<p>I've been accepeted to both schools as a mechanical engineering major and am trying to decide where to go. I really like UCLA a lot. It's not too far from home, is a good campus, lots of activity, good sports - basically it seems like a great place to go. I haven't visited Berkeley yet (will be there this Saturday for Cal Day), but from what I hear about it it just doesn't sound that great of a school for me. Right now I am leaning heavily towards UCLA.</p>
<p>But when I tell a lot of people I'm thinking about UCLA over Cal for engineering they seem kind of shocked that I would give up Cal. I realize Berkeley is an amazing school for engineering, but I just don't think I'm going to end up there. I know UCLA is also a good school for engineering, but am I going to be put at some kind of disadvantage choosing LA over Cal, or will a Bachelor's from either school put me in relatively the same position for jobs/grad school/etc?</p>
<p>Well I suppose things I've been hearing about Berkeley aren't necessarily accurate, which is why I'm hoping a visit up there this weekend will put things into better perspective for me. But basically that it has a super-competitive atmosphere with cutthroat students, kind of in a not-so-nice area with a lot of homeless people, the area is super-congested, etc...I'm sure some stereotypical things are in there, but I really haven't heard anything that's made me want to go there.</p>
<p>My biggest issue is proximity to home and family. Going to Berkeley will mean a good 8-10 drive anytime I want to go visit, which is a big deal and not a trip I'll want to make often. UCLA is no more than 90 minutes away, which is a doable weekend trip any time. If Berkeley had significantly more to offer for engineering, I may give it more serious thought, but if a degree from Cal doesn't carry substantially more weight than one from UCLA I would probably just stick with LA.</p>
<p>I live fairly close to UCLA (35 minutes with little traffic) and have been there MANY times. UCLA is a lot like Cal with the big school atmosphere and has almost that Westwood feel with Telegraph street. One of the differences I noticed between the two schools is UCLA is in a very rich neighborhood and Cal is in a downtown area which isn't that bad. Cal isn't located in a place like Compton. There are homeless people but no more than you'll find in Santa Monica. UCLA is super congested too. The other difference is the weather. Southern California weather is MUCH much nicer in my opinion. Less rain, more sun, more heat.</p>
<p>As for the students, at both schools there will be major competition.</p>
<p>So visit Cal, see if you like the campus and decide. If you really love SoCal, go to UCLA. If you want to experience a different culture (northern californians are much different than southern californians), go to Cal.</p>
<p>"If you want to experience a different culture (northern californians are much different than southern californians), go to Cal"</p>
<p>Not exactly, because half the student body at Cal is from SoCal. New surroundings for sure, but you will be driving/flying south with classmates.</p>
<p>Berkeley is more competitive, but the degree is undoubtedly more prestigious. As well, ME is not quite cutthroat, more like intense. It's a notch below EECS in terms of intensity. You'll definitely be ahead in terms of jobs/grad school prospects, the feedback you've been getting is true.</p>
<p>Berkeley is actually less congested, because it's a pedestrian city and campus. The southside/Telegraph area has a few homeless people, but it's also get great shops, bars and restaurants and tons of students around the clock. You'll feel comfortable there after a while as you'll find your comfort zone first growing, then really enjoying it. The city around campus is actually quite nice. Median detached home prices are around $750,000...</p>
<p>Ultimately though, if the Cal environment doesn't appeal to you at all, go with UCLA.</p>
<p>The thing about Cal Day is it's not quite representative of what Cal is like- not that close at all. There are thousands upon thousands of more people here on that day than any other. I would advise that you come the day before or after in addition to Cal Day to get a more real feel for the place. Cal Day is great, but not representative of Berkeley is some ways, and I hope students realize that.</p>
<p>People make it seem like UCLA is a good school for engineering, not as good as Berkeley on the whole, but very good, not too far away. I'm not sure how grads do compared to each other. </p>
<p>I think that the "a super-competitive atmosphere" is far overblown, as are the "cutthroat students." And I would ask you, what about UCLA engineering? These things exist most prevalently in the sciences and engineering, but how do you think they compare at each school? I can't imagine them being that different from one another, however cuthroat and competitive they are. </p>
<p>The area isn't the heart of Bel Air (which UCLA is outside of), but it's nice enough. It's not downtown Compton or the worst part of Oakland. There are homeless people. Cal Day is going to feel HUGELY "super-congested" compared to an actual day on campus. If anything, keep that in mind. </p>
<p>Berkeley would probably be a 1 to 1.5 hour flight from where you're from. The distance to UCLA should include time for possible traffic ;). There are certainly good reason to choose UCLA, and perhaps that's the right place for you. Talk to people in the college of engineering while you're here, people in the major and profs/staff/administrators. That might help you out a lot.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, everyone...I'll be heading up to Berkeley tomorrow, and hopefully the visit will help me make a final decision on where to go...</p>
<p>Decision time is coming up fast...any more opinions would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I liked Cal much better than I thought I would. I'm still leaning towards UCLA, but it will probably be a much harder decision now.</p>
<p>DRab - in academic terms, I feel Berkeley is probably better but maybe more intense, which makes me a little nervous. But I'm thinking I'll get what I need out of either school. As far as quarters vs. semesters, it seems like quarters is maybe a little more hectic but you can get more accomplished...but they both seem fine to me, I'm sure I could adjust to either system.</p>
<p>CalX - the initial negative feeling came mostly what I'd heard from people in my school, mostly from students who had older siblings going to Berkeley. The majority didn't have bad things to say, but the things that they did say didn't really appeal to me. CC has definetely offered some negative aspects, but my initial impression came from places other than this site. If anything though, this site has made it seem a little better to me than if I never looked at the boards for info.</p>
<p>My input is since you are from SoCal, aside from academics, I would say going to Cal would also be better since you'd be living far away from home in a totally different environment. Both universities are prestigious and will offer many opportunities. Though perceive that UCB is superior in engineering in terms of reputation, as well as ranked higher in every (nearly?) engineering discipline compared to UCLA in the US News and Reports (not that you should make a decision based on those rankings alone, of course).</p>
<p>just go by whichever school you feel best at. i know a lot of ppl at my school that are turning down Cal engineering for UCLA engineering (and in some cases SD's bioeng program), because they like the socal atmosphere better, etc. i don't think it'll make TOO much of a difference</p>