Academically you would hard pressed to find much difference in ability or profile of any of the students at Berkeley UCLA or BC. Berkeley May get more super geniuses but it’s more about vibe and location. Berkeley is 40 percent Asian and has the academic intensity rep. UCLA and definately Boston College have a more of preppy and sporty student body. But all are diverse and care about students from all backgrounds. You’ll feel welcome at any of these schools.
Berkeley has a premier global reputation in many things like sciences and math. UCLA is one of the hottest schools in the us for a good reason and has its own global brand. BC is not that type of school but especially in the power centers of the east coast they have a lot of built in connections and alumni support. It’s no joke.
And major and concentrations matter. Berkeley and UCLA are large state schools with off the charts research and science departments. Bc and UCLA have great business schools and MBAs. Pre med is killer at all three with Berkeley considered the toughest. But Boston College has access to the best internships and hospital/medical research. But UCLA medical center and Silicon Valley are the world leaders too. So it’s a preference thing again.
If you are out of state UCLA and Berkeley are a bit harder to get into but all hard.
much has to do with location.
Bc is a Catholic school but not high in terms of religiosity. High on public service and also has a required liberal arts core even for Business, science and pre med types. Which many people like. Some don’t. It’s also smaller and has an idyllic campus and classic college atmosphere.
Boston is the best college town in the us but cal has the beautiful weather. Some people like to ski etc and Boston has a long winter but more like England. Summers in New England are the envy of the world if you get to stay.