Northwestern vs UC Berkeley Regents!? Ahhhhhh help please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>I'm incredibly torn which school to go to, especially since many have told me they're on par academically/prestige wise (if you think otherwise please tell me so), but here are my pros and cons for both:</p>

<p>I was literally 99% SET on going to NU before Cal day...now I'm totally lost what to do.</p>

<p>-Cost isn't really an issue; my parents told me to make the right college decision for myself without thinking of the financial part (yes even though NU is nearly double the cost)</p>

<p>-Academically: I have NO idea what I want to major in/have as a career, etc, but will probably double major (maybe econ and a science? again, NO idea) and am MAYBE thinking of doing premed. However, I want the time and flexibility to explore various random classes fields to see what might interest me, which I feel NU's quarter system and distribution requirements gives me more than Cal's semester system. However at Cal since I have regents, getting classes will not be a problem.
-Parents think that since Cal is bigger and a more "intense, competitive" environment, I may be able to shine/excel more at NU with slightly less "competition"
-Regents scholar at Cal is a good thing to have for internships/research opportunities, but getting those shouldn't be a problem at NU either</p>

<p>-Socially: I've always dreamed of going away to a smaller private school OOS for college, but now that I actually have the chance I'm doubting myself...
-I thought NU's campus was GORGEOUS but since it's smaller (student wise) it just felt a little bit quieter/low-key/lonely to me walking around campus :/ I mean that was just my impression during wildcat days compared to the UCs and I'm sure theres tons to do always, but it just struck me a bit
-I've heard NU is cliquey and has a terrible dating scene/not too stellar social scene :/ Social scene/friends is really important to my happiness lol (I will prob party/maybe go greek)
-Though I think Cal's campus is super ugly, whenever I visited I LOVED how much bustling activity and liveliness there was going around, it just fit my ideal schema of what a "college environment" should be like. I just get the impression I would be happier socially there (downside-no spring rush unlike NU). This is the main thing drawing me to Cal when previously I was set on going to NU</p>

<p>Misc: -I've never really been afraid of going OOS/freezing weather, but now that decision time is here I'm second guessing myself and whether I'll be miserable if I go to NU when I have Berk close to home and its gorgeous weather...however before a week ago this wasn't even worrying me and I'm pretty adaptable so maybe it's just my last minute nerves? I've always hated the idea of sticking to my comfort zone with Berk so idk why I'm changing my mind last minute...</p>

<p>-The main reason I never wanted to go to Berk before was that college for me REALLY needs to be a completely fresh, new start, which Berk wouldn't really be with the same norcal culture, tons of people I already know from school/around the bay area/CA, etc...i'm not sure if its ideal to "reinvent myself" if I'm limited by all these people from my past who I really want to escape from so I can start fresh
(people have told me Berk is still big enough to do this but it's a gamble...)</p>

<p>PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO! :( Thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>Im summary, my three most important things:

  1. Academic flexibility
  2. Social happiness (Cal better for this? I’m just not familiar enough with NU’s scene)
  3. Fresh start</p>
3

<p>That’s a tough one. Will you mind the 300+ kid classes at Cal the first year or two?</p>

4

<p>Don’t know if there’s any info that will be helpful to you, but there was a thread earlier this month on this choice…</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1481230-nu-vs-uc-berkeley.html?highlight=berkeley[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1481230-nu-vs-uc-berkeley.html?highlight=berkeley&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Our S had Cal on his list and ruled it out after Wildcat Days. </p>

<p>Our D is in her second year at NU and has found it to be the ideal school for her. She really enjoys the social scene, the level of academic intensity, the ability to easily double major and explore various subjects with the quarter system, her lovely neighborhood in Evanston and the proximity to Chicago, and although we are from the mild left coast and the weather hasn’t been an issue for her.</p>

<p>Good luck with your choice!</p>

5

<p>If I’m reading you correctly, you really want NU but are having second thoughts about committing, which is not unusual for many high school students about to choose between two colleges. </p>

<p>I started writing a response to all your points but have decided that you’re just getting cold feet. You need to do what you feel most comfortable with but I would hate for you to wake up at Berkeley in October and wonder why you gave up the opportunity to expand your horizons.</p>

<p>Good luck in your decision!</p>

6

<p>Your choices are both excellent…and I am personally familiar with both. Best analogy I can give you, so that you have a sense of reference…imo…NU is similar to Stanford in its feel–private university with a full breathe of majors, sports/size of classes/# of students/recognized world-wide for its academic rigor.
Weather at CAL is better…however…our DD wanted to experience something entirely new-and opted for NU over UCB Regents.
No wrong decision…just different experiences.</p>

<p>PS…You do have a North Face outlet in Berkeley…DD got all her winter clothing there-</p>

<p>-APOL-a Mum</p>