Aussie spending semester in the US - UCLA, Berkeley or U of Virginia?

College Search & Selection
101

<p>for the most part, all colleges are generally ranked by their graduate programs. schools obtain their fame through graduate studies and research. no one said that berkeley's top reputation is based soley on undergraduate studies.</p>

<p>the computer science department at berkeley is far from second-rate. in reality, it's actually very reputable. </p>

<p>and as far as the undergraduate "experience", berkeley offers a well-rounded experience that many undergrads adore. there are going to be unhappy students at any school, but honestly, i'm sure you have never even been to uc berkeley so i wouldn't comment on the experience.</p>

<p>really, i don't think you're jealous. i'm sure your university serves you just fine. i was only kidding around.</p>

102

<p>What are you talking about icerock? I never said VA was as diverse as CA. I just said that the whole diversity thing was being overblown.</p>

103

<p>Selecting a university based on the aesthetic appeal of its website?
And they say SoCalers are superficial... :rolleyes:</p>

104

<p>He was probably joking.</p>

105

<p>yea i was joking.. how about mascots?</p>

<p>uva is cavaliers... kinda boring. ucla is bruins i think? maybe not..</p>

<p>wuts ucla's mascot and cals mascot?</p>

106

<p>UCLA Bruins and Cal Golden Bears.</p>

<p>Someone doesn't keep up with NCAA...</p>

107

<p>aussiexchange,
where in AU are you currently in school? Can't speak to UVA, but LA is hectic/intense ala' Sydney, whereas Berkeley is in the East Bay which is a bit more provincial ala' Melbourne. Although San Francisco is urban, it is not quite the sprawl of LA. Like Melbourne and Sydney, the public transport is pretty much c**p in both LA and SF.
(Just guessing, but if you are in Adelaide, UVA may be the way to go).</p>

<p>You may also think about what areas you may want to visit while you are here. Choose UVA if you are intrigued by the East Coast, UCLA or CAL if California is a draw.</p>

<p>good luck. darn difficult choice</p>

108

<p>Go Bruins!</p>

109

<p>In terms of undergrad academics i would say:
1. UVa, Cal
2. UCLA</p>

110

<p>In terms of things to do/see
1. UCLA/Berkeley
89. UVA</p>

111

<p>But if you don't have a car, it's a b*tch to get around LA. It's not worth to buy a car just for 6 months. Rental isn't cheap either in the weekend (unless you are flilthy rich and don't care). I don't even know if you can drive with a Australian license. If you can't get around easily, you'd feel kinda stuck and limited in terms of things to do.</p>

<p>The good thing about Berkeley is you can pretty much be on your own the very first day and explore Berkeley/San Francisco conveniently and easily without a car. You'd feel there's more to do.</p>

112

<p>OMG - this thread's gonna go on forever very repetitively because of dueling alum/students - don't you think everything has already been said about each that can be said? or are we just chest-thumping now?</p>

113

<p>come to california! screw Virginia! The weather will be worth it alone. = P</p>

114

<p>crash,</p>

<p>Not sure whom you were addressing that to. But FYI, I am neither alum nor student of any of the 3.</p>

115

<p>I am just wondering how much more different stuff there is to say about this topic. Don't you think she's gotten the point by now?
Aussiechange?</p>

116

<p>so what school did u choose?</p>

117

<p>UVA would be my choice for a history major. UCLA and UCB are great schools but UVA is closer to some of the most amazing history sites in America, and the history program benefits accordingly. As the figures I gave above showed, UVA also has a larger number of history majors.</p>

118

<p>Forget the academics, these are all essentially equal schools. I would go with Berkeley or UCLA.</p>

119

<p>Miss America 2005 went to UVA...that shows that our student body isn't only smart but drop dead gorgeous.</p>

120

<p>No, not really: it shows that one person is, though!</p>