<p>Hello everyone! I have a really tough decision to make that I was hoping you all could help me with: [ul][li]should I go to Georgetown or Berkeley?[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>I am currently undecided, and price is not really a factor (although I am instate for Berkeley). Any opinions? Thanks for your help! :D</p>
<p>It all depends on what you want in a school. Georgetown is a great school in a great town. I wouldn't classify it as an intellectual center like Cal, but it's a very savvy school filled with savvy people. DC is very different from Berkeley. My recommendation is that you visit both and see what's "up your alley." Needless to say, both will offer you great opportunities. </p>
<p>If you'd like, PM me and I can tell you my experiences living out here in DC since I just don't want to bore everyone with my "sordid affairs."</p>
<p>Hm... I'm in the same position.</p>
<p>Anyone else care to answer? :o</p>
<p>Thanks, UCLAri!</p>
<p>Anyone else? I've only got 10 days! :p</p>
<p>What are the factors that made you want to apply to each of these schools? What is important to you in the academic, social and other environment? What do your parents say about the cost factor? Do you live near Berkeley or in another part of Ca.?</p>
<p>Georgetown was on my S's initial list of schools (along with Berkeley, Davis, Harvard, Yale, George Washington and Chicago). After visiting last fall, he decided it clearly wasn't for him, while the other six schools he was excited about. Although Georgetown would have offered him much in terms of political internships and excellent academics, he felt the undergrad atmosphere on campus was a little too conservative and businesslike and a lot more preppy compared to the other schools. These two schools are tough to get a feeling for without visiting (heck, any school is), but they are very, very different in atmosphere. So if lifestyle on/off campus is important to you, I highly recommend you visit before signing up. If that isn't an issue, and finances aren't either, then go to Georgetown for the east coast experience. Since we don't know your personalities, jesseo and calidan, it's tough to say which would be a better fit for you (if you want to describe yourselves more, that might be helpful to those of us who have visited both schools.)</p>
<p>Well, in terms of academics, I know that I will not be going into any math or science related field. I will most likely major in something like political science, international business, marketing, philosophy, or perhaps a foreign language. In the future, I am considering things like law school or business school (so pretty much undecided).</p>
<p>I live in the Bay Area, about 15 minutes from Berkeley. The proximity doesn't bother me, however. I have visited both schools, and I really like both schools, even though they are so different.</p>
<p>While I really don't want to have to deal with the lack of "attention" and big classes at Cal, in the long run I would be saving a lot of money (probably close to $75,000). </p>
<p>But at Georgetown, I feel I would do better academically, because of the more individualized attention and smaller classes. So I would probably be able to get into a better grad school from Georgetown. But then again, it would be easier to pay for that grad school with the many I would save by going to Cal.</p>
<p>Therein lies the paradox: do I go to a school where I would do better academically, but pay way more, or do I go to a school where I would probably do a little worse (and be marginally less happy), but come out of it with more money?</p>
<p>Any ideas? I am so indecisive and hesitant. :o</p>
<p>Both student bodies are made up of smart people, but there the similarity ends. More than a third of Berkeley students come from the bottom 35% of the U.S. population economically speaking; 60% of Georgetown's students come from the top 5%. It is likely that, even independent of things like class size or administration, they will likely feel very different. </p>
<p>The Berkeley faculty are among the top in the world, and take a back seat to no one, not even HYP or S; the question is how ready you are to put out the necessary effort to get to them.</p>
<p>Political science or intl relations? Wanna see Madeline Albright walking through the halls? Go to Georgetown, hands down.</p>
<p>First of all, thanks for the help!</p>
<p>But the thing is, I'm not completely sure I want to go into politics. If I did, I wouldn't have even made this thread, because you really can't beat Georgetown for that. This is also what's making me indecisive, because since I'm undecided now, I could end up studying most anything. And let's say I end up choosing Berkeley, but I find out that I love politics- then I would be not very happy with my choice. Does that make sense? :p</p>
<p>I would do Georgetown even if you're not interested in politics. The connections that you make there can help you anywhere. In addition, Berkeley is depressing and REALLY HUGE. At georgetown you'll actually have counseling and get to meet your profs</p>
<p>Intl relations is not necessarily a lead in to politics.</p>
<p>You should study the subject that most interests you because your passion for it will draw you in, make it easy to read those 1000 pages of tough text.:eek:</p>
<p>If the subject is history or international diplomacy, there are many career paths stemming from a love of those subjects. 'Politics' is only one.</p>
<p>In other words, don't try to plan your career. You can have a great career from either school. Head towards the subject that you have passion for and let the education itself point you toward a possible field of interest.</p>
<p>To me, GTown sounds like the most likely fit. You seemed to have more trepidation with Cal, anyway. </p>
<p>Ultimately, either one is going to be a fine juncture regarding grad school, if you do actually go.</p>