<p>After all our debating and pro/con lists and vacillating, let's see who ended up picking UCLA over Cal. (And so you won't feel alone when people give you strange looks when you say, "I decided to go to UCLA instead of Berkeley.")</p>
<p>Bruin here! I agree, it's been awkward to have people give me strange looks when I tell them I'm going to LA.</p>
<p>i did; cal just wasn't the school for me (and yes i visited both campuses and had all my ?s answered via counselors and friends at each)</p>
<p>I choose UCLA over Cal. Cal is too north CA for me. Even though I probably go to cal since it has better engineering, UCLA has the better atmosphere and I want to enjoy my college years to the fullest</p>
<p>Odd, I was just about to start a thread like this because I wanted to see input from people like you guys.</p>
<p>I'm still undecided between UCLA and Cal by the way. :)</p>
<p>I hear from Cal tomorrow night, so not sure if I'm in there yet... However assuming I get in, then I'll be in the "I chose UCLA over Cal" list. UCLA has been my been my #1 for a while now, I'm still until Saturday but unless Cal offers me a free ride, and a new car, I'll be a Bruin next year.</p>
<p>i did, yay.</p>
<p>I did...I just love UCLA what can I say =) (hey, that rhymes!)</p>
<p>Pyvx, since this thread is just for people who picked LA, you're not going to get both sides of it. I picked Berkeley because I didn't buy into the hype around UCLA and the lack of hype around Cal on this website. It was really a tough decision before I visited, and I was leaning towards LA. Having been to both campuses, they both offer pretty much the same thing. Cal is closer to home and more prestigious, so it became a no-brainer then. I also like the city of Berkeley better than LA, it's less artificial. I still think UCLA rocks and has the nicer campus. And Westwood impressed the hell out of me, but it would have turned me into a yuppie.</p>
<p>I chose UCLA over Berkeley.</p>
<p>All of high school until like four months ago I wanted to go to Berkeley. But after I visited UCLA, I just felt a lot more comfortable there. Nicer weather, better dorms, better food, nicer surrounding area... plus I ended up making it to the state finals for their alumni scholarship, winning $6,000, and meeting a bunch of awesome people. </p>
<p>For me, the decision to send my SIR to UCLA was an easy after going through that whole process. But... turning down Berkeley was SO hard.</p>
<p>This year, I ended up being the only one at my school who was accepted to Berkeley. So I felt a lot of pressure from people like I should have taken advantage of that opportunity. </p>
<p>When I tell people I'm going to UCLA, I don't get the "wow!" factor that I would have gotten with Berkeley. All my friends who go to Berkeley were SO shocked when I announced that I'd chosen UCLA. And part of me felt weird turning down Berkeley after wanting to go there for so long.</p>
<p>But ultimately, it was my decision, and prestige and expectations mean crap in the end. I want to be a journalist, and LA offers great internship opportunities in the media. I don't think that Cal is clearly more prestigious than UCLA... anyone who sees that is reading too far into things, in my opinion.</p>
<p>My advice to anyone still deciding is to follow your heart. Both are great schools. It all depends on what's best for YOU.</p>
<p>I'm surprised that people would be shocked at someone choosing UCLA over Berkeley. I would've chosen Santa Barbara over Berkeley (that isn't to say I don't think Berkeley's a great school.)</p>
<p>I chose UCLA over Berkeley, no regrets at all. I went to UCLA during an honors day and Cal during Cal Day. While Cal impressed me, has more prestige, and has a nice campus; I love the environment and campus at UCLA too. I live in Norcal so I want to experience living in a different area. Plus, you can pretty much get the same quality of education at both Cal and UCLA. UCLA has a med school on campus which is a plus, so I can do research there. Also, the UCLA honors program really appealed to me.</p>
<p>UCLA all the way baby! I decided to be a Bruin rather than a mere bear.</p>
<p>To further comfort all of you soon-to-be Bruins- The whole Cal/UCLA thing matters a whole lot less once you get to UCLA anyway. That, and once you graduate it really doesn't matter that much. :p</p>
<p>CMON!!!i l live in L.A. cant leave my folks. and i need to guide my bro to follow my footsteps.</p>
<p><em>raises hand</em></p>
<p>Welp, it has a tough choice. To me, they were polar opposites. Simply put: More prestige and less appealing lifestyle.. or less prestige and more appealing lifestyle.</p>
<p>Berkeley just had to send an email reminder that the SIR is due May 2nd... that made me feel guilty. <em>sigh</em> But my SIR for UCLA has already been submitted.</p>
<p>thanks for those words, UCLAri. I'm all for the "no regrets" thing.</p>
<p>i too rejected my acceptance to Cal for UCLA. it was definitly a very hard choice for me but in the end i think ill be happiest at UCLA.</p>
<p>nobleguy05,</p>
<p>I just want the future Bruins to feel good that they didn't make some life ruining decision here. College is important yes, but the intangibles in life are oh-so-much more important.</p>
<p>WOW..i didnt know so many chose UCLA over CAL. thats awesome. i thought it was just me. My mom is still a lil dissapointed that i chose LA over CAL just because of the prestige. She reminds me that im "stupid" for choosing UCLA because apparently CAL is the best public college..but its the next four years of MY LIFE and i know i will be happier at UCLA.</p>
<p>As for school, it seems like a lot more people got into CAL than UCLA. well, those that didnt say that they didnt apply to UCLA, but who knows. The only thing that gets me upset is that the ppl who did get in CAL brag about how CAL is the best school ever...and how going to UCLA is a worthless education and just crap like that. at first it got me really upset, but now that i think of it, i wouldnt want to go to school with those types of people anyway.</p>
<p>im very happy with my decision to attend UCLA, despite what other people thing. i <3 UCLA..09 baby!</p>