<p>I know Cal and Wellesley are both very different schools, but I really don't know where to go...
I plan to major in Biology...MAYYYYBE medicine? or pharmacy...
but I really want to go into research.</p>
<p>Cal
appealing b/c:
-i got into college of natural resources(which means smaller classes)
-TOP research institution
-prestige
turn offs:
-but the campus is still so very HUGE...
-not many openings for research esp. for undergrad
-VERY, VERY, VERRRRY competitive</p>
<p>Wellesley
appealing b/c:
-private(size=around one tenth of Cal)
-LOTS of research opportunities(i heard they actually do one on one)
-near Boston(East Coast)
turn offs:
-all women's school
-not as prestigious as berkeley...</p>
<p>I'm an international student, and when I calculate everything, Berkely and Wellesley cost almost the same. and I do not get any aid from both schools.</p>
<p>PLEASE help me choose.
I'm torn between these two schools...
also, feel free to add/comment on my reasons up↑ there...</p>
<p>The campus size isn't that large. There are many students here, that is true (30k undergraduate, professional, and graduate combined). There available openings for research, if that's somethign you're very interested in. Some are fairly hard to get, but there are many available. What field are you interested in? Also, Cal isn't "very, very, very competitive." I'd be surprised at how it compares to Wellesley, which has many driven students used to get top grades. </p>
<p>Where would you fit in better, and be happier? That's probably the best place for you. If you're able, I think that you should visit each campus before deciding. You might find being around all women is great, or that you hate it, or that Berkeley really isn't that big, or that it's ridiculously massive, or that San Francisco and Berkeley feel East Coast to you, or aren't what you want, ect.</p>
<p>i can't visit wellesley this upcoming spring open house.(which kinda sucks..) i visited berkeley before during summer, but the campus was so empty i couldn't really tell how it was.
Im leaning a little more toward Wellesley right now... but most of you are all for Berkeley???
omg. i really don't know what to do..
im thinking and talking about this over and over again with my family trying to get everything straight.
well, it IS one of the most important decision one can make in one's life, right? im not the only one to be utterly confused... :(</p>
<p>Hmm... visiting during the summer and visiting during the school year isn't that different.</p>
<p>I used to TA for AP Biology at Berkeley over the summer and visiting it now during the school year, I don't see that much of a difference in numbers and "feel" of crowdedness/not-crowdedness</p>
<p>Berkeley isn't so overflowing that you have a jostle people like in New York to get through to a place.
The campus is large, but due to that, things are pretty spaced out.</p>
<p>It depends on you, as others have said. For research... I don't know how Wellesley ranks up in research... but Cal might have spots that are difficult to get into--but being a top research university, it has some opportunities which Wellesley doesn't have at all, even if Wellesley might have more opportunities to offer in general (which I'm not entirely convinced).</p>
<p>In any case, just pick a school that you can be sure, 15 years later, that you made the right choice. Personally, for me that comes down to prestige of the school (business major), but it might differ for you (especially since, being male, I certainly don't have Wellesley as a consideration nor have I researched it at all).</p>
<p>Have you visited Wellesley? The town itself is quiet, small, and remote. You have to travel about 40 minutes by bus to get to Boston. The advantage of Wellesley is that you can take half your course load at MIT. If you are premed, you might benefit from Wellesley's small class sizes, research opportunities, and their very good admit rate into med schools.</p>
<p>Berkeley, on the other hand, is in a more vibrant and colorful locale. Their mcb major is cut throat and competitive. UCB does have a better name, but this prestige may not always help you, unless you are a shining star and stand out among students who are equally or more so brilliant. Some wait a year after graduation to reapply to med school and others drop the idea of becoming doctors altogether.</p>
<p>If given the choice and if money is not an issue, I would choose Wellesley, although I am not crazy about its isolated location.</p>
<p>In certain ways. What does prestige mean, anyway? Heck yes people are going to recognize Berkeley before Wellesley, if that's what you're asking, but people who know a lot about colleges know about Wellesley, that it's hard to get into, that good students come out of it.</p>
<p>UC Berkeley and Wellesley are both prestigious and will provide you with a fine education. Each has a beautiful campus. Beyond those factors they are polar opposites.</p>
<p>B = State School
W = Private</p>
<p>B = Large school
W = Small school</p>
<p>B = Coed
W = All Women</p>
<p>B = West Coast
W = East Coast</p>
<p>B = Research University
W = LAC</p>
<p>B = Mild Climate Year Round
W = Cold Snowy Winters</p>
<p>B = Big City
W = Small Town</p>
<p>B = Huge Sports Scene - Pac-10
W = Mostly Intramurals and Low Key Varsity Sports</p>
<p>B = Many Grad and Prof. School Programs
W = Undergrad Only</p>
<p>B = The Graduate
W = Mona Lisa Smile</p>
<p>Pick whichever combo appeals to you more. Good luck</p>
<p>I'd prefer Wellesley, especially because (1) it's near Boston and (2) cross-registration with MIT and Harvard. If you don't get the chance to visit... the campus is absolutely gorgeous. It's small, but it's very quiet and idyllic, and very, very green.</p>
<p>Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke is a far superior movie. heh</p>
<p>I don't see any correlation between it and Berkeley though. Coureur mentioned The Graduate because part of it was shot at Berkeley. It is a quality movie, and you should see it if you haven't, but it won't help your decision.</p>
<p>In the end, it comes down to whether you want a large school in a bustling city, or a small school located in a quiet New England town.</p>