<p>I currently go to ucsd, and I got in as a transfer student to both Davis and Berkeley. Although I haven’t seen Berkeley’s financial aid offer, I assume it will be a lot less than Davis (which offered me a pretty big scholarship). </p>
<p>I originally applied to Davis hoping they would give me more money than ucsd (and I was right). I applied to Berkeley (my first choice in high school) just to see what would happen. And I unexpectedly got in. </p>
<p>Money is important to me - and although I haven’t seen Berkeley’s offer, I’m pretty sure going to Davis will save me a LOT of money each year. Can any of you give me some impartial advice? (I realize this is the Davis page, so I realize most of you go there… but I’m hoping I can get some help. I’m really torn)</p>
<p>The cost of housing in Davis will be less for sure. Perhaps you tell us a bit more about yourself such as major and any other areas of interest.</p>
<p>I’m a political science major at UCSD. Davis offered me close to a $10,000 scholarship. I still haven’t seen what Berkeley has offered me (they need a form or something before they can allow me to see it). But I think it’s pretty likely Berkeley will offer me a LOT less than Davis has.</p>
<p>Another thing - I’ll probably be living on campus if I go to Berkeley, versus living with people I know off campus if I go to Davis (they live in Elk Grove, so there would be a commute… but it would save even more money). </p>
<p>So, I’ll save a LOT of money by going to Davis (which is extremely important for me). Yet, Berkeley is THE public school for political science, and was my first choice in high school (I was rejected by Berkeley, and ended up choosing UCSD over Davis, which had both offered similar financial aid at the time). To complicate things, I don’t know if the prestige of the school should matter or not, considering I plan on going on to grad school… When I have a graduate degree, it won’t matter where I graduated as an undergrad. But maybe if I graduate from Berkeley as a poli sci major it will help me get into grad school? </p>
<p>I’m so confused…</p>
<p>If you plan on going to grad school, undergraduate prestige is not a huge factor. Were it a choice between Harvard, then you might have a point, but UCD vs UCB is simply not a large enough gap to make it stand out on graduate school applications. If Berkeley’s financial aid is comparable, go there, but if it’s not, since money is a big deal for you and you plan on going to grad school anyway, then Davis.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>You will be able to get really great internships in Sacramento if you are at UC Davis. I agree with dmission. Unless Cal is going to give you some serious money UC Davis with excellent grades and internships is the way to go.</p>