<p>I'm currently a freshman at a private university out of state (I'm a CA resident) and I'm planning to transfer. I wanted to transfer next year--my top choices were USC and Georgetown, but a couple days ago I visited Berkeley just to see if I liked it and I am IN LOVE. The school is amazing and seems like the perfect fit for me, plus I already know a lot of people there so it just seems perfect. The only problem is I don't really want to wait 2 years to transfer and I don't know if Berkeley would be good for my major.</p>
<p>My major is International Relations
I want to go to a sports school
I would prefer a larger school
Safety is important to me
A beautiful campus is a must
I have 30 credits currently and will have 60 by the end of the year (quarter system). If I take summer classes I will have 90 credits (minimum for quarter system students) by the end of fall quarter 2009. Does UCB take spring transfers?
School rank is an important factor in my decision as well as selectivity
My mom went to USC so I am a legacy
I don't want to join a sorority!
The school has to have a good study abroad program and language department.</p>
<p>With this criteria, how do USC, Georgetown, and UCB rank?</p>
<p>I had a similar decision to make last spring. Georgetown v. Cal. </p>
<p>Went to Cal, loved it ever since. BUT, I'm an English major, and I hear great things about
Georgetown's IR program. </p>
<p>Sports = whatevs. UCB has sports n' stuff.
Berkeley is massive. Georgetown, less so.
If political persuasion means anything to you, Georgetown is UBER conservative.
*<strong><em>loads of money there, lots of blazer-clad, sweater-vest types. If that's your thing, go
for it. Even if it isn't your thing, I spent a semester there and now thank the sweet lord
i'm in Berkeley - the land of tattoos and piercings. I think it's important to get the
experience of being both a fish out of water (for me, Georgetizz), and comfortable in one's
surroundings (again, for me that's Cal).
Crime is similar in both areas I'd say. Georgetown is all set away from "outright danger"
but *</em></strong> still goes down. Cal's Telegraph area and back near people's park can get sketchy
at like 2 or 3 in the morning, but there's campus escorts that will walk you home if you're
worried.
Spring xfers on UCB - No (even though they designate some as such). You can only apply
expecting to enroll in the fall, but some students are deferred until spring entry. Not sure
what the reasoning is behind that. I think Georgetown is fall entry only as well.
Sororities and frats are at both. Not necessary to meet people. I think both are stupid,
but that's just me. Tons of stuff going on in Berkeley to meet folks. Not as much at Georgetown, but I can only speculate on that fact b/c of sheer size.
If money is an issue, being an in-state resident will cut your tuition for Cal to a QUARTER or even a FIFTH of what it would be if you went to Georgetown (5-10k /yr. at Cal vs. 50g's!!! a year at GT). </p>
<p>I dunno. I love Cal. I don't regret not going to Georgetown. I think much of your
experience is going to depend on how much you relate to the area. If you're from CA,
depending on where you grew up, you may be more "at home" in Berkeley.</p>
<p>I don't think Berkeley has an IR major. Regarding USC and sororities: it's much more difficult, although still possible, to have a social life at USC outside of sororities than at Cal.</p>
<p>I have kids at both USC and Cal. Berkeley does offer students the ability to create their own majors so students can study whatever they like. I always hear Cal professors being interviewed for the news as regards politics and policy so someone there can teach you and direct you to internships. ( I think Obama has appointed 2 or 3 Cal profs to his administration) Cal is NOT a sports school, although there are sports there and some are popular. At sports schools, like USC, the head coaches get reserved parking spaces when they come to work. At Cal, you have to be a Nobel Laureate to get a reserved spot. Football is fun at Cal, but there is no comparison to schools like USC, Florida, Texas, etc. Cal sports is cool though and good enough for those who do not need an annual national championship contender to root for. safety can be an issue at both USC and Cal because both are situated in urban areas. USC has a beautiful campus, but not much to do once you get past the zone directly surrounding the school. Berkeley has more to do and you do not need a car to get out and have fun. My USC son lived briefly in Berkeley and said he feels he can go further from campus at Berkeley than USC. However, he says socially there is a lot more going on at USC 24/7 and it is all within a few blocks. You will not run out of fun at USC if you do not join a sorority. There are plenty of other groups to work/hang out with. I know a lot of freshmen there who are not greeks and they have lots to do.</p>
<p>USC has an excellent International Relations major. Probably better than Cal. I urge you to try to listen to Dean/Professor Lamy speak: he is their top IR guy and is inspiring to listen to. </p>
<p>From stories I have heard from students of both schools, study abroad seems easier to accomplish at USC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
At sports schools, like USC, the head coaches get reserved parking spaces when they come to work. At Cal, you have to be a Nobel Laureate to get a reserved spot.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, to be fair, Cal football coach Jeff Tedford can afford his own reserved spot. He was paid $2.8 million this year - that's more than all of Berkeley's current Nobel laureates make combined. Heck, Tedford was the highest paid employee in the entire UC system, more so than even UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland, who has taken his team to 3 straight Final Fours and 3 straight outright Pac-10 titles and counting. In contrast, Tedford has never won the Pac-10 outright and has never taken Cal to a BCS bowl. </p>