<p>Starting college early on my behalf was not really planned (as strange as that sounds), and I know I missed out on a lot by not going to HS…sometimes I wished I had gone the conventional route, although I have simply become a much more mature person than a lot of people my age. :)</p>
<p>Because I began at a community college, transfer was the only option for me to go to a four year university, so applying as a freshman was not an option. :D</p>
<p>I know that UCB is an amazing school. If I didn’t think so I would have picked BC without making a thread like this. :)</p>
<p>Go to BC. But do take note that Berkeley is way more prestigious than BC. And, you’ll feel that more once you go back to Asia. Trust me; almost no one has ever heard of Boston College in Asia.</p>
<p>Reputation-wise according to US News, Berkeley is ranked 21st and BC is ranked 34th, I think there isn’t a huge difference academically and you will be fine wherever you go in the US if you go to both schools. Berkeley just appears to be superior because of the name it has internationally.</p>
<p>The USNews ranking wasn’t based on reputation. It was based on undergrad desirability. Many people equate that to college convenience, actually. But there’s a portion in the league table that says about prestige, the Peer Assessment. There’s also the selectivity rank. For both criteria, Berkeley trounced Boston College BIG TIME.</p>
<p>Selectivity: UC-Berkeley has free tuition for in-state students so everybody in California (of which there are many) applies there because it’s the best public school in California (well UCLA is good also) so UC-Berkeley is more selective only because more people apply there.</p>
<p>Peer Assessment: I really don’t know what to say about this category, 48% of all university presidents respond to the US News survey and frankly I don’t know how much a college administrator say at the University Of Southern Mississippi can know about both schools</p>
<p>that’s an oxymoron because no rankings are credible :p</p>
<p>RML, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion that UC-Berkeley is better and I am entitled to mine that BC is better but nobody but the OP himself can determine which is better because both are very good schools but I don’t think you can clearly say that one is better than the other.</p>
<p>^
I would have understood if you’ve said BC was your personal preference.
But saying BC is superior to Cal, or better than Cal, is like saying Nissan is superior to BMW.</p>
<p>Unless you want to change scenary, I would pick UCB if I were you. By the way, I grew up in MA. </p>
<p>First of all, MA weather is pretty bad in the winter. That’s compared to mild weather in California.</p>
<p>Secondly, Boston College is considered second tier schools (alongs with Brandeis, Tuft of world) in Boston since there are so many great colleges nearby (Ivy Leagues, MIT, top liberal schools). UCB, on the other hand, is considered top pubic school in California.</p>
<p>Thirdly, there is nothing like California for Asian Americans. I met many Asian friends who grew up in California and they all think that there is different world when they leave California.</p>
<p>Fourth, UCB is cheaper. If you need to go to Law school, you may want to save money for latter.</p>
<p>RML, I am sure that somebody would prefer Nissan over BMW out there
it’s all up to personal preference, I know people who have turned down Harvard for Smith and have ended up getting a good education anyways, throughout my college search I have slowly learned that no one college is truly “better” than the other for everyone, if the OP feels more comfortable at BC then he should go there because by feeling comfortable he will end up working harder at BC and succeeding academically than somewhere where he doesn’t really want to go that may have a better reputation.</p>
<p>jim1980, the OP wants to go to law school on the East Coast, more reason to pick BC, also the OP said that he wants to go somewhere with “not as many Asians”</p>
<p>Great reason. College is all about throwing yourself into a “different world.”</p>
<p>By the way, peer assessment is very, very significant part of a school’s rank in the USNWR. BC has poor standing in that regard because, in case one has forgotten or does not know, most Protestants have always shown deep contempt for Catholics (for good reason, due to centuries of persecution), and WASPs make up a great proportion of higher academia.</p>
<p>“the OP wants to go to law school on the East Coast, more reason to pick BC”</p>
<p>Not necessarily, UCB is considered favorable in East Coast while BC is overshadowed by other great schools in the Northeast. Also, many law schools want geographic diversity. So it maybe better stay in West Coast.</p>
<p>Seriously, geographically it doesn’t matter, as long as you succeed academically, that is better than letting your geography dictate where you go to law school</p>
<p>Well, the bottom line is that IMHO, Boston College is not that great that one should spend extra money over UCB. If the choice is between Amherst, Williams, Brown U of the world and UCB, I would glad to spend extra money on those schools over UCB.</p>
<p>Also, since you are transfer student (stay in Boston college for two more years?) and you are going to law school in two years(?) in the east coast anyway, what’s big deal to stay two more years in California (better weather, better school, better financial situation)? Since you are only 17, there is plenty of time to explore the world.</p>
<p>As a fan and alum of Berkeley, I can tell you without a doubt you should go with your gut. If you want to got BC, go to BC. You can argue until the cows come home about relative strength of the schools for undergrad learning. I wouldn’t put stock in that. For schools at the level of BC or UCB, what will matter much more is how you do at the school.</p>
<p>Three reasons for you to go to BC:</p>
<p>1) You would rather go there. I assume you’ve visited it. Sorry if I didn’t read closely enough. If your preference is based on visits, go.
2) You are from California. Get out of your comfort zone. Go live in a different world for awhile. This will make you much better rounded.
3) You will enter as a sophomore as opposed to a junior. You’ll have more time to develop relationships with professors who can write recs for law school. You’ll have more time to put together good internships, etc.</p>
<p>I personally don’t really care for BC’s campus and never found the place all that appealing. Still, you have to make up your own mind and take what people say here with a grain of salt.</p>
