<p>By some strange miracle I got into both these crazy amazing schools. I am currently aiming to major in Communications, but there's a good chance I'll change it (Ideally something in the same sort of field, though). Also, both are the same price for me. Here's the situation with both:</p>
<p>UCLA: I am undeclared for the L&S college since freshman can't declare comm major, which is kind of attractive to me to be able to try lots of stuff but also scary since it's hard to get into their comm program. I live about an hour away, and UCLA has been my secret dream school for a while now mostly because its name, and I've grown to love the atmosphere and campus. I toured over summer, and I did enjoy it but I don't think it quite lived up to my expectations. I like the area of LA and like being close to home, but it's not as good academically as Berkeley and I'd kinda feel foolish turning down Berkeley. which brings me to...</p>
<p>Berkeley: It was so weird getting into Cal because it was never something I considered as an actual possibility. I mean, it's obviously an awesome academic school, but I had never pictured myself there. I'm in the media studies major there. I visited for open house, but it was so crowded and I wasn't impressed and felt out of place in the surrounding area. Also, Cal is 7 hours from home, which I don't know how to feel about. I do love the bay area, but the area immediately around Berkeley kinda turned me off. Also, I feel like I might be out of my league academically (I mean, I honestly don't know how I got in).</p>
<p>So, should I trust my gut or not let my predisposed feelings sway me? I'm posting this in both school's groups so I can get a good idea from both sides of the coin. Thanks for any and all help!</p>
<p>I would opt for Berkeley if you can get into communications major for sure.
Academics at Cal is rigorous for hard science and math classes. Humanities/social sciences classes are not hard to get A’s if u put in time and work into your research/papers, and that you’re a decent writer.</p>
<p>Los Angeles has lots of judgmental people and I really cannot stand living LA anymore because I lived there for 18 years. Whereas Berkeley has a chill atmosphere and people are very friendly, compared to LA there is friendly people but not as compared to Berkeley. Berkeley is ranked #1 Public School and that title is kept</p>
<p>@kittenzzz, whaa?!? That’s a faulty stereotype; the people I’ve met in LA are overwhelmingly more friendly than ‘judgemental’. I personally though UCLA was more welcoming than what I experienced at Cal, which was more of a ‘sink or swim’ feel for me. </p>
<p>Aside, I really don’t think Berkeley’s academics are soooo much better than UCLA’s. Heck, I chose UCLA over Cel in a heartbeat. Most people consider the two schools academically comparable tbh. Overall, it’s your decision. But from what I’m reading, it sounds like you’re really into UCLA whereas you’ve never thought of Cal until now.</p>
<p>I think UCLA is a good school, but I think Berkeley is better. It has more to offer to students than UCLA does. So, if you get into both, always go for Berkeley, unless you can’t afford it. </p>
<p>@narcissist I kinda felt the same way about Berkeley! It just didn’t feel as warm and welcoming, as well as the fact that it literally was cold there haha. I’m thinking I’m pretty set on UCLA now, but ahhh it’s such a hard decision</p>
<p>Media Studies (formerly Mass Communications) at Berkeley is a capped-enrollment major. Minimum GPA in the relevant courses to declare the major is currently 3.2.</p>
<p>One thing I didn’t like about UCLA when i visited there is a felt like every single guy I met was in a Frat. Like all of them had their greek letter shirts and outfits, something I am not really into (hazing). At Berkeley, i foudn that the social life isn’t so concentrated in greek life.</p>
<p>The percentage of men in fraternities is 13% at UCLA and 10% at Berkeley – not a big difference. Visits might give you a non-representative sample to view. For example, if you happen to visit Berkeley and walk down Piedmont Avenue from the main campus to the Clark Kerr dorms, you might get the impression that Berkeley is a big fraternity/sorority school.</p>
<p>This is just my opinion, but I just think that I personally wanted a different atmosphere from Los Angeles! :b but both schools are good (no hate!)</p>
<p>I don’t think that UCB has far better academics than UCLA. I don’t think there’s a wrong choice, but I think UCLA would be much more welcoming than UCB. It’s the more typical college campus, whereas UCB could take some getting used to.</p>
<p>I was kind of in a similar situation. My home is about 20 minutes away from UCLA, but I’m currently a double major in Media Studies and Political Science at Berkeley. </p>
<p>I enjoy the media studies program. The classes are interesting but not too difficult and I’ve found the professors and advisors to be easily accessible. Like ucbalumnus mentioned earlier, media studies is a capped major, but I met the minimum GPA and had no trouble declaring it.</p>