<p>I'm torn between Northwestern and Berkeley in the spring. I plan to major in biology but that may change. I would have gone to Berkeley had I gotten in for the fall term. The price difference isn't too big after scholarships (Northwestern is about 9000 more a year). I can't afford to visit the schools, but from what I've read, it seems like Cal is huge, predominantly Asian, with mild weather year round while NU has smaller class sizes, more of a Greek scene, and harsh winters. Is this assessment about right? Which school would you choose and why?</p>
<p>Your info sounds right, as far as it goes.
Having compared notes from my daughter (who went to NU) and a HS classmate who went to Berkeley, i would recommend NU.</p>
<p>If you had gotten in to Cal for Fall semester…And that is where you would have matriculated, .then why aren’t you just waiting for the Spring semester??</p>
<p>Our older son lives in San Francisco and we visited Berkeley with our younger son this past fall…so, we were hopeful that we would really like Berkeley…(our son is now choosing between Northwestern and WashU in St. Louis)…we all found Berkeley to be a huge place and none of us were turned on by the school. When we left the info session and campus tour, our son said that as much as he’d love to go to school near his older brother, he wasn’t even going to apply. Since you mentioned the number of Asians, the tour guide told the group that Berkeley is 40%-Asian (by the way, we don’t care if you’re a Martian!)…</p>
<p>I got to say when you have a large Asian population, it just “feels” like there’s a more competitive vibe. Maybe I just got that from where I grew up.</p>
<p>APOL: If it was just waiting for the spring, I might do it, but I will have trouble getting into the right courses and finding housing. It will also be more difficult to graduate in just 4 (technically 3.5) years.
mtldad: Was there anything specific about the school you didn’t like?</p>
<p>How much of a hardship would the $9,000/year be on your family.</p>
<p>It would be pretty tough, but my family is willing to pay if it’s worth it.
Something else I just realized- I can’t believe I never looked this up before- is that Northwestern is on the quarter system. This means classes start and end a month later than classes at most other schools, and courses are crammed into 10 weeks. This arrangement sounds really stressful to me. Does anyone know if it’s that bad in practice?</p>
<p>^Northwestern is known to be stressful as well. Know someone who went there. I think any top 20 college …you are talking top 10% from all the high schools. Yes, frankly, quarter would be stressful for me. I would visit and see if I fit…are you international?</p>
<p>Our D really loves the quarter system! It allows you to take a wider variety of classes, get a double major more easily and if you ever hit a TRULY stressful class (she’s had one) it is over with quickly. ;-D</p>
<p>I’m a little confused that your family can afford $9000 more a year for NU but can’t afford a visit. Pennywise and pound foolish?</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Berkeley and was also a spring admit. Berkeley has the “Fall Program for Freshman (FPF)” for spring admits. They take their fall classes at the UC Extension 2 blocks from campus, getting breadth requirements out of the way, and live in the dorms like everyone else. The grades count in the Berkeley GPA and no one knows thje difference. That might solve your issue of housing and graduating in 4 years.</p>
<p>wildcat – my D also loves the quarter system. Although it’s 10 weeks, you do take fewer courses per quarter than others do in a semester. Also exams are always over before break (i.e., you don’t have to study/worry about it during vacations).</p>
<p>Finances – only you and your family can decide that.</p>
<p>Check pm
10 char.</p>
<p>My daughter loved the quarter system too. It allowed her to take more courses over her 4 years and made double majoring very do-able. And yes, if you don’t like a course, it’s over sooner. However, it is not meant for students who need 3-4 weeks to get moving; you have to hit the ground running at NU (which was not a problem for any of the kids I met there).</p>
<p>amtc- as far as the money goes, I’m paying for college myself, but I would expect my parents to pay for a plane ticket to visit (because I can’t take out a loan on that).
My parents also won’t pay the nonrefundable fee to enroll in FPF until I’ve decided I want to go to Cal, but I think FPF is full by now anyway. Still, I’m happy going to community college then Cal. Basically I’m starting to see Cal as a good fit for me, but my parents are pushing for NU. I wish there was a way to compromise.</p>
<p>At the undergraduate level, there’s no competition. People know Berkeley’s undergrad does not approach the level of “elite” in terms of quality, selectivity, advising, diversity, etc. However, it’s ultimately your choice. Go where you feel more comfortable. That’s a decision we can’t make for you.</p>
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<p>Cal is about 40% Asian which is nothing compared to most schools which are 70-90% white.</p>