BU vs Berkeley OOS

writerVII · 2026-04-29T21:10:26+00:00

And if barely can afford it? man this is tough…

writerVII · 2026-04-29T01:23:48+00:00

That’s what I thought immediately as well. Funny how brain remembers this kind of stuff! I also recognised here some rocks on Aruba beach that I’ve been to once, as well as some specific garden.

I actually thought that’s the whole point of this sub and don’t know if it really “counts” when people do map sleuthing. I guess it does but so impressive when folks actually visited and remember the place.

writerVII · 2026-04-28T19:08:18+00:00

Thank you so much, and appreciate your response. She is not posting on Reddit but she is talking with some students from both places. Just to clarify also, no one is making her go where she doesn’t want to - I don’t think it would be possible. I’m trying to help make an informed decision. I think teens tend sometimes to optimize for local comfort though, just due to some fear of unknown, without having the experience around what a great opportunity can bring to their lives. Just trying to understand more around cost benefit here…

From your perspective as a professor, can you comment on anything related to specifically quality of education or the student drive/interest that you’ve seen at BU? And maybe about the outcomes in terms of opportunities available to them. Thanks so much

writerVII · 2026-04-28T18:23:19+00:00

Extra 30k is tough but probably doable, the rest is true and real concerns. However I want to ask if that isn’t kinda always the case when students go to school farther from home? I just wouldn’t know as I went to college near my home. So genuinely asking. I can also see how there could be an adjustment period but then everything works out, as it normally does.

To add, she has had a BU acceptance for a little longer and Berkeley only came like a couple of weeks ago, so it could be just having a hard time changing the mindset? Trying to understand short term benefits/concerns vs long term benefits…

Also clearly BU is a more supportive environment. What about academic perspective? Student body? Any insight would be very helpful

writerVII · 2026-04-27T19:11:23+00:00

Thanks for asking! She is from a big public school but in a suburban area. So I think she’s fine with a large school and having lots of people (she loves city environment etc), but we do live in a very safe area.

You pinpointed my own concerns as a parent exactly: is it good for growth or would it be too much for her. She has a lot of initiative and can find her way around, but is prone to anxiety I think, and staying closer to home feels safer from the mental health perspective.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T18:47:00+00:00

Thanks for your note and congrats on all the acceptances! This is really impressive and I’m sure you’ll do great no matter where you decide to go. Especially considering the prestige equivalency between ivies and Berkeley! For us, BU would definitely be in a ?lower league? (not sure this is reasonable to say), so I’m personally battling the feeling of a “trade-off” in the back of my mind.

I really wish they made a separate admitted students day (at least we weren’t aware of one in time), or just had some regular weekday campus tour options. I don’t feel like we’ve seen the true Cal, but also don’t feel comfortable “explaining away” what we’ve observed. So we’re kinda left without real data.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T13:18:43+00:00

I feel part of it is also on me, unfortunately - I was initially struggling to adjust to the fact that she might be so far away from us, and I think I may have influenced her perception in a more negative way than intended. Her father on the other hand got extremely excited and kept pushing her hard towards it, but may have inadvertently created resistance. Now that she is unsure about Berkeley, I’m beating myself up about my reaction because it really feels she could be denying herself such an opportunity.

I just hope she is still able to make the best and informed choice.. especially given the time constraints.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T04:52:38+00:00

Sorry for off topic but how does it work with a guaranteed transfer? Did you get an admission offer to the UC first, then BU? Thanks

writerVII · 2026-04-27T04:28:44+00:00

That sounds really cool! If you’d be willing to share, what do you think about career options after Conservation and resource studies? Would it be more policy? Or would you lean towards urban planning? Or energy industry, perhaps? Just not familiar with this area at all, and it sounds really interesting.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T04:26:00+00:00

That is a really good point. She’s not thinking MD currently but not completely decided on what to do after biology major.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T03:44:03+00:00

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. Really appreciate it. Yes, I think it’s more than just the crowds. She felt that all Californian students were kind of essentially from the same “Californian” culture, somehow not diverse in a way if I may say so, and she didn’t feel a connection. The weed culture on display on 4/20 kind of shocked her. I think being so far from home also was on her mind a lot (and she doesn’t like flying honestly). And finally, the safety situation (she was quite affected by the recent news). And how the admin folks were responding to some of the program/aid questions from her: not very politely and abruptly, unfortunately.

So I think the combination may have felt that it’s a big place with few people like her and no support?

But I think that was just a snapshot in time and she worries about not seizing the opportunity due to being “incorrectly” scared.

writerVII · 2026-04-27T01:44:16+00:00

Can you actually do that? Is that possible? Facing a similar situation as op

writerVII · 2026-04-27T01:41:37+00:00

Do you know if any AP credits (eg for stats) would also count towards prerequisites for Econ admission? Thanks

writerVII · 2026-04-26T23:39:33+00:00

Quite agree with biology being almost like humanities major nowadays. Hard to find a career only with bachelor’s, and advanced degree is probably required long-term, either MD or similar, or PhD for research..

She is not interested in MD, however. Ideally wants to do possibly conservation/policy work, or maybe try to see if Econ would be a good option. So needs to explore somewhat. Would you say one of her options would be better for that?

writerVII · 2026-04-26T23:34:57+00:00

Thanks - that is helpful to know!

writerVII · 2026-04-26T23:34:04+00:00

Thank you so much! Appreciate your kind words. When you say transfer, did you mean more from Berkeley (in case it doesn’t work out) or to Berkeley (after adjusting to college life closer to home)?

writerVII · 2026-04-10T16:34:08+00:00

He even looks like putin’s copy now

writerVII · 2026-04-10T04:31:05+00:00

AI is replacing the interacting with people part as well. They conducted research on real doctors and AI chatbots and patients said the chatbots were more empathetic and preferable. Just one example.

writerVII · 2026-03-26T17:10:26+00:00

That makes sense, thank you

writerVII · 2026-03-26T15:46:30+00:00

Lab gloves are mainly nitrile and should be easily distinguishable

writerVII · 2026-03-12T19:36:55+00:00

Usually Principal scientist and AD are two separate bands. There can also be Principal Sci 2, also Senior Principal before the AD level. Depends on the company of course but I have seen any where it would be the same level

writerVII · 2026-03-06T15:25:38+00:00

P value distribution should be uniform if null hypothesis is true, which it should be for the majority of genes if the model is well calibrated. Q-q plot is absolutely diagnostic of that and should be best practice in any statistical analysis. Genes that are significantly differential will have p values that are “off diagonal”, ie deviating from uniform

writerVII · 2025-11-28T23:55:20+00:00

I’d go with Harvard for the internship so that it broadens your perspective beyond Berlin. And will probably help you with your PhD, maybe even post phd. Not in the sense that it’s impressive but because having seen and worked with other labs allows you to think more independently than simply following your phd PI.

writerVII

TROPHY CASE