<p>So I am into PolySci, and am a SOCAL citizten, so basically, CAL saves me 100k. BUT, NW is NW, and is quite elite. How do i weigh these two schools.</p>
<p>1st, without money being a factor (I can afford either one)
2nd, with money (just good 2 kniow)</p>
<p>Cal is just as elite as Northwestern. Cal has the better Political Science department. And cal saves you 100K. I would say go for Cal. But Northwestern is an awesome school too and if you feel you would be happier at NU, go for it. Either way, you cannot lose.</p>
<p>dat is very very difficult choice. I would choose berk. becuz of money and almost exact prstiege</p>
<p>Northwestern is probably the better choice....unless Berkeley is cheaper, then goto Berk.</p>
<p>Well, since money is not a factor, I would tell you to go to Northwestern. Despite what many say, I believe it is more prestigious than Berkeley, and is much, much smaller. HOWEVER, the poly sci department is not that great.</p>
<p>Go to Cal and save the money for graduate school (if you plan on going to one).</p>
<p>Have you been accepted to both of those schools?</p>
<p>Yay, i got into both. I CANT DECIDE!! ahhh.. someone said polysci at NW is weak, can you elaborate?</p>
<p>And i mean, yes i can afford either one. But money is always a factor. I just feel more special in the context of NU. Yet, polysci is pritty awsome at CAL, and Cal's reputation after graduation is hard 2 beat. WHAT should i do!?</p>
<p>berkeley is great but there is something to be said to going private over public... ur less of a number and more a person... NU is also smaller and chicago is pretty cool... im probably going NU although if i had applied berkeley and got in i would go berkely just for the sun and beach ... there some things where california cant be beaten</p>
<p>"I just feel more special in the context of NU"</p>
<p>yes, that's how most people feel. NU is more selective than Berkeley, which is often forced to accept the masses because it is a public school.</p>
<p>In terms of prestige, Northwestern is more prestigious, although Cal has more widespread recognition. If you want a cheaper education, then of course Cal is "better".</p>
<p>Save the 100k and go to the better school at the same time. Buy a ferrari!</p>
<p>I found alot of the comments very helpful. Anyone else have a suggestion?</p>
<p>Umm... who said Northwestern is more prestigious???</p>
<p>When I went overseas to Asia and Europe, most people think that Northwestern is in Seattle. Berkeley's international prestige is unparalleled. If you go to Britian, China, etc... the wow value of a Berkeley degree is very very self gratifying.</p>
<p>Northwestern has a good reputation in the midwest, but thats about it. I am sorry but its kind of insulting for Berkeley to be compared to Northwestern when you are considering world class universities. </p>
<p>Even if money wasn't a concern, a Berkeley degree is simply much more prestigious all over the globe, not just in California. When you consider how globalized this world is becoming with technology and the internet revolution, and the free exchange of ideas and such, there is simply no question.</p>
<p>lol west sidee, u have a reputation at being wrong at everything. i have no idea where in asia u have gone to, but other than harvard...nothing else is known so it really does not matter</p>
<p>and yes in the US, northwestern is more prestigious, but prestige isnt saying anything. i personally would pick berkeley over northwestern but to most, northwestern is more prestigious</p>
<p>^ Ask anyone from Asia, Europe, or California if they have heard of Northwestern. </p>
<p>And then ask those same people if they have heard of Berkeley. </p>
<p>People in Asia and Europe have heard of the University of Chicago. the U of C has an excellent reputation in Asia and Europe. However, you really do get blank stares when you talk about Northwestern. </p>
<p>Most people internationally think that Harvard, Berkeley, Yale, University of Chicago, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, Columbia, UCLA are the best schools in the US. They usually have never heard of Northwestern.</p>
<p>I highly doubt a lot of people in Europe and Asia a.) even know the city Seattle, b.) if they do know the name, they probably don't know which geographical area it is in, and c.) go even as far to place a university there. </p>
<p>You crack me up West Sidee :D</p>
<p>And unless you plan on working in another country, then why would you even care about what someone in Asia thinks of your college? West Sidee is always trying to promote the international communities view of OUR higher education institutions whether it be in this thread or the London Times.</p>
<p>Back onto topic, is GOLBAL reputation THAT important... Why would i ever leave the US?</p>
<p>lol are u kidding? most people in the US have never even heard of U of C, let alone asia. have u ever even been to asia? harvard is the only university that really has even a name there. waseda university, univ of tokyo, national normal university in taiwan, and shanghai institute all carry much higher prestige than anything in the US. US schools are shadowed and other than harvard, nothing else is known</p>
<p>exactly, back to the US. Northwestern has an overall higher prestige. period. although yes i agree that berkeley is a better school =P</p>
<p>Well, if you go into investment banking, management consulting, law, PhD, and the upper tier occupations of society, yes, it does help tremendously if your school has a good reputation internationally.</p>
<p>Of course, if you want to work in the municipal railway, then no, international reputation does not matter. And most people in Asia, Europe, etc... have heard of the University of Chicago because of their economics, but they have not heard of Northwestern. This is a fact.</p>