<p>Im having trouble choosing between these two schools.</p>
<p>I am a California Resident</p>
<p>Chicago has been my first choice for some time now, but I am starting to rethink this prospect. </p>
<p>The tuition at Chicago is extremely high, especially compared to the tuition of Berkeley's. I got Regents at Berkeley, while I received nothing from Chicago. Berkeley is also pretty close to my home, so I would be able to visit my family often. Also, I wanted to graduate in 3 years or less and move on to graduate school. I know that Chicago's core curriculum might burden this, while at Berkeley this should be no problem, since I would bring many AP's and an IB Diploma worth of credit, as well as credit from CC classes. At Chicago, I may not be able to partake in many EC activities because of the grade deflation. Berkeley is supposed to be one of the most liberal universities, while some of my friends have told me that Chicago is conservative? I dont know if that is right. Im very liberal so I may not be able to mesh with that kind of atmospere. </p>
<p>It seems I desire the intellectualism that Chicago provides but I dont want all the extra burdens that comes along with this (tuition, stingent core, deflation etc.)</p>
<p>I think it sounds like you should go to Berkeley. I could come up with a variety of reasons to choose Chicago, but all of the things (graduating early, low tuition, no grade deflation) you have said you want seem to align with Berkeley and not Chicago.
The one thing that I can attest to is the political aspect of things- Chicago may have the reputation of having some conservative students and Berkeley stands as a very liberal place, but by no means will your liberal values or ideas be shot down at Chicago. I see it to be a very politically open place- while you will encounter people whose political inclinations differ from your own, they aren't going to try to "convert" you to being conservative; in all likelihood, it will just be a topic for excellent debate, and you will certainly find a set of friends who share your values.</p>
<p>"The tuition at Chicago is extremely high, especially compared to the tuition of Berkeley's. I got Regents at Berkeley, while I received nothing from Chicago."</p>
<p>Wait; I'm a little confused. Have you applied to Chicago yet? Because, and correct me if I'm wrong, didn't you post on the TASP thread a while ago, which means you are a junior? If so, perhaps you could give Chicago a chance...Who knows? You might receive an excellent merit aid scholarship, which will obviously help with tuition costs.</p>
<p>You could be right about the EC/deflation thing, but I'm sure there are quite a few students who do partake in many outside-school activities while maintaining their academic standards. And, finally, there is very little to worry about with regard to the liberal v conservative vibe. I've even heard, in fact, that Chicago is one of the more liberal schools. This makes sense, though, considering the whole "life of the mind" campus culture.</p>
<p>one piece of advice: do the overnight programs!
(seriously...it will be such an experience for you)</p>
<p>Personally, I would take cal over u of c
1) because of the financial aid ....and...
2) because of the transfer of credits
(I, too, am planning to transfer my credits and finish my undergraduate in
2 years. I've been concurrently enrolled in a local community college and
have about 60 semester units. U of Chicago only accepts those credits
as an "elective" credit. They wouldn't accept this a "General Ed" credit
which was a big bummer. At cal, every....EVERY credit transfers).</p>
<p>I guess i'm in the same boat as you are now. My tuition at cal is covered 100%, while at chicago...my family and I have to chip in about 10K...</p>
<p>Some do, some don't. I was checking out the College of Chicago's undergraduate placement recored and made an interesting observation - UChicago grad school is the most popular destination for the undergraduates at UChicago (among those going to grad school).
Out of all the students who go to grad school from the College of UChicago, 14% end up at the UChicago grad school.</p>
<p>Several stayed in our lab for grad school because they got involved in interesting research projects, some they initiated, and wanted to pursue them. Further, there was non better in his field than the head of our lab. We knew who they were, and we new they had a great undergrad education, so what was not to like. We found that it took awhile for students from elsewhere to acclimate to the University's academic climate and its "interrogative" (everything one said at a lab meeting had better be well defended) style.</p>
<p>I'm familiar with both schools. They are very different places. Liberals are very much at home at Chicago, but there are a variety of voices. Actually that might be better than Berkeley, where conservatives are pretty rare.<br>
Your intended major might make a big difference. There is no engineering at Chicago, and engieering is a big part of the Berkeley scene. </p>
<p>Chicago actually gives credit for some of the AP's. If you have a 4 or 5 you can get credit for some classes, and get into more advanced sections in others. Also you can forego the language requirement if you get a 4 or 5. </p>
<p>You have to average 3.5 classes a quarter at Chicago, but with AP credits and if you take 4 classes every quarter, it is possible to graduate in 3 years, although it would be a little grueling.</p>
<p>Both schools have great departments, but you'll have much smaller classes at Chicago, especially in lower division. Both have large graduate schools, so there are lots of opportunities for internships and research.</p>