<p>I'm having a hell of a time choosing between these three. I plan on going into psychology, more specifically industrial/organizational psychology, and I'm pretty sure that UCB does better than UCLA and UCSC in the prestige department. However, I'm a transfer, and I'll be ready to transfer in the spring of '09, which UCB doesn't accept (only fall transfers), which is what causes the difficulty in choosing. Does the psychology department of any one of these universities highly outdo the other in terms of quality and/or prestige, or is it mostly just a question of personal preference? For instance, is Berkeley's program and prestige so much better than the other two that I should wait an entire semester, or am I completely wrong in my analysis, and UCLA or UCSC offers a better program for my interests? </p>
<p>My priorities: </p>
<p>1) Academic strength in psychology and/or industrial/organizational psych
2) Prestige, overall academic ranking and/or reputation.
3) Climate and good vibes. I like a more peaceful, quiet, natural setting, which I saw when I visited UCSC (only one I visited). This really isn't THAT much of a factor, but it would be enough to sway the decision between a few pretty even choices. </p>
<p>My political views:</p>
<p>I don't really fit into any of the specific political views, although most political compass quizzes place me as a libertarian, although there's quite a few classical libertarian stances that I tend to disagree with, like their stance on health care. That said, I probably wouldn't do well in a place where I have to largely change my views in order to get a good grade. </p>
<p>I'm not very social, so the social atmosphere doesn't make much of a difference to me. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>UCLA's psych program isn't better than Berkeley's, but Berkeley's isn't better than UCLA's. UCSC has a good psych department (though it isn't quite top-tier).</p></li>
<li><p>Berkeley has the advantage in prestige, though I don't think that it's enough to change your mind completely, in this case.</p></li>
<li><p>UCSC definitely has this setting. But you can find the same sort of setting within UCLA or Berkeley -- it may not be the overall feel, but you can find it easily (probably more easily at Berkeley than UCLA).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>
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That said, I probably wouldn't do well in a place where I have to largely change my views in order to get a good grade.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't think you have to worry about that here.</p>
<p>If you really want to transfer spring '09, then I'd say go ahead for UCLA. Berkeley doesn't really have a huge advantage for you here. This really comes down to which fits you the most and when you want to transfer.</p>
<p>I do know that Berkeley and UCLA are some of the best. I would not go to UCSC if you think you can get into Cal or UCLA. Just wait the extra 6+months.</p>
<p>But, I highly recommend you visit the campuses before making a decision.
UCLA and Berkeley are very different in terms of off-campus atmosphere. Even though you claim in your post that it shouldn't affect your decision...it does for a lot of people.</p>
<p>We like them all. One son went to Berkeley and his only complaint was that it can be serious and not real social. They love their sports teams, though.
My D is at UCLA because they were best in her major an she couldn't be happier except that she has an intense study schedule.
My D's good friend is at UCSC and it is a fit for her because she likes the kick-back attitude and the science department.</p>
<p>UCB--urban, serious, access to SF, beautiful campus, eccentric
UCLA--beachy-urban, sunny, beautiful campus, great pre-med
UCSB--the largest campus, beautiful, artsy, tolerant, colder beaches than UCLA</p>
<p>UCBChemEGrad is right--nothing substitutes for a visit if you can swing it</p>
<p>Berkeley is the campus which probably has the closest "balance" of the three things you're looking for. UCSC easily wins for the atmosphere you want, and UCLA loses badly; Berkeley is urban, but it's nestled right up against the hills and north campus is beautiful and foresty. </p>
<p>I'm not sure what you were saying about "spring '09" though. You mean you won't finish the number of credits you'll need to transfer by then? You won't have finished IGETC? Which?</p>
<p>To my knowledge, neither UCLA nor UCB offer spring applications, though both do admit to spring term by their determination (I should know, since I was accepted to UCB as a spring transfer last year). Spring deferral is not something you can depend on, however, and I don't think they'd offer it to you because you need the fall to finish the requirements: things need to be done at time of application (rather, need to be finished by the end of the current academic year).</p>
<p>Thanks for the info everyone, very helpful. I definitely do intend to visit the remaining two campuses, but the tours are inevitably biased, and it's good to get third party info as well.</p>
<p>
I'm not sure what you were saying about "spring '09" though. You mean you won't finish the number of credits you'll need to transfer by then? You won't have finished IGETC? Which?</p>
<p>To my knowledge, neither UCLA nor UCB offer spring applications, though both do admit to spring term by their determination (I should know, since I was accepted to UCB as a spring transfer last year). Spring deferral is not something you can depend on, however, and I don't think they'd offer it to you because you need the fall to finish the requirements: things need to be done at time of application (rather, need to be finished by the end of the current academic year).
</p>
<p>I'm really not too sure, to be honest. All I know is that on a sheet which lists the course requirements for transferring as a psychology major, Berkeley has a note which says "students are admitted to the major in the fall only". UCLA, however, has no such note. I'll ask my counselors, as if I'll end up having to wait for both of them, I'd definitely go for Berkeley. </p>
<p>As to the "spring '09" comment, though, what I meant was that I won't have finished my IGETC and needed 60 units until fall of '08 (my last semester of community college), so the earliest I would be able to begin at wherever I transfer to would be Spring of '09.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't really fit into any of the specific political views, although most political compass quizzes place me as a libertarian
[/quote]
Spend more time checking whether UCSC is right for you; I strongly suggest talking to some current or recent students, etc. From what I've heard the campus is strongly left-wing and, more importantly to you, students are very intolerant of people who don't share their views.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some UCLA fanatics will argue that there's a little difference between a Cal degree and a UCLA degree. Same for UCSD. Do not be fooled by them. Of course, they will protect their alma mater school because, generally speaking, the reputation of your school would say so much for yourself as well. But, in reality, better students go to better schools. And amongst the 3 of them, Cal is obviously the better choice.
[/quote]
This coming from the person who claims that other than Cal, UVA, and UM, the rest of the public schools are beneath him. The "fanatics" make up a minority of those that claims a marginal difference between the three - the majority are those who've taken the blinders off and have accepted reality. While I don't doubt the cross admit numbers favor Cal, UCLA, and then UCSD, I would say that those who choose to matriculate at UCLA over Cal (or UCSD or Cal/UCLA) are still significant.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It could be because a majority of the population in CA is from southern CA, and they want to stay closer to home.
[/quote]
I'm sure that's the case for some students. But you're smoking crack if you think location is the determining factor for the rest of the students who choose UCLA over Cal (or UCSD over UCLA, etc.). It's not like we're comparing UCB and UCR here.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But you're smoking crack if you think location is the determining factor for the rest of the students who choose UCLA over Cal (or UCSD over UCLA, etc.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course you can't make such a generalization over such a large group, but I think you'd be surprised how many students choose based on location. For example, at my high school, the majority didn't want to leave southern California; their reasons for choosing UCSB, UCR, UCI, UCLA, Cal Poly, etc. were mainly, "It's close to home." I'm not attempting to make a case just one what I've seen personally, but I do think that location is pretty important in decisions, even for UCs (and even for Berkeley vs. UCLA).</p>
<p>location may be important, but for every student that says "I want to stay close to home" it seems there is one who says "I'm getting away from home!"</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Cal stats on their website seem to bear this out (no pun intended!). 46% of the Cal frosh are from SoCal, 33% from the Bay area, the rest scattered around the state.
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</p>
<p>Well, in this case it'd be more accurate to compare the % from the Bay Area and LA -- if you wanted to use So Cal, you'd have to use Nor Cal for comparison. The chart also has "Other California 14%" so if we assume that that's Nor Cal, it'd make total from Nor Cal 47%, which would mean that Berkeley draws about equally from Nor Cal and So Cal.</p>
<p>The question is, does UCLA have the same proportions? More importantly, of those who got into both UCLA and Berkeley and who ultimately chose UCLA, what percent were from LA? As I suggested above, I think UCLA probably draws more heavily from LA than Berkeley does from the Bay Area, though this is just an assumption.</p>
<p>UCLA, around 57% were from Southern Cali area (including San Diego) and 35% were from the rest of Cali (we'll assume this is mostly made up of Nor Cal students).</p>
<p>But this is understandable, since Southern California (even the L.A. region itself) is far more spread out than the Bay Area, traveling from teh East end (Riverside county) to UCLA will easily take 2-3 hours due to the traffic. Even traveling to Orange County (which is right below L.A. county), it takes 40 minutes without traffic and around an hour and half with traffic.</p>
<p>This makes UCLA a quite unique location for So. Cal residents. It makes UCLA a university that's nearby by distance for far off for traveling, which makes and ideal place for kids who "want independence yet want to stay reasonably close to home".</p>
<p>For this reason, students get to experience "college" while not having to worry about suffering from homesickness. And for those of you who doesn't know the treasure of living at a reasonable distance from parents, you have no idea how convenient it is. Saves both time and money.</p>
<p>sorry for the double post though. My stupid laptop did something by itself and posted while iw as still typing. >.<</p>
<p>Ultimately, it really won't matter much. I would say go to Cal in this case, because UCLA has the farthest thing from a "natural" atmosphere. UCLA's very urban park-esque. </p>
<p>One of the most successful people I know went to UCSC, though, so who knows? Prestige matters, but fit will make you a better student.</p>
<p>Go where you feel you will be happiest. While UCB or UCLA might offer more prestige, UCSC will still offer you a wonderful and possibly more intiment education. If it was me I probably would choose Berkeley, followed by either UCLA/UCSD. But again, if you feel more comfertable attending UCSC, then go for it!</p>
<p>"The Department of Psychology, one of the largest and most productive departments in the nation, is housed in Franz Hall. picture of Franz Hall - UCLA Its state-of-the-art facilities, numerous resources and renowned faculty provide ample opportunity for innovative research. Many departmental faculty and researchers are recipients of over $14 million in annual extramural funding, and are acknowledged leaders in their fields. Their scientific contributions, combined with the campus' remarkable growth and Los Angeles' cultural vibrancy, have hastened the University's emergence as a world-class research institution - the anchor of Southern California's intellectual and scientific achievement." -- UCLA Psychology Department homepage</p>