<p>Hi, I recently got accepted to UC Berkeley for Undeclared Biological Sciences and UCLA for Undeclared Life Sciences. These are the two schools that I am trying to narrow down on. I chose undeclared because I wasn't sure if I wanted to have a career in science, and even now I am still not sure. I want to visit both schools again, but my parents think that I should be going to Berkeley because it is higher ranked. What is the best choice if I'm not sure what to major in, and how much should I factor in the other aspects of college besides academics, such as social life and the nearby area?
I really appreciate any advice in choosing between these two universities. </p>
<p>UCLA is 100x cooler </p>
<p>Berkeley is 100x more original.</p>
<p>I’d say if you’re a SoCal student and want to spread your wings and go away college (not too far), Berkeley is a great place. The environment is much different - from the intellectual college town and “gourmet ghetto” to public transportation. Academic wise, the biggest difference is Berkeley is on a semester system. Semester classes allow for more immersive teaching and can be more forgiving if you have to miss a class. You don’t need a car to get around the Bay Area.</p>
<p>Likewise, if you’re a NorCal student and want to spread your wings and go away to college (not too far), UCLA is a great place. The environment is much different - from the sunnier weather, beach, traffic, and better sports teams (though you do have to go to Pasadena to see Bruins football). UCLA is on the quarter system. You buy books and register for classes one more time per year. You talk about midterms 3 weeks into class. The good thing is you can get done with a bad class quicker. You’ll need a car, or a friend with a car, to get around the LA area.</p>