will depend on what you want to get out of your college experience and your goals after graduation.
For computer science specifically, Berkeley is consistently ranked among the top programs in the world. Many major tech companies (think Google, Apple, Meta) recruit heavily from Berkeley, and its location near Silicon Valley means there are tons of internship and networking opportunities with startups and established companies alike. The faculty in the EECS department (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) are leaders in their field, and there's a very active student culture around entrepreneurship and research. It's not unusual for Berkeley undergrads to leave with strong coding and problem-solving skills, and a long list of relevant experiences.
Harvard, on the other hand, is unmatched in its global reputation and alumni network. The name alone can open doors around the world, not just in tech. While Harvard’s CS program is excellent and growing, it traditionally hasn’t had the same sheer number of CS opportunities as Berkeley. That said, Harvard offers unmatched resources in almost every field, and its liberal arts structure makes it easier to explore or double major compared to Berkeley’s more structured CS admissions (especially in the College of Letters & Science).
In real-world terms, having “Harvard” or “Berkeley” on your resume will both get noticed, especially for tech jobs. For example, a Berkeley CS grad will often have just as much credibility as a Harvard grad when applying for jobs at places like Google or for tech-focused roles. But if you end up wanting to work in consulting, finance, or international fields, Harvard’s brand and network might give you an edge.
Location also matters: Berkeley’s proximity to Silicon Valley is a huge plus for tech internships, hackathons, and connections. For double majoring, research what it takes at each school—Berkeley’s EECS is very competitive and double majoring in CS can be tough there, while Harvard tends to be a bit more flexible across disciplines.
If you have a strong interest in tech and want to immerse yourself in the STEM scene, Berkeley is hard to beat. But if you’re looking for a broader experience or want the options that a global Ivy League reputation brings, Harvard is an amazing choice.
A friend of mine chose Berkeley for CS and loved the hands-on culture and opportunities, but another picked Harvard for the network and flexibility to explore other fields before settling on his major. Think about which combination of environment, location, and resources fits you best, and how each school can support your goals both during and after college.
For computer science specifically, Berkeley is consistently ranked among the top programs in the world. Many major tech companies (think Google, Apple, Meta) recruit heavily from Berkeley, and its location near Silicon Valley means there are tons of internship and networking opportunities with startups and established companies alike. The faculty in the EECS department (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) are leaders in their field, and there's a very active student culture around entrepreneurship and research. It's not unusual for Berkeley undergrads to leave with strong coding and problem-solving skills, and a long list of relevant experiences.
Harvard, on the other hand, is unmatched in its global reputation and alumni network. The name alone can open doors around the world, not just in tech. While Harvard’s CS program is excellent and growing, it traditionally hasn’t had the same sheer number of CS opportunities as Berkeley. That said, Harvard offers unmatched resources in almost every field, and its liberal arts structure makes it easier to explore or double major compared to Berkeley’s more structured CS admissions (especially in the College of Letters & Science).
In real-world terms, having “Harvard” or “Berkeley” on your resume will both get noticed, especially for tech jobs. For example, a Berkeley CS grad will often have just as much credibility as a Harvard grad when applying for jobs at places like Google or for tech-focused roles. But if you end up wanting to work in consulting, finance, or international fields, Harvard’s brand and network might give you an edge.
Location also matters: Berkeley’s proximity to Silicon Valley is a huge plus for tech internships, hackathons, and connections. For double majoring, research what it takes at each school—Berkeley’s EECS is very competitive and double majoring in CS can be tough there, while Harvard tends to be a bit more flexible across disciplines.
If you have a strong interest in tech and want to immerse yourself in the STEM scene, Berkeley is hard to beat. But if you’re looking for a broader experience or want the options that a global Ivy League reputation brings, Harvard is an amazing choice.
A friend of mine chose Berkeley for CS and loved the hands-on culture and opportunities, but another picked Harvard for the network and flexibility to explore other fields before settling on his major. Think about which combination of environment, location, and resources fits you best, and how each school can support your goals both during and after college.
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating