<p>So, these schools are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. I have visited both, and I like both for different reasons... though, both have drawbacks. Cost really is not a factor for me; after all, I am willing to pay the $54k/year for Berkeley. Could anyone please give me some advice?</p>
<p>Actually, I was wondering if anyone could give any insight… When I visited Berkeley, I noticed that the main library was only open from 10-5 on Monday thru Friday. How does that work out? Are there lots of places to study besides the library? I only saw one medium-sized common room at the bottom of the units, and not many other places to study besides outside on the lawns. And getting into certain classes at Berk seems like it could be a pain. But I feel like Berkeley can give many more opportunities for fun social things and internships and jobs as well, even though Colby could potentially give an education that is more my style due to the small classes.</p>
<p>At Colby you’d get a much more personal education. Holy crap, is Berkeley $54,000 now? No state school is worth that.</p>
<p>Actually, the main libraries are Doe, Moffitt, and Main Stacks, which are connected to each other. Doe closes around 9pm on weekdays, Moffitt and Main Stacks at 2am; all are closed earlier on Fridays (about 10pm for the Stacks and Moffitt? you can check lib.berkeley.edu for times on specific days, this is what I remember off the top of my head – I work at the Berkeley libraries. :D)</p>
<p>There are a ton of other places to study. Your room, for example, and plus whatever lounges are in your residential area. (If in the units, generally one lounge every other floor.) I don’t think studying spaces are a problem. (You can also just walk into any open academic building and claim a room until some class comes in, which is what I’ve done during finals week.) And frankly, the scheduling thing is NOT that big of a deal, except possibly for science majors who have to take classes on a sequence. Yes, you might not get off certain class waitlists. I’ve never had a problem, personally. There are probably a few unlucky people who have had to take an extra semester or two because they couldn’t finish off their major in time…but I don’t think they’re that common.</p>
<p>Since cost isn’t a problem for you…and because I have a hankering for liberal arts colleges (I’m looking to transfer for next year, sick of the impersonal atmosphere)…I’d say Colby unless you’re looking for the competitive science programs. But seriously, if you like small, discussion-based classes with real profs, don’t come to Berkeley. We have discussion sections with more than competent GSIs, but still – you have to really work to get to know a prof, which I expect would be way easier at Colby despite anything anyone says about office hours on the Berkeley board. I can’t go to most of my profs’ office hours because of work and other classes that I refuse to skip and don’t really want to schedule an appointment unless I have real questions. Socially, I’m sure Berkeley has a bigger variety of people to hang out with and do, but it seems to be that pretty much every club on campus has a huge inflated feel to it.</p>
<p>Be sure you can handle Colby’s tiny size and (probably) very quiet town.</p>
<p>Someone very, very familiar with both schools once told me "Berkeley is the kind of school you grow INTO… Colby the kind you grow OUT of…</p>
<p>Berkeley’s Haas Business School library was a nice, quiet place to study…</p>
<p>The $54k is recommended budget for housing, food plan, fees and out-of-state tuition.</p>
<p>These two schools are entirely different experiences, so it really depends on what you want out of your undergraduate education. I love Berkeley as a city, and would recommend it for grad school, but I wouldn’t want to go to school as an undergrad there. Too hard to get any mentoring. The math class my sister sat in on when she was thinking about attending was so large that she had to watch the prof on a closed circuit t.v. in a massive auditorium- and he was teaching in another auditorium: The class was that big. Graduating in 4 years can be a problem too which adds to the cost.</p>
<p>LACs are much more personal learning environments. Apart from all the mentoring from faculty, and greater emphasis on writing and speaking up in class, Colby has a great outdooring program which a majority of the school participates in, excellent food, and of course, the wonderful 4-1-4 structure that allows you to focus on one thing intensely for a month at school. Our guide learned black-smithing, which I thought was cool. Someone else mentioned the became EMT certified. Another got a jump on Arabic.</p>
<p>Yes, you could grow out of it by your senior year, although if you spend a semester or two abroad, as most students at LACs do, you are less likely to get tired of it. And you can use that Jan term to travel, intern or work elsewhere.</p>