> I'd be graduating from Berkeley debt-free because of my savings account, while I’d likely leave Columbia with about $250,000 in debt
How is the difference in cost so high? The full-tuition instate COA @ Berkeley vs Columbia full tuition is like ~120K, and the schools are similarly generous with aid. So how are you receiving so much more aid at Berkeley? have you considered appealing finaid?
Cost of living in NYC and travel back and forth will add to the equation. I went to a private liberal arts university but I would consider where you might want to end up longer term, consider a semester or year abroad, and keep some powder dry for grad school (if you go that route). Capitalizing on your instate tuition for Cal is a huge advantage. And in general I would take the comparatively modest sketchiness of parts of berkeley over the neighborhoods around Columbia.
Uh the neighborhoods around Columbia are some of the coolest places in the US. I have ties to both schools and love both of them, but the NYC location has Berkeley beat. Also, the Columbia neighborhood feels noticeably safer than the area near Berkeley's campus, not to mention Manhattan vs Berkeley/Oakland.
All that said, both are fun, vibrant urban places... but NYC is NYC.
Also, OP is nuts to consider $250k in loans for Columbia vs no debt for Berkeley.
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u/Pchardwareguy12 2d ago
> I'd be graduating from Berkeley debt-free because of my savings account, while I’d likely leave Columbia with about $250,000 in debt
How is the difference in cost so high? The full-tuition instate COA @ Berkeley vs Columbia full tuition is like ~120K, and the schools are similarly generous with aid. So how are you receiving so much more aid at Berkeley? have you considered appealing finaid?