Berkeley v. Cornell for bio (premed) with some concerns about fine art classes

<p>I am deciding between Berkeley and Cornell. I want to major in molecular bio and follow a pre-med track. Which college provide better research opportunities and better counseling/support or environment for pre-med students? It seems like Cornell has better acceptance rate into med school but how's the real situation? Is there any pre screening Cornell uses??</p>

<p>I am also really interested in art and want to take studio art classes in college. I know Cornell has a very famous architecture school so probably it also has pretty decent art program? However, I called Cornell but they told me first year student almost never have the chance to get into studio art classes due to the class size limit. I know nothing about how strong the fine art program at Berkeley is and I don't know anyone who major in art there personally. </p>

<p>I haven't received my financial aid packet from Cornell but a friend of mine who has slightly higher family income than me get $5,000/year loan + $2,500 work study and I expect my aid to be in similar range. I got the regent scholarship from Berkeley and have a full aid (around $25,000/year) there. btw, my friend who will need to take $5,000/year loan at Cornell also got regent in Cal but needs to pay $1,000/year there =>does it mean that my loan at Cornell should be less than $5,000/year?</p>

<p>Anyways, can you guys give me some advices? Where should I go??
/___\
I am going to study my butt off in college so my first priority is the prestige the college has.</p>

<p>It's a wash...though I'd give the edge to Berkeley's social scene and the bay area is miles more interesting than Ithaca (or at least the area around Ithaca).</p>

<p>Go to the school that feels better. You won't have any difficulty finding a lab to do research in as an undergrad at either, given you have a bit of initiative.</p>

<p>Cheers,
CornellGrad.</p>

<p>what about the quality of studio/fine art classes in both colleges?</p>

<p>what do people think about the premed program at Cal? I hear some ppl complaining about the counseling at Cal saying that it wasn't really there and useless.</p>