<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>Currently, I am facing the hardest decision in my life -- where to go for college???</p>
<p>I'm an undecided major (leaning toward social sciences) admitted to both Uchicago and UCBerkeley. I live in the Bay Area, so Berkeley is familiar to me (and my friends will be attending there), but UChicago attracts my attention with its prestige and renowned Core curriculum.</p>
<p>Here are some main points I am considering...</p>
<p>Berkeley: costs $10,000 less, more abundant social life, larger student body (25000), semester system, nice weather</p>
<p>Chicago: costs $10,000 more, "quirky" (not sure if i like it or not), smaller student body (5000), quarter system, harsh weather (esp winters)</p>
<p>Both schools are extremely competitive and difficult in their curriculums, so i guess I have little choice in that regard.</p>
<p>Another major concern is that I've spent a majority of my life in the bay area, where there is a totally different atmosphere of ethnicities and cultures, compared to chicago.</p>
<p>I understand that responses I get in this particular forum might be biased toward berkeley, but I would appreciate any advice/suggestions/comments on my dilemma!</p>
<p>Thanks~</p>
<p>seems… like you like berkeley… lol</p>
<p>Had the same exact choice as you. Chicago vs. Cal</p>
<p>Even to the point that we even got the same estimated financial aid differences. But what I ultimately decided on was that the weather at chicago wouldn’t allow me to concentrate well enough to get through happily.</p>
<p>Personally, my emotions and mood help a bunch with how hard i study. The windy city is just far too painful for me to live in. The only thing Chicago had for me was that its Economics program is stronger than Cal’s, but that’s only in grad school, and if I really wanted to, I could apply there after undergrad.</p>
<p>So for me, everything was about the same, except I save more money at Cal and enjoy better weather.</p>
<p>Seasonal affective disorder?</p>
<p>you go to Chicago at -25 degrees with however fast gusts of wind and tell me how one could transition from being outdoors in Cali to being holed up in chicago without being a bit unhappy.</p>
<p>Cold and snow is the best</p>
<p>If you can afford it go to Chicago. Cal is great but Chicago is on par with HYPS. You also get more attention.</p>
<p>^^ Not everyone wants attention. Some of us would rather have the atmosphere we want, and then only think we’d want from HYPS are the academics…which you can certainly get at Cal.</p>
<p>It depends on what this poster wants. No denying, Cal is your typical big public school, and doesn’t give its students special attention, but people are friendly and you’ll get help if you seek it.</p>