<p>Ever since I have been accepted to Dartmouth, I have been completely obsessed with it and have spent hours reading everything on the official website to make sure that I didn't miss any important information. After weeks of research, I decided that it was the perfect school for me, but then I also began to consider Berkeley. Perhaps the only thing I'm worried about is related to academics. I was accepted to Berkeley's College of Natural Resources (which is entirely dedicated to environmental sciences), and I plan to major in some sort of environmental biochemistry (I just made that up lol.) I don't know if Dartmouth is partularly strong in that department, although I have heard that it is very good for undergraduate education. But maybe that's only because it's good at well-rounded education as opposed to career-focused/pre-professional. I have no idea. I'm worried that going to Berkeley will be disastrous if I end up changing my mind about my major and suddenly decide I want to major in something completely different. Then I'm basically stuck. On the other hand, I don't know if a liberal arts education is what I want. Which is better--being well-rounded, or only focused on one area? </p>
<p>I have a feeling that I will be happier at Dartmouth and I will belong there more because of the rural setting, small campus, down-to-earth students, and beautiful scenery (I <3 nature), but I don't know if it will be better than Berkeley's education. Maybe undergraduate should be well-rounded, and graduate is where I start to specialize? So Dartmouth would be the safer bet in case I do back out of my major? HELP??!?!!!??! haha thanks</p>
<p>Go with the liberal arts education. Trust me. Employers are looking for people who are well-rounded and can critically think and write well. The broad range of majors entering medical/business/law school attests to this fact. </p>
<p>I have dozens of friends who went to Berkeley (I went to a prestigious southern California HS) and they basically said it was high school 2.0... cutthroat competition, massive numbers of undergrads and intro level classes with literally HUNDREDS of students. Trust me... Dartmouth is in a better location, is more prestigious, and will stand you better for your overall experience.</p>
<p>thanks a lot, I had a feeling that was true about Berkeley. the cutthroat competition factor especially turned me off. but I guess I will still visit it for the sake of it, so I don't feel guilty about making a seemingly rash decision (because I would choose Dartmouth without even seriously considering other possibilities). I hope I hate my trip to Berkeley! =)</p>
<p>have you never been to Berkeley? And I don't know when it stopped being Cal? but anyway...</p>
<p>it takes a certain person to like living in Berkeley. i know i hated it, and i have Cal programmed in my DNA. My best friend is going there, but he also enjoyed living in Costa Rica making paper in the middle of the summer and rarely buys clothes from places other than the fabulous Salvation Armani. Its very liberal and can be scary, but its better than Stanford. way better than whatever stanford has to offer.</p>
<p>i'm in the same dilemma too...i'm visiting berkeley this weekend</p>
<p>Honestly, I can tell you that almost everyone going into serious work in an academic field will end up going to Grad school, and Dartmouth excels at grad school placement. At worst, Dartmouth will be on par academically, likely better.</p>
<p>Go to Dartmouth for sure. Its awesome.</p>
<p>Berkeley and Dartmouth are hella different places.</p>
<p>I hope you hate your trip too :)</p>
<p>I'd definitely go with Dartmouth.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>it's extremely easy to transfer from Natural Resources to L&S should you change your major. Howeve,r these schools are sooooo different.</p>
<p>My sister is at Berkeley, my dad went there, and I'm probably supposed to go there, but I'll be going to Dartmouth next year. I don't mean to dis on Cal, but my sister has some crazy stories about homeless people wandering into her classrooms and appearing on her doorstep; step off the campus for a few minutes, and you won't like your surroundings.</p>