Temple vs. Berkeley

Last week I committed to Temple after weighing my choices for schools, but as of yesterday I just got off of the waitlist for Berkeley, which in of itself is amazing. But I was offered a place there beginning for the Spring 2018 semester instead of the Fall 2017 semester.

I guess I’d like to weight the pros and cons of my choices and am unsure what to do.

So, for Temple:
I am slated to go in as a neuroscience major in CST. I got into their Honors Program (which gives me guaranteed housing in 1300, and a $5000 scholarship). The Honors Program seems like it’s very solid, and gives students a definite place on a large campus, and the opportunity to thrive. And I like the fact that it is in a major city, Philadelphia.

And for Berkeley:
It was my third choice initially when applying to schools. But the conditions of my being admitted were that I would be able to start in January 2018, and the fall 2017 semester I would not allowed to attend any 4 year institutions. Instead, I should either take courses at a community college, take a semester off, take a job, travel, etc. But I don’t really want to take a semester off at this point. In addition, according to their FAQs, housing is not 100% guaranteed either.

Also keep in mind that I’d like to go to medical school, and taking loans as an undergrad is something that I am trying to avoid. I just honestly don’t know which option is better, any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated!

Berkeley could be difficult without guaranteed housing as costs in the area are very high.

Are you in state for either one?

If OOS for Berkeley there is no financial aid. Can you afford $65,000?

I am in state for Temple, so that does help cost wise

My D is just finishing up her freshman year in Temple Honors. She had a great year with challenging classes and awesome professors. If your goal is to go to med school, I would definitely say that Temple would prepare you well. UC Berkeley has more “prestige factor”, but unless the cost difference does not matter to your family, Temple is a great choice, the honors program is excellent, and my D liked living in 1300, and also Philly in general.

Hey! I just graduated from the honors program at Temple. To be honest with you, the prestige factor does not really do much if you are applying for medical school. Over the past four years, my peers in the honors program have matriculated to Harvard, Penn, Emory, Temple, Columbia and etc for medical school while getting scholarships to non-medical graduate programs at Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and etc. Temple is a great choice but doesn’t expect it to be easier. The biology department is designed to weed out people that aren’t willing to put in the work to succeed. For medical school, it is more important to go to a school with strong academics (both are good), one that will prepare you for MCAT (I know numerous kids who have gotten 519+), and low debt. However, if UC is your dream school and you can afford it then go for it. Prestige has more weight in business and when comparing two kids with equivalent grades.