UC Davis or UC Berkeley?

<p>have been successfully admitted into both UC Davis and UC Berkeley and am having a great deal of trouble deciding between both. Both have their pros and cons. I really enjoy Davis because of the community atmosphere, nice campus, safety, nice people, and just a happy environment. Everyone there seems to love and enjoy attending there. Although I haven't checked out Cal in such depth, the vibe I get from them is a place full of unnecessary competition, and hobos everywhere. Prestige seems to be the only thing that is making me hold onto Cal. I just don't want to regret turning down the #1 Public University in the nation. I have also been admitted as a Spring Admit at Cal which is also in the con pile for me. I registered for their FPF program just in case I decide to attend, but I'm not very well informed on this program. In addition, I would be a Pre-Business major at Cal and I'm curious on how competitive it truly is to get into the Haas Business School for Undergraduate. I would also be a Managerial Economics at Davis. Here are my concerns for both schools:
-happy atmosphere
-workload/stress
-job opportunities after graduating (seems like a degree from Cal would get me a better job in a hypothetical situation?)
-safety on campus
-FPF Program at Cal (I hear that the class are held in a nearby building off campus?...and the area is sketch? also housing is a big concern with the program)
-What would I do if I wasn't accepted into the Haas Business School?</p>

<p>I just want to make the right decision and not regret anything, what should I do?</p>

<p>Just to point out, a degree from Cal would not get you a better job than if you got a degree from UCD. Employers do not care about which university you got your degree from, they care more about whether you can apply the skills you’ve learned to work.</p>

<p>The only way you’re going to make the right decision is to take a closer look at Berkeley.</p>

<p>Here are a few things to think about:

  • Opportunities
  • Student Life
  • Culture</p>

<p>if you make your decision solely based on prestige, you will regret it.
visit each campus; choosing one will naturally come from your intuition.
either way, both schools are terrific, you cannot go wrong.</p>

<p>I totally agree with the other posts and I believe you should make an informed, well explored decision after viewing both schools.
Just to help you gather information, here is a link to ASKCALIBER. Caliber is UC Berkeley’s student run on campus magazine, and it is pretty amazing. If you want to add a new perspective to your search, this will help immensely! Feel free to post a question, comment or answer questions yourself! It is a great source for information on life at CAL and just college life in general. You will get answers to questions from the STUDENTS themselves and you are in tune with what other prospective CAL admits are thinking too! Check it out & good luck with your search! GO BEARS! [Caliber</a> Magazine | Ask Caliber](<a href=“http://calibermag.org/ask/]Caliber”>http://calibermag.org/ask/)</p>

<p>My son has been at UC Davis for 2 years and he absolutely loves it there and we have never come across anyone who has said anything but positive things. My best friends daughter goes to Cal and she got her car broken into and a bunch of stuff stolen. I know that is not going to help with your decision, just personal experience.</p>

<p>

That’s plain false. I’ve been to career workshops (in the Philadelphia area) where the presenter explicitly said, “We hire exclusively from Princeton and Wharton.” Now that I am affiliated with Stanford, I am actively being recruited by companies who would have not even read my application when I was “only” affiliated with a top 20 liberal arts college.</p>

<p>That being said, institutional affiliation matters more for some careers than others. I also don’t know how UCD compares to Berkeley in the eyes of a recruiter.</p>

<p>“Just to point out, a degree from Cal would not get you a better job than if you got a degree from UCD. Employers do not care about which university you got your degree from, they care more about whether you can apply the skills you’ve learned to work.”</p>

<p>Almost everyone knows that this is false. The prestige difference between UCD and Berkeley imo is big enough for there to be a difference. If it were between two similar schools it would be different but Berkeley’s quality of education is pretty good and it truly does have justification for the #1 rank for a public university. I think both schools are a fine choice though. I would go with berkeley just because of the better education and the ability for berkeley grads to catch employers’ attention.</p>

<p>Um… I’m sure the OP already picked, and also there is likely no significant difference in prospective job chances between Davis and Berkeley, nor educational differences, no matter the “prestige” difference. Also, Davis is stronger than Berkeley at a good amount of subjects. I have to LOL at the recitation of a recruiter who talked about Wharton and Princeton because it is not at all applicable to the UC’s here being discussed.</p>

<p>

I hope you understand that I will ignore the opinion of someone who’s not even in college yet, unless you can back up your statements. Can you?</p>

<p>I’ve run into several Philadelphia companies who hire from Princeton and Penn but not Swarthmore or Haverford. If you go by academic strength, Swarthmore and Haverford should clearly be on the table too… but they are not. Which leads me to conclude that: it’s all about prestige. Princeton and Penn have it, Swarthmore and Haverford do not.</p>

<p>What’s your evidence that recruiters treat UC Davis and UC Berkeley as equivalent? One certainly seems more selective and prestigious than the other.</p>

<p>Well you’re probably in finance or some ****. Of course they care about prestige. They’re the same yuppies who buy Rolexes and Benzes in hopes that their bosses notice and compliment them on it. When in reality a $20 quartz is more accurate, and that Benz will break down by the 5th year.</p>

<p>^Rolexes were so last year. It’s all about the Omega Seamaster. Dress for the job you want. Not the job you already have.</p>

<p>If they had taste I’d say Patek Phillipe or A. Lange Sohne. But I’ll go ahead and assume that they don’t.</p>

<p>Choose whatever you heart is going for-that’s what i did. I was in the same situation as you are and i also got accepted to cal for the spring but i chose davis because i did not want to waste my first semester. Also, the kind atmosphere and the fact that my best friend is going there helped me chose too. I hope you make the best decision!</p>