<p>My son got accepted for both Cal and UCLA, and major is chemistry. He wants to go to UCLA because of big city, beach, social life and weather. but I want him to go to Cal because of stronger academic and college major ranking.Where should he go, any advice will be appreciated</p>
<p>Pangyu,</p>
<p>My son too, and UCSD, and Most Selectives back East. So glad he’s wanting California,but which one??? It’s just ugrad, not grad school, so with my son’s major, MathyEconomics, minor Mandarin, renewable engergy, UCSanDiego seems like the fit: they’re the most accessible so far, eager for my son, and located in fabulous, not city, but surf heaven near Scripps,San Diego, Mexican border. My son is a surfer, born in Honolulu. UCSD’s econ is rated #15 Internationally, their program mimics Princeton’s. It’s good, BUT CAL is a name brand recognized adn respected the world over. And their Econ department rates even higher. UCLA seems to party, too football, too much fun in Lah Lah Land and my son would love it, but would he graduate in four years before the Fin Aid runs out. Actually their Nevada (US state) is asking him to apply for their alumni grant, which is good for SIX years!!! Love it…But…</p>
<p>we are going with graduation rates and UCBerkeley’s is the highest in four years at 69.6% and if you’re in state or don’t care about the money their six year is 91%. next highest and very close to CAL (Berkeley) is UCLA and next UCSD. I think SD is a hidden gem and I’d go for the upscale, tony, high-rent district and surfing of UCSD, but my son is young and wants to experience a cosmopolitan experience but also sad he’d be happy in SanDiego. San Diego’s Biochemistry department is rated much higher than CAL or UCLA, right after JohnsHopkins, MIT, Duke, another, and then UCSD. So research his major thoroughly some how. </p>
<p>I get lots of answers calling bigwig staff and emailing them at the grad schools you think are top notch and feel them out: where would they want your student to be from to be in his department for grad school . This level of higher ed is small and they most often know each other. Be quick, research fast, cause housing is going to be a scramble . That’s another thing I like about UCSD: he’s been admitted to his college for ugrad and the majors are not part of this equation: but the college has the housing and particular breadth/core and varies in all six.</p>
<p>I like the vibe at UCLA we’re getting: happy happy happy, renting zip gased up and insured zip cars for an hour up and bikes per quarter, and parties. I’mgoing to get my son on that
Alumni app. UCLA is a dream, fantasy school. So happy he doesn’t want to go East.</p>
<p>Cal’s chemistry program is one of the top in the country. It resides in the smaller College of Chemistry. San Francisco and two major airports are all accessible via BART…no car needed. Cal football is played on campus in a newly renovated Memorial stadium. </p>
<p>Cal College of Chemistry hands down!</p>
<p>Thanks for great information, we will go to Cal to take a campus tour on th coming weekend, probably next week to LA. My son is in a very competitive public school in California. In past four years, Cal admitted 80 students every year averagely from his school, UCLA around 70. The enrolled number for Cal is about 40 every year, for UCLA is 10-15. So I think most people prefer Cal. Anyway, we will go to both campus first</p>
<p>Overall, Cal will provide a better academic experience.
UCLA, however, often has a better social life atmosphere.</p>
<p>^ That’s a common perception. However, Berkeley is a more pedestrian oriented college town… public transportation is much better, football game days on campus are better than driving 25 miles away like you have to do with UCLA. Berkeley is more student friendly/focused than Westwood.</p>
<p>Go to UCLA if you wanna enjoy college life - girls, parties, beer, weed, etc… because CoChem at Cal is extremely competitive so you won’t have enough time for those.</p>
<p>^Berkeley definitely has all of those things last time I checked, and a lot of students - including Chem students - have time for them. :P</p>
<p>^Yeah right, and yes you could. But that’s how you end up getting Cs and Fs (if you’re an EECS or Chem major). </p>
<p>Berkeley Chem is not a joke (like Film Studies, Communications, Art History, PS, Sociology, etc.)</p>