Berkeley vs UCLA vs USC

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>I'm from NY and just recently got into all three of these schools. I'm going to be visiting each school soon but I'd like to know any opinions on what are some of the pros/cons of each. By the way I applied undecided if that matters to all 3 if that matters. By the way be as biased as you want I posted this thread on all three college subforums.</p>

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<p>Hmmm… well they are all large schools. USC is the only private one. If I got into all three, I would go to UCLA.</p>

<p>Pros:

  • In the heart of Los Angeles [great city]
  • Nice campus
  • Strong athletics
  • Campus Life seems good</p>
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<p>I’m trying to decided between berkeley and LA too, but I think I’ll visit each first and then make my decision. I’m from the socal area and I think I like it alot better than Nor cal (lived in Norcal up until 7th grade) and then I moved to the OC. The weather is better, the city (i’m talking about OC) is more beautiful, close drive to San Diego (which is really fun too and has great beaches and you can visit friends) and LA (busier and more fast-paced but exciting too and there’s always things to do, iheard traffics a b*tch though), close to Irvine/Newport. I know Berkeley is different in its own way, but it’s located in the more ghetto areas of the Bay Area (near Oakland (super ghetto)) It’s more in the outskirt area of the Bay. SF is nice though. The Bay has wide, open spaces, BETTER air, more slow-paced (not that cutthroat fast paced ticking bomb kind of feeling). Bay is ALOT more expensive to live in though compared to most places in CA including so cal with exception of the OC and SD and some others…
LA is more glamorous and ritzy and everyone does things BIG. the bay area is more modest and people are less showy (you can tell by the cars they drive here… very low-key even though they have the $$ to buy stuff), Bay people are very on the downlow intellects IMO.</p>

<p>you should visit first. I really think that’ll make it a clear decision for you. I’m leaning towards LA but I’m still going to go visit UC berkeley.</p>

<p>Also, I just noticed you’re from NY (sorry haha) but I think most NY-ers will like LA better since LA is similar to NY in its environment. I think you’ll be very bored at Berkeley. Berkeley’s a huge change in environment compared to NY.</p>

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<p>Oh yeah, USC is in downtown LA, which is the more ghetto area of LA. My freinds said they mostly stay on campus (where it’s safer) and the school has cars that will pick you up from the surrounding areas and take you to campus at night. USC has a very nice campus though. It gives off the vibe of a small private univ. (which it is LOL) but it seems not as vast as UCLA and Berkeley. USC is too expensive though so I didn’t apply. I think USC is not as prestigious as UCLA or UC Berkeley in my opinion.</p>

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<p>Also into all noted. Hands down, choice is USC. Loads of team spirit, upbeat campus. UC’s are having horrible financial issues and talking about numerous ways to cut costs. They are even talking about having some courses go online; trying to get kids to graduate in 3 years. The three years would be hard, as right now it’s a 5 year program because kids can’t get the classes they want. You might check out local California newspaper articles, as the topic is getting lots of press right now. As an undergrad, plan on huge classes (like sitting with 200 other kids) and no actual professors, but TA’s. USC class sizes are much smaller. No problems at all with the area of LA. Security great. Kids even park their cars on the streets. I wouldn’t even consider UC’s right now, but would put UCLA second and Berkeley third.</p>

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<p>@lanimer to correct some erroneous information -</p>

<p>“no actual professors” - all lectures I’ve had have been taught by profs, never TAs. </p>

<p>As far as class size, early lower div pre-reqs were huge (as they are everywhere), got smaller into upper divs (anywhere from 5 students to 60 students)</p>

<p>“5 year program” - Still a 4-year program, but people do take longer, depending on your major you might also finish earlier (Biz Econ/Econ, many non-science majors if you don’t take a minor/double major, I had the option to finish my engineering degree at 3 2/3rd years)</p>

<p>I have to hand it to USC for supporting its business student orgs much better than UCLA (but that does come out of your tuition).</p>

<p>However, if you’re looking for great sports, look for UCLA as USC’s dynasty is coming to an end with an NCAA investigation of Mikey Garett’s dirty dealing and a general cleansing of the dirt.</p>

<p>Traffic is a beach, but it’s not like you have to deal with it too much unless you have to commute to work.</p>

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<p>I am thinking Berkeley, ya’ll. Am I wrong? No one here has much to say about it.</p>

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<p>Decision should have already been made</p>

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<p>Academically wise, don’t even think about USC if you got into UCB and UCLA. UCB is slightly better but overall it comes down too which one feels better. I liked UCLA more</p>

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<p>

Yep, it’s a tad bit late to ■■■■■ the UCLA forum. Now we just discuss campus issues. -.-</p>

<p>So who’s going to the Sizzlin’ Summer sale on Wednesday?</p>

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<p>How can I say no to XXXL UCLA shirts and sweatpants?</p>

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<p>UCLA = Cal
UCLA > U$C
Cal > U$C</p>

<p>And it is true that if you have money and come from rich family, you can get into U$C without superior grade. </p>

<p>U$C is in the heart of the ghetto in Los Angeles. You don’t want to walk alone at night unarmed in the university park area. (… heard of South Central LA?) </p>

<p>On the other hand, Bel Air is just across Sunset Ave at the northern part of UCLA campus, Brentwood is just at the other side of 405, Holmby Hill is just right across Hilgard Ave at the eastern part of UCLA campus (the famous Playboy mansion is in Holmby Hill neighborhood). </p>

<p>UCLA to heaven is like U$C to hell.</p>

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<p>you must be a big boy, heaven… 46-50 inch waistline?</p>

<p>hope you have height to go with that girth, or rather I hope you were joking. ;)</p>

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<p>XXXL = the only size ever on the red tag tables</p>

<p>baby clothes too, I suppose</p>

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<p>Baby clothes? Where? I want baby clothes!</p>

<p>UCLA attire is never small enough for me. I guess I’ve never actually looked in the Kid’s department. -.-</p>

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<p>I actually ended up buying something that was 25% off. It’s the 50% tables that are piles of random [url="<a href="http://i206.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/bb26/Iam3elliott/Photo-0116.jpg"]crap[/url"&gt;http://i206.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/bb26/Iam3elliott/Photo-0116.jpg"]crap[/url</a>].</p>

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<p>1 lo = 20 “hahaha’s”</p>

<p>LOLOLOLOLOLOL</p>

<p>=D</p>