<p>I know this comparison has been done before but im looked for some new input. Ive been going back and forward for a week and its the last day and im still not decided. </p>
<p>I'm undecided for both but i'm probably gonna do something related to sciences. When I went to the Northwestern campus the weather was great I loved it but now I'm reconsidering. I from around Cal kind of below San Francisco.</p>
<p>As for financial aid Cal comes out being about 13,000 dollars a year and Northwestern ended up being 24,000 dollars a year. This could also fluctuate in the following years, so I don't want to base my decision completely on finances. </p>
<p>Please help me I have less than 14 hours to decide!</p>
<p>D had the same decision to make but also added USC to the mix. Ultimately decided on Northwestern. She felt the smaller student body and overall academic programming was more suited to her. She loves the campus and the closeness to Chicago. We are from SoCal and she wanted a change in atmosphere!
You have great choices! There is no wrong decision!
Good Luck!</p>
<p>If you’re not doing engineering, Northwestern would be a better choice.
Both have incredibly competitive academics and exciting campus life, but NU would definitely be easier to choose classes and graduate on time, since NU doesn’t stonewall students like Cal (i know, right?). Since college is meant for you to go out into the world and gain a wider worldview, NU might give you a more exciting and eye-opening experience. If you can swing the tuition, NU definitely. (But I bet Cal’s gonna increase costs next year too. And the next year. And the next…)</p>
<p>One thing to consider is that the California schools are facing a budget crisis in a big way. You may or may not have noticed that significantly more out of state students were accepted compared to previous years. This is because they can help fix this budget.</p>
<p>Consequently, if you are looking for grants of any kind- for research, for study abroad, etc., DO NOT be confident that you will be able to get it at Berkeley. They simply don’t have the money. Berkeley may be more highly ranked in many fields, but sometimes rankings just don’t do the whole situation justice. If the money works at Northwestern, take it. Berkeley may not give you what you’re expecting.</p>
<p>These are all really good points. Except I go from being almost positive I want to go to NU to being unsure again. My main concerns are that NU is not as strong as berkeley is in the sciences and also not as well known. And it would be a lot more convenient for me to go to berkeley which is 40 minutes away from where I live. Another concern is the weather, which I realize should not be a deciding factor.
Also people keep telling me to go to berkeley and I am pretty easily persuaded. Anyone have any last minute input to solidify my decision??</p>
<p>Northwestern is at least as strong as berkeley in the sciences, if not even stronger. Berkeley students only have the chance to do individual research in junior year onwards, so NU does give you more chances to do research.
Also, NU is as well known as Berkeley. Anyone who has some knowledge in the college situation is aware of NU’s reputation.</p>
<p>However, if you want to stay closer to home, with better weather, and paying less money, then Berkeley is great!</p>
<p>Our fellowships office staff are really something.</p>
<p>NU has produced more Goldwater and Churchill scholars than Berkeley in recent years even though its student body is a lot smaller. Graduate rankings don’t tell the whole story.</p>
<p>Also, NU’s chemistry is probably just as good as Berkeley’s these days.</p>
<p>If you posted this on the Berkeley forum you would have the arguments tilted in Berkeley’s favor. The tuition will be increasing at BOTH schools and unless your family is really struggling to make ends meet, I wouldn’t make your decision based on the cost differential. (And yes, the tuition increase, as a percentage, WILL probably be higher at Berkeley.) Most students at Cal are also still going to be graduating in 4 years, so don’t let that argument scare you. Go where you think you will be happiest, but I wouldn’t base your decision on academics-- both are really solid.</p>