<p>Berkeley or UCL</p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>Just posting to see if people can advise me on the tricky decision I have to make.</p>
<p>Basically, the universities I have been accepted to are Berkeley, UCLA and NYU in the USA and University College London, in the UK. (all for Politics although major wise I may change but will almost definitely stay within the social sciences)</p>
<p>I have to admit my knowledge of US universities is perhaps not as great as it should be. In any case, I believe that the best reputation of those universities is Berkeley. (If anyone has differing opinions please let me know)</p>
<p>So if the above is correct my decision lies between Berkeley and University College London.</p>
<p>Now I am unsure of how to gauge which is better academically between the two so any help here will be most appreciated. I have looked at a few tables online which (and I realise that these can not be trusted too much) actually shows University College London above Berkeley in terms of international reputation. I think that the positioning of UCL in London obviously gives advantages of contacts in the city which may be the reason for this. That being said I have seen lists which have Berkeley as top 5 in the world for SS
[field[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results/2007/subject_rankings/social_sciences/]QS”>http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/results/2007/subject_rankings/social_sciences/]QS</a> Top Universities: University rankings in the Social Sciences](<a href=“http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ARWU-FIELD2008/SOC2008.htm]field[/url”>http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ARWU-FIELD2008/SOC2008.htm)</p>
<p>A point that may sway my decision slightly is that my other passion in directing and how the university I go to will influence this. I hope that the ethos of university in America will allow me to take some courses in this area but I was unsure whether there will be a big advantage being in California and closer to Hollywood.</p>
<p>Finally, a big difference between the two is the fact as an international student I was unable to get any financial aid at Berkeley and therefore will have to shell out about $45k a year. Does anyone know of any sort of additional scholarships/financial aid available? I have heard that there is a chance in the second year at Berkeley to apply but I am not sure.</p>
<p>So to wrap up the questions I am trying to ask is</p>
<li> Which of the following is the best university in terms of social science reputation (politics/economics) UCLA, Berkeley or NYU</li>
<li> Which has the better reputation and work opportunities: Berkeley or University College London (and whats the international reputation like
i.e. is Berkeleys reputation in the UK better than UCLs in the US?</li>
<li> Any advantages in terms of Directing?</li>
<li> Financial Aid?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks everyone for any help- its a big decision of my life and I want to make sure its the right one! </p>
<p>Most appreciated</p>