<p>Hi,
I was accepted into both UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara, but I had already decided on Santa Barbara thinking that I wasn't going to get into Berkeley. I loved everything about UC Santa Barbara (location, weather, social life, sports, etc.) The campus was beautiful, and honestly, I was really excited on going to school there next fall.</p>
<p>But then, I got an acceptance letter from Berkeley. I was surprised, and very proud that I got into one of the top universities in the country. </p>
<p>It's going to be a very tough choice, as I would really love to go to UCSB next year, but then again, I don't know if I want to turn down Berkeley. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated! I hope I make the right choice!</p>
<p>I don’t know though, UCSB and Berkeley have a very different vibe. You should go with wherever you seem happiest, but I definitely think that Cal’s worth giving it a shot.</p>
<p>They’re totally different atmospheres, filled with different people and you’ll have a different experience at both, but they both have so much to offer. Visit Cal and approach it looking for all the good and great things about it so you can be objective about your decision, but don’t be afraid to choose one school over the other because of perceptions of others.</p>
<p>Are you an urban kind of person? I think Santa Barbara has a hotter climate, located by the coast or something, whereas Berkeley has a colder climate, right in the middle of the city. I certainly would choose Berkeley in terms of prestige and job prospects, but in the end you should choose which environment would be the best fit for you.</p>
<p>Speaking of climates, the intellectual and political climates at both universities are pretty different as well. Berkeley is known to have an intense political atmosphere (as many can tell from Berkeley’s history of protests). Berkeley is also made up of some of the most intelligent and studious individuals in the country, so although you’ll definitely see some partying on frat row, it’s not the kind of wild party scene you’ll find at SB.</p>
<p>So while you decide on which one you want to attend, you may want to ask yourself which atmosphere you would feel comfortable and thrive in. I highly, HIGHLY recommend you visit both campuses (again, for SB) and see which one you think will be right for you. It will make a great impact in your decision process.</p>