<p>When I started applying to colleges, I pretty much assumed that I would go to the cheapest school for me. But... after receiving all my acceptances, most of the packages are in pretty close range--I'm having trouble deciding whether I really want to go to UCM rather than Scripps to save a total of 6k or maybe 10k for four years. And to save up to 8-10k, I'd have to stay at home rather than live at a dorm.</p>
<p>Scripps has a better name and probably a better education (although I hear UCM has small classes and eager professors). The thing about Scripps is that I didn't really feel the vibe when I visited (it felt claustrophobic and a little pretentious to my little judgmental spirit). I think I might be discontent for a few moments but eventually ditch the attitude.</p>
<p>But UCM is cheaper, and I do come from a poor background. 10k means a lot to me. Not only that, but I kind of like the UC vibe. I'm just not sure how much I'll get appreciate it if I'm living with my parents.</p>
<p>I don't know whether I'd really get a higher-paying job out Scripps than out of UCM. What do you guys think? Is it worth it? I have more options, but I've still been mostly looking at these two schools for their low price.</p>
<p>I'm still pretty indecisive, though, so here goes:</p>
<p>UCI and UCB both cost around 1k/year more to go to than Scripps. UCB has more reputation, but I doubt the education is actually better than at Scripps. I like UCI more than both UCB and Scripps, and their videogame major sounds more engaging than the media programs at either UCB or Scripps.. but again, less reputation.</p>
<p>And finally, Cal Poly seems to have the best career-preparing program (Graphic Design concentration in Art and Design) for the majors I've selected.. But it'll cost a grand 36k more over four years. I was really attached to Cal Poly before I heard the package because I worked hard to prepare a portfolio to get into it. :'(</p>
<p>Right now I'm leaning towards Scripps.. but I just want to hear some more opinion. Can you guys help me out?</p>
<p>I think you’re the first person on CC to consider UC Merced over Berkeley. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…</p>
<p>If I were in your shoes, and since costs are roughly the same, I’d spread my wings and go to Berkeley or Scripps (if you like a smaller environment).</p>
<p>Thank you, haha. I know a girl who chose to go to UOP instead of Stanford, but I guess that’s kind of off-topic. xP</p>
<p>The thing about Berkeley is that, besides the reputation, I’m not really to attracted to it. It has big buildings and lots of liberal atmosphere (although I have a liberal bent myself). There’s also more competition.</p>
<p>I have this notion that Berkeley is overrated, but I’m not sure how correct that notion is. Since you went to Berkeley, would you be able to say just how worthwhile their education is? Is it a lot better than other UCs, from what you can judge?</p>
<p>^ I can’t be a judge of the education quality since I’ve only taken classes at a CSU and Berkeley - not other UCs. </p>
<p>Berkeley’s students will be academically stronger, so this may play into how good of an education you receive. You learn a lot from your fellow students.</p>
<p>I greatly enjoyed my time at Berkeley. It was a different environment from my home in Socal. I agree Berkeley is not for everyone. If you didn’t like the atmosphere, you would not be the first, and choosing another college wouldn’t surprise me.</p>
<p>OK, thanks. I think I still might go for Scripps over Berkeley, since I’m sure I’ll also find others with high academic standards there as well. I’ll be visiting Berkeley on Cal Day, though, so hopefully I’ll be able to reevaluate just how much Berkeley is compatible with me since I last saw it a few years ago.</p>
<p>Have you been to Scripps? If you haven’t yet then you should visit the school before finally deciding on it. It’s a great school, but it’s pretty small compared to Berkeley. I personally think that it’s not nearly as amazing as Berkeley, and I doubt it if it does have as much resources as Berkeley does. Though if you are the aloft type, somewhat antisocial, aren’t really interested in competition, want a smaller faculty-to-student ratio, Scripps wins hands down. But you can’t just make a decision based solely on faculty-to-student ratio. Visit Scripps first. It’s either you’ll like it or hate it.</p>
<p>I’ve visited Scripps once and plan on visiting again this weekend. I kind of disliked it, mostly because my own awkwardness and my host’s unengaging attitude made for an unpleasant experience, and I felt like the people I met were kind of pretentious except for her roommate and her roommates’ friends. I have to admit that it felt kind of claustrophobic, and I’ll probably feel that every now and then if I actually go there. I’m just not sure to what extent.</p>
<p>Berkeley didn’t appeal to me overly much either, though. It was a little too big, although I think I might get along with people better there. I also don’t want to put myself in a bad situation where I find that I can’t handle the workload.</p>
<p>I haven’t really been thinking that the resources at Berkeley would be better, except maybe for lab research etc. I was more thinking that Scripps would have less bureaucracy to deal with and so on because it’s smaller. I’ll keep your thoughts in mind though. So far the price is still the main deal breaker for me. x__x</p>
<p>I put down my intended major as media studies, which should be sufficiently less intensive than most majors, I imagine. However, after seeing some of the samples of work from the introductory courses, I’m in doubt as to whether the Claremont media program is worthwhile. I’ll try it out and may change to something else if it is bad. Since I was thinking of doing optometry, I may major in biology or something. But I’m not that good at research. :/</p>
<p>I know, but I’ve read that it’s generally advised to have a strong background on biology when you apply. Isn’t it hard to take those courses and still major in something else?</p>
<p>I appreciate those resources, though. So far I think I’ve only looked at the government catalogs… lol. I was wondering if going to Berkeley would give you any advantage in getting into their optometry program? Like perhaps I might be able to take classes under professors who are also faculty for the optometry program, and that might affect the admissions decision if they reviewed my application? Do you think that is a likelihood?</p>
<p>You seem pretty confused at the moment on three levels: 1) your intended major, and 2) the feel of each campus, 3) the extent to which reputation will affect your job prospects after college. </p>
<p>I think you really need to visit each of your campuses again for at least a full day (drop Cal Poly as it is too expensive). I realize that means a 2-day trip to NoCal, for UCB and UCM, and then single day trips to UCI and Scripps. However, well worth the effort since you’re deciding upon your environment for the next four years – worth a 4 day add’l investment in your time.</p>
<p>At the moment you actually have no preference at all. I suggest that after a full day on each of your four choices, you will have a much better idea. My gut tells me UCI for you.</p>
<p>For reference, a typical bachelor’s degree program requires 120 semester hour credit units, or 180 quarter hour credit units. To see if a given major is feasable, just add the following at the undergraduate school:</p>
<p>A. Courses needed to satisfy pre-optometry requirements at the desired optometry school(s).
B. Courses for the desired undergraduate major that do not overlap with A.
C. Undergraduate breadth requirements that do not overlap with A or B.</p>
<p>If the total of A + B + C is less than (or only slight more than) 120 semester hour credit units or 180 quarter hour credit units, then it should be feasable to do that major with pre-optometry.</p>
<p>Hi guys ~_~
I’m in pretty dire need of decision right now… May 27. D:< AH.</p>
<p>I took the advice and visited UOP, Cal, and Scripps (didn’t have time or transportation to UCI). It cleared a lot of things up but I still can’t decide. I’m stuck between Berkeley and Scripps.</p>
<p>Scripps:</p>
<p>PROS
Cheaper (4k over 4 years)
Stable tuition
More opportunity for research, to stand out More supportive environment</p>
<p>CONS
Too small, claustrophobic atmosphere
Less networking
Less suitable community
Less career options
Less exciting</p>
<p>CAL</p>
<p>PROS
Name recognition Actual compatibility with the people there
More interesting career options
Opportunity to pursue pre-optom activities
Taking a challenge</p>
<p>CONS
Higher cost
Unstable tuition
I’m a number/surrounded by big fish
Less supportive environment
Grade deflation and possible academic overwhelming</p>
<p>In a nutshell, Scripps is way too small, but Berkeley is too academically intense.</p>
<p>I want to go to Berkeley for the social aspect, but I have VERY real fear that I won’t be able to handle the workload. In high school, I was already doing too many all nighters to withstand it and I had to drop out of IB and take part-time CCC instead. It could be very stupid of me to put myself in that situation again, but I have a hard time forcing myself to go to Scripps anyway. Both times I visited my experience was very bad and the girls there simply aren’t my type of people, although I can force myself to muster up a small circle.</p>
<p>A side note about media studies: not a viable option for me at either Berkeley or Scripps. Berkeley’s is theory-oriented, which I’m not too interested in, and Scripps’ is production-oriented but simply awful and myopic. I still can’t understand why a supposedly high-standard school would have end up with something so bewilderingly unprofessional.</p>
<p>^ You’ll do better academically where you can be happier. Seems like you really don’t like Scripps. Can you take a drive down to visit Irvine this Friday or Saturday? It could be a good compromise. If not, I would send in the SIR to Berkeley…you’ll do fine. :)</p>
<p>I know, I think about Irvine every once in a while because it solves the rigor issue (less overwhelming) and size issue (not tiny like Scripps). The problem is, my brother’s experience there has been bland academically… although he is way more talented than me. But he tells me the courses are mundane, and I have trouble turning down allegedly “high quality” education for something like that…</p>
<p>The reason why I couldn’t visit Irvine is because my family is tight on money. I was able to visit Scripps because they provided the transportation, but I wasn’t really prepared to ask them to also take me to Irvine in the middle of their program… lol :'). So unfortunately, no, I can’t visit right now. I know I like the vibe, though.</p>
<p>You put it in honest terms: I don’t really like Scripps. But Chemgrad… I’m afraid you’re speaking from your comfortable loft of competency. I’m really not good at handling workload, and in order to stand out, I have to both handle Berkeley’s fast pace AND put myself out there with activities. In terms of practicality, Scripps seems obvious.</p>
<p>^ Irvine is bland…not sure about the classes though. Haha!</p>
<p>True, I don’t know your situation. You say Berkeley is more expensive. Can your family really afford it at this time? In order to grow, you need to put yourself out there and test the waters. Don’t be afraid of failure.</p>
<p>One other possibility: enroll in a quality community college, work hard, get strong grades, gain some independence, discover what truly interests you, save money and then revisit college admissions in two years.</p>
<p>As the packages rest right now, Berkeley would only be 4-6k more expensive over four years; but I’m worried about tuition hikes. 4-6k I’m to prepared to take in loans if I like Cal enough, so my family doesn’t have to foot the bill.</p>
<p>I’m afraid it might be too late for community college right now because the period to apply for financial aid has passed(?). But I think I looked into it and found that the difference in cost isn’t much, so it wouldn’t be really worth it.</p>
<p>So! I’ve discussed a long time with my sister and thought more about the pros and cons, but I’ve decided to go with the more secure option. I thought about growing and challenging myself, but then I thought, “Nah…”</p>
<p>I feel that I will be comfortable at Scripps if I maintain a certain mindset and I’ll sacrifice a lot of opportunity by going to Berkeley (although the social game would be 10x better). I also don’t want to be disappointed with my experience at Berkeley, and it really depends on how I handle things, so… Ah well. Berkeley, you were a strong competitor… Chemgrad, you didn’t make turning it down easier. lol :')</p>
I thought about growing and challenging myself, but then I thought, “Nah…”</p>