Davis or Cal?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I have been successfully admitted into both UC Davis and UC Berkeley and am having a great deal of trouble deciding between both. Both have their pros and cons. I really enjoy Davis because of the community atmosphere, nice campus, safety, nice people, and just a happy environment. Everyone there seems to love and enjoy attending there. I went to Decision Day at Davis and it seemed like they really wanted me there. Although I haven't checked out Cal in such depth, the vibe I get from them is a place full of unnecessary competition, and hobos everywhere. Prestige seems to be the only thing that is making me hold onto Cal. I just don't want to regret turning down the #1 Public University in the nation. I have also been admitted as a Spring Admit at Cal which is also in the con pile for me. I registered for their FPF program just in case I decide to attend, but I'm not very well informed on this program. I went to go check out the FPF campus and it's right next to People's Park which seems like a popular homeless people attraction, and the FPF campus does not seem close to the actual Cal campus and Sproul where everything is happening. In addition, I would be a Pre-Business major at Cal and I'm curious on how competitive it truly is to get into the Haas Business School for Undergraduate. I would also be a Managerial Economics at Davis. Here are my concerns for both schools:
-happy atmosphere
-workload/stress
-job opportunities after graduating (seems like a degree from Cal would get me a better job in a hypothetical situation? although Davis seems to have great internship opportunities, and the state capitol is close by, somewhere where I do see myself possibly working)
-safety on campus
-FPF Program at Cal
-What would I do if I wasn't accepted into the Haas Business School? How difficult is it to get in?</p>

<p>I just want to make the right decision and not regret anything, what should I do?</p>

2

<p>You shouldn’t be concerned about the FPF Program because its pretty much JUST like taking Berkeley classes. I did FPF and now I’m in Haas. </p>

<p>Even if you don’t get into Haas, I’m pretty sure an Economics degree is similar in value. There are still plenty of employers who will recruit you whereas that may not be the case in Davis.</p>

3

<p>what about all of the other concerns I have? Since that’s just one factor I’m taking into consideration.</p>

4

<p>I believe that was two… (Haas + FPF). If you don’t get into Haas, you can major in Economics. No big deal. It’s not hard to get in if you gave a crap about getting in.</p>

<p>“happy atmosphere” - it’s what you make of it… It’s not like you will find everyone to be walking around with a frown but you won’t see everyone with a smile of their face either. </p>

<p>Workload/stress - Again, workload depends on how many units you want to take. Stress is always there in college and if you’re trying to get into Haas, yes, there will be a bit more. </p>

<p>I feel like the job opportunities here are much better (esp. @ Haas).</p>

5

<p>You sound like you like the vibe at Davis more…I don’t blame you. The Davis kids I know seem more chill and yes, a lot of Berkeley kids stress themselves out. Not all, but a lot of people are on the go. I feel like that’s less of the case at Davis since Berkeley kids are more likely to have been the cream of the crop at their high schools. There’s also more of an international atmosphere at Berkeley – foreign students are more attracted to come here because of its reputation.</p>

<p>I don’t know about business/econ at either schools, but if you’re concerned about the grungy, homeless guys atmosphere, I suggest you look into moving to Northside or west of campus after your freshman year. I’ve lived in North Berkeley for the entirety of my Cal career, and it’s such a different area up here – <em>one</em> homeless guy, million-dollar mansions, tiny parks between houses and ivy-laced short cuts…beautiful streets to jog.</p>

6

<p>Let me lend some thoughts, having attended both schools, albeit awhile ago. </p>

<p>I started as a 16 y/o freshman at Cal after growing up in a Central California. Yes, it was big, competitive and scary (and yes, there were grungy people around at times, but that’s… atmosphere and shouldn’t be a major issue). Yes, I was challenged and had to raise my game; what I thought was pretty clever work in HS was called out by professors for what it was - shallow and snarky showing-off. I met, excelled with and was taught by some of the smartest people in the world. I did not feel that I was competing against my fellow students - I felt that I was being shown how to compete with my old self to become a stronger, new self. If you earned the grades and scores to get into Cal, I’m assuming that you set pretty high standards for yourself. Oh, and the most excellent city in the world - San Francisco - was a BART ride away.</p>

<p>When I went to Davis for grad school, I felt almost like I’d returned to high school. Yes, it was pleasant and you didn’t have to avoid protest marches, but I certainly didn’t feel stretched by anything other than the work within my own grad school discipline. And a hot time was going into … Sacramento? (I attribute my better grades in grad school than as an undergrad in part to the fewer temptations in Davis.)</p>

<p>Birdhouse makes a good point about maybe finding housing on Northside after you get through your first year - it’s a lot safer and mellower… but a bit more expensive. (Love the description of “million dollar mansions”, though; a million dollars gets you a 3 bedroom Julia Morgan-designed house, now.) If you can afford it, it’s a good answer to your concerns. You will be a bit more divorced from the general student hubbub and southside shopping, but that’s apparently not a draw for you. But you can make that call after your first year.</p>

<p>And, yes, if you want to get out of California and do something, that Cal degree means a lot more than one from Davis. A lot. You may want to call it “prestige”, but it does count for a lot.</p>

<p>Also, if you try Cal and don’t like it, it’s a lot easier to move from Cal to Davis than the other way around, I believe.</p>

7

<p>I was in FPF just last semester. I remember when I was admitted as a spring admit last year, I was also very concerned about FPF.</p>

<p>First of all, I want to say I think it was a great program and I definitely made the right decision. I was deciding between UCLA or UC Berkeley as an FPF student. </p>

<p>Don’t worry about people’s park. There are so many students walking around the FPF campus that it’s really not anything to worry about. Also, there are no night classes on the FPF campus. I think the latest one is like 4. The campus is really nice, not far at all from the actual campus or the dorms or anything. You are also more than likely to get housing. </p>

<p>I didn’t feel at all different from the fall admits in Berkeley. That was what I was worried about, if there would be a stigma attached to being a spring admit or not. Once you’re here, you’re all the same. No one really cares if you’re FPF or not. Now that I’m in the Berkeley campus spring semester, my life hasn’t really changed, it feels the same.</p>

<p>In the end of the day, pick the campus that you feel is right for you. Don’t let FPF make you choose another campus. If you get into FPF, consider yourself more of a fall admit.</p>