<p>Well, as a middle class Eastern European immigrant (probably lower-middle really), I can tell you that I've never felt out of place here. Haven't ever been to California so I can't really compare in that regard, but you definitely can and most likely will be able to find a solid group of people at Georgetown, and a wide variety of other acquaintances beyond that.</p>
<p>To give a random example: I went with four other people to see the cherry trees a few weeks ago. Aside from me, the Russian immigrant who lives in the South now, there was a Romanian who had lived ( among other places) in Morocco and South Africa, a Bengali who lives in Queens, an Irish-Italian Catholic from Boston, and a mullato from Maryland. So yea, segregation isn't really that big of an issue beyond a particular social set that you wouldn't want to waste time on anyway.</p>
<p>about berkeley, i never had the impression that it was really prestigious because the kids who got in from my school werent that amazing, they were like uchicago/usc kids, but then again im from new jersey so the admissions might b easier</p>
<p>even though i'm not a fan of berkeley - i do think its undergrad program is pretty overrated - it is by far one of the most prestigious schools in the country. I would venture to say that most people would at least know the name Berkeley or cal. and internationally its one of the few american schools that most foreigners will know. Program wise - its grad schools are ridiculous. the only school that compares to berkeley on the graduate level is stanford.</p>
<p>I agree with Jags. I got into both Berkeley and Georgetown and am not even considering the former. Berkeley has an amazing reputation because of its Grad schools -- all which are phenomenal. But as an undergraduate, and this is from talking to many people there, you are more of a number at Berkeley. The classes are huge -- one of my friends said that they don't go to class anymore and just watch the lecture from their computer in their dorm room. I don't want my college experience to be anything like that. And of course that's only one example, so it's not a sweeping generalization; however, I still maintain that going to Berkeley as a graduate is much better than as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>i just came back from a long five day trip visiting the georgetown and berkeley back to back.. They both had two day "open house" type programs that I attended and got a general feel for both schools.
Georgetown had a great campus.. great tradition.. great faculty.. and great students. But the overall feel that I got from it made me determine that it is not the right school for me. Everyone seemed to be very uptight about everything, even during the student panel when all the parents were gone. I totally agree with pinkandgreen when she said there were no quirkiness and vibrancy (which i personally love) at gtown. Everyone seemed to think in a linear path, and the typical jock/preppy Joe and Jane of Georgetown seemed to hold all leadership positions and dominate the fundamental life of the school.
Berkeley is on the way other end. Yes the class sizes are huge, but I've visited them (real class lectures) and they were not that bad.. the facilities and the technology they used were great.. and besides the discussion classes that come along with all lecture classes were never over 30 students. The campus thrived on school spirit, and the trees, buildings, streams, and hills made the campus one of the prettiest places ive seen. Whereas it seems you can easily feel outta place at gtown by not even wearing the right clothes, at berkeley, you can wear anything (in fact NOTHING at all) and still fit RIGHT in.
I love gtown.. I've known it and loved it for its tradition but berkeley seemed more active/fun and an academically more motivating place for me.
Good luck with everyone's decision!</p>
<p>What about social acceptance at G-Town? It sounds like it might not be the best place if you're gay and want to join an alliance or something. I'm actually not gay, but I think I would prefer a really accepting school because I like to have all kinds of friends.</p>
<p>Not totally true, I'm gay and am going to Georgetown next year. The population is definitely there, and I've made a lot of gay friends there already before I've even gotten on campus. Haha. That may just have something to do with my personality, but I doubt Georgetown will be a problem for me. </p>
<p>In terms of "alliances"... Georgetown has Pride and OutSpoken, both of which do a lot of stuff on campus. Given the Jesuit undertones/overtones I think Georgetown for the most part is fairly progressive as an institution...alumni donors are responsible for casting it with a conservative tinge.</p>
<p>totally wrong impression, my son goes to G-town and lives in athletic shorts and t-shirts, so do his friends. You obviously did not see ortalk to any of the student athletes, which are numerous.</p>
<p>Hey, I moved from CALLIFFORRNIAA (silicon valley, precisely) to GEORGIA ... and i kNOW that georgia is not the same as wash DC
but I do go to a private school and know a couple of people who will be attending Georgetown next year</p>
<p>I dont mean to stereotype them, because they are really nice, but they all fall under the rich and carry a some-what snobby (but not overbearing) attitude about their intellect and knowledge of business and political affairs.. I may be a little biased because my high school is pretty much like a mini Georgetown equivalent.However, they usually have the intelligence to back up their arguement. </p>
<p>But after living in California and being aquainted with colleges like UCLA, USC, Stanford, and Berkley, I have to admit that I generally don't like East Coast (or Southern) colleges as much.
The don't seem to have that "chill" feel you get on the West Coast and you can't wear flip flops all of the time or else you'll freeze (i HATE that).</p>
<p>But it really depends on what you want. So I'd say visit and form your own opinions =]</p>
<p>BTW Berkley is extremely pretigious internationally, at least in all of the Asian countries (I am asian). I was really surprised that many of them equate attending Berkley with attending Stanford or Harvard</p>
<p>and I get teased about saying "hella" all of the time ..</p>