r/ApplyingToCollege • u/Crafty_Move7362 • 17h ago
College Questions UCLA CS vs UC Berkeley DS
I was admitted into UCLA for computer science and UC Berkeley for data science. I want to finish only undergrad. I want to work in tech and become a software engineer, data scientist, data analyst, computer engineer, AI engineer, etc.
I am from the Bay Area, so I want to go to SoCal. I care about college life, but if one school is much better than the other for my career, I am open to sacrificing the better college life.
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u/Electronic-Bear1 15h ago
You won't be able to get access to some upper div CS classes as a DS major at Berkeley. You will be able to get into the ML/ AI CS classes, though. And some CS classes will be available during summer which are open to everyone.
So while Berkeley DS is not CS, it does overlap quite abit.
See which classes you can take as a DS major and then decide. If you're OK with them then Berkeley DS can be an option.
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u/TechnicianInfamous93 15h ago
uc berkeley all the way majors matter to some extent but its all abt clubs + skills u learn. i know someone whos a molecular cell biology major and just got a swe intern at amazon! plus when it comes to cs/ds/stats berkeley is miles ahead of UCLA (ranking, opportunities, research, etc)
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u/Acrobatic_Cell4364 13h ago
what you listed ... software engineer, data scientist, data analyst, computer analyst, AI engineer are all VERY different. You are unlikely to be hired into a software engineer or computer engineer or AI engineer role with a Data Science degree. You can be a data analyst with any degree as long as you are numerically proficient and are really good with spreadsheets and some python (you could get a degree in gender studies and be great with numbers and spreadsheets and get hired as a data analyst). You have great choices between UCLA and Cal
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u/rainiluu HS Senior 12h ago edited 12h ago
Hi! I was faced with the same decision in my senior year of high school and am now a sophomore studying DS at UC Berkeley, and I couldn't be more happy with my decision. Contrary to what many other people here are saying, you'll be able to work in any of the fields you mentioned with a DS degree from UC Berkeley without much trouble.
Currently, UC Berkeley DS allows you take so many of the same classes that CS majors take that you'll have no trouble finding the job you are (albeit their are some lower level classes you won't have access to. but if you're more interested in data and AI or even just plain software, those classes won't be super relevant). This year, I received multiple software engineering internship offers from big tech companies (including Amazon; amazon takes a lot of berkeley students! and I'm not sure if UCLA is a "feeder" in the same way).
The UC Berkeley DS/CS (many classes are shared) pedagogy is incomparable imo. We have a ton of classes in AI/ML (that are open to DS majors!), while UCLA is only offering its first ML class in its near future. Also, if you want to join a research lab, we have some of the best labs in the world!
Feel free to pm me or reply with any questions! :)
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u/Sensitive_Bit_8755 12h ago
So happy and proud of u 🙏🙏 hope i can get to ur level one day at Berkeley
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u/rainiluu HS Senior 11h ago
Thank you, congrats on berkeley!! Let me know if you have any questions :)
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u/Fwellimort College Graduate 17h ago
I work in this industry.
Go to UCLA CS. CS gives more options than DS.
Also, data science is one of the first rows for tech worker layoffs in a market downturn in tech. Given the current economy, CS is a far safer choice.
I believe most Berkeley DS grads actually become software engineers. But that also implies even in a job market before the current climate, there isn't many jobs in data science (especially because Berkeley is #1 for DS). And for general software engineering jobs, CS major has an advantage to getting an online assessment/job interview.
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u/disrppt 17h ago
“Cs is a far safer choice” there’s more nuance to it.
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u/Fwellimort College Graduate 17h ago
There isn't. Unless OP is sure he wants to be a data scientist in which case, go to Berkeley DS. But given OP isn't sure and is open to other related fields as well, CS is the safer choice.
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u/rainiluu HS Senior 12h ago
I'd beg to disagree; what matters more is not whether your diploma says "CS" or "DS", but what you learn in college and what opportunities you gain. With that being said, berkeley has way more technical resources and opportunities that UCLA cs (esp with it being in the Bay Area & its big tech cuture). And Berkeley's pedagogy is one of the best. And even as a DS major, I passed a ton of resume screenings for SWE internships just due to the Berkeley name.
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u/Fwellimort College Graduate 12h ago
what matters more is not whether your diploma says "CS" or "DS", but what you learn in college and what opportunities you gain.
Say hi to many hiring managers in the current job market for new grads with no work experience.
Also, UCLA CS does amazing as well. Don't underestimate UCLA CS. For job market purposes in the west coast, it does as well as Georgia Tech CS. I cannot comment on the East Coast.
UCLA CS starting salary nowadays is almost identical to UCB CS starting salary. Big Tech hires from UCLA as well so I fail to understand your reply.
And Berkeley's pedagogy is one of the best
Let's be real. You are just biased because you attend Berkeley.
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u/rainiluu HS Senior 11h ago edited 11h ago
Say hi to many hiring managers in the current job market for new grads with no work experience.
My DS friends and I at berkeley have had no trouble finding multiple swe internships despite the current job market.
Let's be real. You are just biased because you attend Berkeley.
Maybe, but there's a reason why so many other schools use Berkeley's CS/DS curriculums.
I'm sure UCLA CS is great as well though!
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u/Ohlele 16h ago
DS is a worthless degree. Do CS with Statistics minor at ucla - golden ticket to a prosperous life.
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u/Fwellimort College Graduate 14h ago
OP. I recommend you read through this comment I made on another post: https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1jtbcfy/comment/mltb653/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
It's a ruthless harsh reply from my side but it can be helpful to making a decision. Also do note how many workers/hiring managers in the industry view DS degrees on that comment.
I hope it helps OP with the decision. Just use it as a 'reference' point. No more. Another random stranger's opinion in the Internet.
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u/Fresh_Dish_5875 17h ago
Berkeley. No question about it. You have your entire 20s and 30s for social life. Work your butt off and make money. That’s the best path to amazing social life.
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u/Fwellimort College Graduate 17h ago edited 17h ago
I disagree. I would agree if this was Berkeley CS or EECS. This is Berkeley DS vs UCLA CS.
UCLA CS will have more advantage for getting job interviews unless OP wants to be a data scientist (in which case Berkeley DS will have more advantage).
No need to mislead high schoolers here because you have affiliation with Berkeley.
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u/Fresh_Dish_5875 16h ago
I’m not trying to mislead anyone. You said yourself a lot of Berkeley data science majors become software developers. This suggests most entry level software engineering jobs ask for one thing: do you know how to code?
Data science will expose you to as much actual coding courses as CS. The only difference is CS will feed you more math.
What I’m getting at is name brand and network. Berkeley undeniably has better access to tech and interventions.
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u/Jaded_Classroom_1994 15h ago
"Data science will expose you to as much actual coding courses at CS."
Wrong statement. Please do your research before commenting such definitive statements.
The Berkeley CS department locks away upper-div CS courses to CS/EECS/CoE majors. Data science only has reserved spots in algorithms/intro to AI/intro to ML. Typical SWE courses like computer architecture, operating systems, etc aren't available to Data Science students. And Berkeley DS students recruit to SWE roles with the Berkeley name yes, but anecdotally, a lot of them lie and say they are Computer Science. SWE is possible with DS but with courses locked, it becomes hard unless you grind for shortcomings.
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