<p>So of all the schools I got into, the top two are Georgetown University and UC Berkeley. Anybody have an opinion on why I should go to one over the other?</p>
<p>I am currently undecided, though I think I want to double major in French and something else. I just don't know what else!</p>
<p>Thanks for helping me out! :p</p>
<p>Uhhhhh, Berkeley duh. Outstanding professors, outstanding resources, outstanding everything. Ranked #2 in world by london times, unlike the innaccurate usnews.</p>
<p>london times is crappier than USNEws.</p>
<p>haha, same can be said for Georgetown: outstanding professors, outstanding resources, outstanding city, outstanding everything. The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics(FLL) is renowned. There are 8 study abroad programs in France.
Take classes in the world renowned School of Foreign Service. Take a finance class in the McDonough School of Business. Take a few classes in the unique School of Nursing and Health Studies. Intern downtown at the Capitol. Help tutor young students through DC Reads. Volunteer with GERMS(Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service). Work for one of the many businesses of Students of Georgetown, Inc.(the Corp), the largest student run company in the country. Work for the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union, a completely student run multi-million dollar business, a model for student run credit unions world wide, as well as providing unique experiences for its employees. Listen to former President Clinton speak, or the director of the IMF, or the president of Nigeria, or a presidential candidate, or a congressman/woman, or a senator, or a doctor from the National Institutes of Health, or one of the large number of world respected people that visit campus regularly. Encounter Madeline Albright in CVS(my roommate saw her). Run through the fountain in Dahlgren Quad. Go to MCI Center downtown to watch the men's basketball team, or to McDonough Arena for the few games held on campus. Camp out for Diplomatic Ball tickets. I could keep going. Clearly, Georgetown is the better choice, especially with the Faculty of Language and Linguistics, relating to your interest in French.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! Your info has been very helpful.</p>
<p>I don't know if it makes a big difference, but for Berkeley I was admitted for the Spring semester.</p>
<p>They are both great schools in awesome settings but completely different. I prefer Cal myself, but that's just me. </p>
<p>One thing that needs to be considered. Cal will cost you $80,000 over 4 years, Georgetown will cost you $180,000 over the same time. If your folks are rich, that's fine, otherwise, go for Cal.</p>
<p>Also, Georgetown is possibly the best school in the country if you want to go into government or Law. Cal is better if you want to go into a professional setting upon graduation or PhD programs.</p>
<p>I agree with Alexandre.</p>
<p>If you plan on staying in California later in life, a Berkeley degree will have a stronger pull. Likewise Georgetown might be a bit better for someone who wants to live on the East Coast.</p>
<p>I am a fan of trying out a different coast than the one you were raised in. So you are near SF go East. But I do know ppl at work who went to school on east coast and all their friends are not here--they envy the social network of UCB folks. I am not familiar with Gtown rep as undergrad. Known for Grad/Law, right? Berk is supposed to be great to grad from, but giant classes and not getting in to classes you want is the norm, so it takes 5 years to graduate--that don't sound that appealing. I'm guessing Berk is hell until you get to upperclassman, but I wish I knew.</p>
<p>OTOH, I still think of why dd was so turned off of elite schools because of the a-holes at school who end up going, and CAL starts seeming a lot more attractive.</p>
<p>For someone who has as many posts as you do on cc, you ought to be giving advice instead of getting it, no?</p>
<p>Agree with Bettina, Georgetown got a CA kid.</p>
<p>Haha that's true, bettina. I guess I've just become a little desensitized to these schools so it's hard for me to clearly judge them now. ;)</p>
<p>Thanks again evryone!</p>
<p>I would say Berkeley because both schools are great, and for a major like french, I don't know if 100k more is really worth it for a slightly better offering, when Berkeley is much cheaper obviously. Did G-Town give any financial aid?</p>
<p>No, I didn't get any financial aid, but I might get a local scholarship that would make it similar for me to attend Georgetown and Berkeley. So pretend cost doesn't matter that much.</p>
<p>So if I wanted to transfer after my first year to Brown, which school would be better?</p>
<p>(BTW- yes, I realize that this is not a good mindset to go into a school with, but my dream is Brown, and I don't want to give up. If I totally love Berkeley or Georgetown once I'm there, then of course I'll stay, but if not then I would want to transfer to Brown)</p>
<p>Thanks again for the help! :p</p>
<p>Georgetown. Given the huge classes at Cal it will be hard to form the kind of relationship with profs you'll need for great recs. I don't know about grading at Georgetown, but it's hard to get an A at Cal.</p>
<p>Yeah go where you can get better grades and recx for transferring</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>So do you all think I would have an easier time getting better grades and recs at Georgetown?</p>
<p>Recommendations depend on the student and how much initiative they take. Professors are not going to take the time and make the effort whether you are at Georgetown or ar Cal. But I agree that it is easier to maintain a high GPA at Georgetown than at Cal. However, cost is a big factor. There is no way it ids worth spending an extra $100,000 to attend Georgetown when the alternative is Cal...unless your parents are very wealthy.</p>
<p>You will have a better undergraduate experience at Georgetown. Cal is a good school, but at Georgetown, classes will not be so impacted/overcrowded, it has a better reputation, the students are more well-rounded than at Cal, great location in DC.....plus, if you want to transfer to Brown, its probably easier from Gtown than from a public school.</p>
<p>I say... go to Georgetown</p>
<p>Cal UG is overrated because the grad program is so good. If you absolutely love classes with 200 other people in your UPPER-LEVEL classes, then go to Cal.</p>
<p>Penn, you are wrong. Cal is not overrated at any level. In fact, Cal is underrated. Corporate recruiters and graduate school adcoms rate Cal as one of the top 10 undergraduate institutions in the country. I think they know more about universities than any one of us in this forum.</p>
<p>As for class size, I am not sure who told you that Cal classes have over 200 students for upperclassmen. Obviously, Freshmen will have such large classes....even sophomores, but 54% of Cal classes have 20 or fewer students, compared to 58% at Georgetown. And only 17% of Cal classes have more than 50 students, compared to 8% at Georgetown. So yes, classes at Georgetown are, on average, indeed smaller than classes at Cal, but only slightly.</p>