<p>Okay so I know the many threads out there that compare ucla to ucb. Overall I want to major in I dont know biology or Astronomoy (maybe even astro physics?) Essentially I want to become a doctor/astronaut haha I am aware that this combo is not too popular, but hey! So anyways after visiting Cal for Cal Day and staying there for a couple nights through OHP, I'm not sure if I liked the environment of tha campus as much. I mean there is nothign wrong with berkeley, I am just not sure if it is... me? But the problem is I have received the Regents Scholarship from berkeley (due to my financial need = full ride). UCLA for me, however, would also be a full ride thanks to my GATES scholarship. Now the question, sine acedmically these two schools are almost similar, is the Regents schoalrship (since its money puts no weight on my decision) good enough for me to go to berkeley instead of UCLA? Thanks guyz any input would be apreciated!</p>
<p>Have you visited UCLA? How does UCLA's environment and fit compare to UCB in your opinion?</p>
<p>Go to UCLA. If money isn't an issue and you like UCLA better than I don't know what the problem is.</p>
<p>I personally like UCLA's envinroment.... and with my goal to go to med school at UCLA (from what I hear) it will be a lot easier than at UCB (keeping in mind that a lot easier still means really difficult in that sense). But the only thing is the Regents Scholarship that I have received. Does that besides its $ value, provide me with any other benifit worth going to UCB for ?</p>
<p>Off the top of my head I can't recall what comes with regents besides money, but I think there are some other tangible rewards (along with the general prestige). As far it being alot easier to get into UCLA med school from UCLA UG, I haven't heard that and I'd be surprised if it was true. Do you remember where you heard that?</p>
<p>If you want to keep the option of astronomy/physics/astrophysics open, then I would hope that you give Cal another look. I came here convinced that I would be majoring in something else, but I've always loved geography. Cal has one of the premier geography departments (aside from the fact that there aren't too many geography dpts. in US colleges) and I wound out backing out of "something else" and majoring in geography. And you know what? I'm damned glad I chose Cal, because I wouldn't have been able to major in geography in any of the other schools I was considering. Don't underestimate your gut feeling and true loves.</p>
<p>UCLA also has geography...:p</p>
<p>But anyway, it's not like UCLA is going to be a school where you're terribly limited by the number of majors and available resources. Both offer extremely comparable undergrad experiences, and you should base this on funding and feel. A free degree is worth more than a paid for degree.</p>
<p>Six benefits of the Regents' Scholarship:</p>
<p>Prestige: Highest honor awarded to entering undergraduates. Include a special reception in the fall at the Chancellor's. </p>
<p>Money: As you know, covers demonstrated need. Additionally, there's a decent discount students get at the Student Store on campus, but I don't recall the exact percentage. (20%?)</p>
<p>Housing: You are guaranteed housing for 4 years (instead of 2). Doubt this is guarantee of the room you want, but knowing you always have the option to live on campus is a nice perq for some.</p>
<p>Faculty Sponsor: Each scholarship recipient is assigned to a Faculty Sponsor, which is basically a free ticket to work with a faculty member. At a school that is as isolated as Cal is (in that the university will NOT hold your hand, you need to be very proactive about what you want from your education), this can be extremely beneficial, particularly if you are too shy to initiate conversations with professors that normal lead later on to such a relationship.</p>
<p>The RCSA: There's a whole student association devoted to helping you acclimate, make the most of your time at Cal, and make the most of the degree you receive once you've graduated.</p>
<p>Financial Aid Advising: You have a personal (well, they do it for all the R&C scholars) mediator for all financial aid issues. Why this is relevant when your financial need is met with scholarship is unknown to me!</p>
<p>So... Regents is not something to sneeze at. It's not just money.</p>
<p>If you know you want to go to UCLA for your graduate work, you should go to Berkeley for the undergrad...get two different experiences, it would be a better balance than doing both at the same college. My uncle did UCLA for his undergrad and Berkeley for his grad and he really enjoyed attending both. I would suggest you go to Berkeley, the Regents is really impressive too, don't pass up that opportunity.</p>
<p>Well its not like i want to go to UCLA for grad school... it really depends what my goals are once I am in college. So for someone who has a full ride to both schools and regents at one of them... I should go with the regents one, correct? I really like Berkeley its not that... It's just that the whole atmosphere didn't seem too intriguing</p>
<p>If UCLA feels better, go to UCLA.</p>