Berkeley V. Hamilton, help! [poly sci/economics major]

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello.</p>

<p>I can't decide between Berkeley and Hamilton college. They seem to be polar opposites.</p>

<p>The biggest thing that is drawing me to Berkeley is the prestige and social atmosphere. The biggest thing drawing me towards Hamilton is the individualized attention and easier access to networks and opportunities.</p>

<p>I just don't know what to do. I feel like a baby. I don't know if I would do better at a larger or smaller university. I don't know how much different aspects are important. I've read all of the college rating things, most of the college confidential stuff on both schools. I have friends who go to Cal already (I live on the West Coast) but I believe I will make new friends either way.</p>

<p>Any advice?</p>

2

<p>Well, are you in-state California? What is the cost difference between the universities?</p>

3

<p>I am in state CA. Berkeley gave me 22k/31k free money, and Hamilton gave me 51k/55k free money. My parents told me not to base my decision on the financial aid.</p>

4

<p>I’d go to Hamilton, given you believe it is where you’d be more successful, unless you strongly disagree with the social atmosphere. </p>

<p>Make sure to visit both campuses, however, to verify your feelings regarding their social atmospheres.</p>

5

<p>I have visited both. I guess I’m just worried about the culture at Hamilton. I’ve heard so much about it being a a divided campus. And it’s just so few people. But there are so many positives too! I’m so confused.</p>

6

<p>I never knew a school named Hamilton actually existed.</p>

7

<p>I think that you will have more opportunities and a better education in your major classes, especially in your last 2 years at Berkeley. At Hamilton, you may get smaller classes and more attention your first year or so. I would have to give a lot of consideration to the reputation of a Berkeley education.</p>

<p>The schools are really different, but really, many students will be able to do well in both types of environments. If anything hangs you up about the culture and environment at one that would make a difference to your success, you know what you have to do. At Berkeley, you may have to be more agressive about getting what you need, finding opportunities and approaching profs and dealing with administration (but this is speculation, my kid didn’t go there.) At least at first.</p>

<p>Good luck, I’m sure whichever you choose will work out nicely for you. Keep reading about it and talking to students if you can, from the boards here and through any program the admissions office has for ‘talk to a student’. Take the time to investigate the department reputation too.</p>

8

<p>These are two of my favorite schools</p>

<p>UC Berkeley with its world famous reputation, top professors and all of its top 5 departments</p>

<p>Hamilton is a very special place with individual attention to its students and an emphasis on creative writing. Students are among the happiest of all colleges. A strong alumni network, particularly in the East Coast. You have that great $51,000 scholarship - allowing you to save about $5,000 per year compared to attending UC Berkeley.</p>

<p>I always believe that a student should go away to college a bit away from home to experience his/her independence and explore a new part of the country.</p>

<p>Why not got to Hamilton for freshman year and, if you really don’t like it, transfer to UC Berkeley.</p>

<p>Besides, how can you not attend a college that looks like this?</p>

<p><a href=“http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/custom/cic/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/p757.dir/Campus%20(aerial%20view),%20Hamilton%20College-large.jpg[/url]”>http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/custom/cic/collect/cic-hcap/index/assoc/p757.dir/Campus%20(aerial%20view),%20Hamilton%20College-large.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>UC Berkeley takes in a lot of transfer students each year so you won’t be much out of place if you transfer to UC Berkeley</p>

<p>oh, and there is that “Dark Side” v. “Light Side” of Hamilton, of course,</p>

<p><a href=“http://academics.hamilton.edu/organizations/kirkland/Kirkland%20Paper%2004%20Wasarh.pdf[/url]”>http://academics.hamilton.edu/organizations/kirkland/Kirkland%20Paper%2004%20Wasarh.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>but you will get over it</p>

9

<p>Getting into Berkeley from Hamilton would be extremely difficult. I know a kid who applied to Berkeley with a 3.67 GPA from Yale and was denied admissions. The UCs favor transfer applicants fron CCs.</p>

10

<p>^^^^RML, pretty amazing eh?</p>

<p>some of these CC students could barely get accepted to a CalState University out of high school and here is UC Berkeley taking them in over a 3.67 GPA Yale student. Just for the Record, UCB enrolls a lot of transfers per year (23% acceptance rate):</p>

<p>Transfer Students
Transfer admission stats for fall term:
Applied: 15,120
Admitted: 3,451
Enrolled: 2,241
Terms in which transfers may enroll: Fall
Transfers accepted at these levels: Sophomore, junior, senior</p>

<p>[College</a> Search - University of California: Berkeley - Cal - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

11

<p>^ That’s one of the major complains I have about Berkeley – it’s bias towards California students. But then again, Berkeley is subsidized by them. Still, I wish that issue would improve someday, and I’m glad Berkeley is gradually addressing that, although for freshmen admits only. At least, I’m seeing action…</p>

12

<p>Thanks for the responses so far.</p>

<p>After reading BrownParent, I was leaning towards Berkeley. After talking to a Hamilton student, I was leaning towards Hamilton. Then I started to think about Berkeley, and I wanted to go to Berkeley! Oh boy.</p>

<p>Thank you for the research paper. It was really interesting!</p>

13

<p>Hamilton is a fine school, but it is NOT Berkeley or in the same class. I would opt for Cal - easily.</p>

14

<p>My vote would be Berkely.</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>“as he yells out from the middle of a 500 student UCB class in which he was delayed in taking for one year due to a large waiting list and sees that the equivalent at Hamilton would have only 46 students with no waiting lists”</p>

16

<p>Then again, I wouldn’t be asked - you go where?</p>

17

<p>^^^^^Sistoid, who are you talking to here?</p>

18

<p>I think he was referring to your last post about class sizes.</p>

<p>It is a valid point though, “how much is reputation worth?”</p>

<p>Sorry I’m just so confused, it’s nice to just see someone else debate it. I’ve spent hours going over the pros and cons of both.</p>