<p>So I've been accepted to both UChicago and Berkeley, and I was under the impression that I would pick UChicago in a heartbeat, but I'm slowly realizing that Berkeley may be a better option.</p>
<p>Just to let you know, I'm a California resident so Berkeley's room and tuition would be half of UChicago's costs. </p>
<p>I'm aiming towards a business/econ major and I know that UChicago is definitely THE place to go for economics, but I know that Berkeley has been progressively establishing itself as a top economics school as well, not to mention Haas.</p>
<p>I have visited UChicago and the campus is simply amazing and surreal, and I've always assumed that I would be willing to move afar and out of California, but I'm having second thoughts as Berkeley sounds like an amazing place to attend.</p>
<p>I apologize as this may seem like I'm venting like a whiny brat, because I slightly am, but I'm really stuck right now.</p>
<p>If anybody could weigh the pros and cons of each college with depth, I'd really appreciate it!</p>
<p>I’m very, very biased. In the spirit of full disclosure, I applied to UChicago and love it, while I did not even consider Berkeley, or anything west of Chicago for that matter.</p>
<p>As a con for UChicago, I know that there is some worry about the level of focus on graduates. However, I haven’t looked much into this as my major is small enough nearly everywhere for undergrads to get a lot of attention.
There is also grade deflation about UChicago. They have that jokey t-shirt:“University of Chicago: where the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA.” This shirt also makes reference to the lack of fun. It seems to me that most UChicago students are happy with the level of fun they are having, but it’s also a self-selecting group. If you want to go to a lot of parties, UChicago is probably not the place for you.
Also, don’t underestimate the Chicago winter. I’ve only visited UChicago in the bright and sunshiney spring, but I’ve been to Northwestern in the fall a few times. Admittedly, it might be a bit colder there since the campus is nearer to the lake, but it’s hardly warm at Chicago. It is not pleasant, especially for people used to warmth. It’s not just the cold either; the lack of sun, the slush, the clouds make people rather sad. After the short-lived excitement of “SNOW!” there’s not all that much to be happy about, weather-wise.
As for my final con, well, I don’t know where Berkeley is, but Chicago is in a city and has less of a campus than many other schools. If you’re looking for an idyllic, arboreal environment, look elsewhere. </p>
<p>The biggest thing for me about Chicago was definitely the self-selecting culture. It sounds like you already like that aspect a lot, so I don’t feel the need to expand. Educationally, I was also very much into the idea of a focus on the theoretical. I don’t really like applications; I want to learn theories.</p>
<p>Sorry for being completely unable to comment on Berkeley. I literally know nothing about it.</p>
<p>I know in business/econ major, UChicago is SOOO attractive. But considering the cost and the fact that employers care more about graduate school, so save yourself some money to attend a great graduate school.</p>
<p>Like you said, Berkely’s econ and business are great too!</p>
<p>Also the weather. If you don’t like cold, winter Chicago is not the place you want to stay.</p>
<p>As is the rule for so many other decisions, your first instincts are usually best. If the whole UChicago 'gestalt" is what seemed attractive to you, stick with it. Other differences to focus on, I think, are the sizes of the schools and the trimester vs. semester system. It seems like it should be easy to decide if you like the big school, big time sports atmosphere, even with the big lectures, or the smaller school/lack of sports atmosphere more. But it isn’t as easy for some people. Still, you must be leaning one way or the other. The trimester system at Chigago is intense in terms of work, but it also allows you to explore more courses in more areas. It also makes taking a semester abroad easier. If you go, for example, in the fall of junior year, you only miss one of the three trimesters.</p>
<p>Yeah I agree with the sentiment that Chicago is not worth twice the cost of Cal. I love Chicago - the school and the city- but Berkeley is also a GREAT university and I would go to Cal.</p>