Help Choosing Undergraduate College (Berkeley, Duke, JHU, Brown, or Toronto (full ride))

If you're dead set on studying CS, Cal & CMU have the 2 best programs amongst this list (although I would join that waitlist for Harvard and/or consider the Yale option heavily solely cause those are extremely desirable).

But ignoring those two, personally would take Cal over CMU. CMU has arguably the better CS program, but living in the Bay Area & getting all the fun of the state school experience while attending a top-ranked (and heavily recruited from) program sounds like a better deal. Then again, most quants I've met are pretty into the books/all about the academics & if you're that way as well, CMU might be a better fit. Good luck!

Sadly, Yale IMO is best option since tour resume timer starts when your college classes start. Toronto free won't hurt either and you'd graduate with automatic big ticket item in your CV

I'd go with either Duke or Brown here. Berkeley is equally as good but their alumni network isn't as strong. I would also follow up with Harvard, Columbia and maybe Cornell. If you end up getting into Harvard or Columbia, go there. If not, go with Duke or Brown.