<p>Both excellent for an undergrad who wants medicine or vet school post grad. But VERY different schools in terms of size and campus. After you visit, go with your guts on which one feels right to you. Since both are excellent academcially (they do call Berkeley the UC "Ivy"), use the other aspects of the schools to make your choice. Housing, class size, advisor accessibilty, etc are all issues that will hel make/break the 4 years you spend at college. We know many kids at Berekely...........they do complain about 3 to a dorm room, the huge size of classes, difficulty getting registered in classes, feeling "lost", etc. These are real issues at Cal. Don't disregard them. Having said all of that, my brother went to Cal, on to Tufts medical school and U Penn for his residency and is now a very successful Neurosurgeon.</p>
<p>thanks for the helpful replies.
anyone else?</p>
<p>Berkeley DOES offer fresh & soph seminars with amazing profs. When Stephan Hawking was there last month, every freshman got a free ticket (much to the chagrin of my soph D!) and took aprt in seminars in the fallleading up to it, if they wished.</p>
<p>Berkeley has tons of housing off campus which is cheaper than on campus. The walk to/through the city streets is fun and wasy. There is a ton to do and see and it is an easy walk (there are some hills)</p>
<p>Having just spent two weeks on the campus, I really did not notice the plethora of Asians, at least not the way I see it at UCI in Southern California. Yes, there are many Asian kids, but I just did not notice it overwhelmingly as I have at other UCs.</p>
<p>Taking Bart to the airport or to downtown San Francisco is quite easy, a short walk takes you into the Oakland hills for a run up the "fire trail"</p>
<p>Going greek is a good way to make friends on a campus where Greek is available, but not obsessive.</p>
<p>Housing is expensive, you're in California, but not that bad for a student, I don't know how your family would enjoy the area.</p>
<p>My D has not had any serious issues getting classes, sometimes it is not the perfect class at the perfect time, but she is totally on track to graduate and gets the classes she needs.</p>
<p>Cal has very good club sports, another good way to get involved.</p>
<p>Mainly, you MUST find your way to shrink the bubble so that you find your own circle of friends.</p>
<p>Also, my D has made personal relationships with some amazing profs- yes, that is the kind of person she is, she likes office hours, she asks questions, it is her style, but they have been amazingly giving of their time, even after she is no longer in their class, she still is in touch with some of them! This really surprised me.</p>
<p>We really thought our D should choose a smaller school, she likes that small school involvement, she chose Cal, knowing we did not recommend it and she has made it small for her.</p>
<p>You should go to both visits and then go with your gut. D did not feel strongly about any one school, all 6 had advantages, but she went with her gut as to where she ought to be! It worked.</p>