UC Berkeley wait list decisions just came out and I got accepted. However, I have already SIR’d to Cornell. I am currently signed up as a Government major in Cornell and a Poli Sci major in Cal, but neither one requires you to declare major until end of sohphomore year. Cal would be cheaper as I live in California, but money isn’t really an issue.
Any advice?
Cornell
If u had a spectrum of how much the surrounding neighborhood affects one’s experience at a college, seems to me that NYU and Berkeley would be at one end…in that if the local vibe isn’t your “thing” then it’a going to be a lonnnnnng 4 years. So the main question is: do you like that whole Berkeley thing?
^^who is talking about NYU?? Hun?
It really depends on what you like about each. Think it through.
Just saying some schools’ vibes are extreme, in your face, unavoidable, and color all aspects of ur life. And that the 2 most obvvous ones are NYU and UCB…just including NYU as a reference point. Jeez.
I don’t think UCB is extreme, the Bay Area is a pretty cool place. I think it is confusing to bring in NYU reference here when we are talking Cornell and Berkeley. Ok so Cornell is in Ithaca and has very cold winters and is hours from city, in NY. UCB is in milder CA climate although Nor Cal gets cold in winter no snow (unless you visit Tahoe.) Berkeley semi urban and you can hop on the BART to get into SF in short ride. OP is CA native and presumably nothing about a CA town is very different. Cornell is East Coast and more of an adventure.
Go to the cheapest option. Cal is no better or worse than Cornell. But for location, Cal wins. Cornell is too isolated for some people.
I’d take Berkeley over Cornell any day of the week. Better location by a long mile – if you lived in NYC, Ithaca would be enough of a hassle to get to, but from CA, it would be a nightmare – much better deal financially (in-state tuition), and Berkeley is a top-notch school with a great reputation both nationally and internationally. Had you said Columbia rather than Cornell, that might be another matter, but Cal vs. Cornell, I’d chose the former.
Cornell is an exceptionally beautiful, nationally diverse, academically excellent university in the vibrant college town of Ithaca, with winter weather that is suitable for the adventurous. Ask yourself if this appeals to you. If so, the gorges, heretofore unmentioned, will be a nice bonus. Good luck.
Right…nothing extreme about Berkeley…just your average college town
What do you want to do after college? If you want to work in investment banking in NYC or work in the East coast I’d say go to Cornell. If you want to work in CA or anywhere in the west coast then go to Cal.
Post #9, it’s an average college town with a lot of bums.
Personally, I like Berkeley (the city). Whether Berkeley seems extreme or not really depends on where you come from. There are plenty of colorful places in the US.
Go for the IVY.