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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]SAT IIs scores?  APs?  Any national recognition?  Work experience?  ECs and leadership?  Volunteer work?

Isn't Cal-Berkeley CS an[b] impacted major[/b]?[/quote]

what does that mean?[/quote]
They have set a limit on the number of students who can be in that major (i.e. it's too popular). A major like Philosophy isn't impacted, because natural demand is limiting the number of students electing that as a major. If you're a high schooler set on Philosophy, you'll get that major if accepted to the school.

Computer Science is very popular. So much so they cannot accommodate all who want that major. The criteria to be accepted into that major will be tougher than the criteria to get into the school itself.[/quote]

Cal alum here. Just wanted to note that Berkeley has two types of CS majors. CS is in Letters & Science and EECS is in Engineering. EECS if you can get in and graduate opens tons of doors - $150K salary base plus equity plus signing bonus (data point from family friend who is a 2020 EECS grad).[/quote]

$150K is likely in the upper quartile.  The class of EECS 2017 avg. salary is $108,250 (https://eecs.berkeley.edu/about/by-the-numbers#grads).  Probably closer to $115 now.  Also remember that the majority of the kids there go to work in the Bay area where salaries/COL are higher.

However, EECS is probably more difficult to get into than some of the "top 10" schools, especially for out of state kids.  The CS in L&S is not guaranteed, especially given the extreme demand for CS.  If you don't qualify after sophomore year, you have to pick another major that you may not want.  Not worth the risk, if you are set on CS.[/quote]

Very few pay $150 starting salary.  You'd be lucky to get 80-90K and work your way up to $150K.[/quote]

Should clarify for OP that data point is for Bay Area jobs. Anecdotally everyone I know from EECS makes solidly in the $110+ range, but these are all Bay Area placements who had decent grades.

Also wanted to note that when I was in college, CS majors had a chip on their shoulders due to not being in Engineering. [/quote]

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