<p>I'm making a hard choice between UCB (Undecided) and UVa(Physics), which one do you think is better for me?
I know that UCB is academically stronger. But I prefer a campus environment like UVa which is smaller and peaceful(and I think life in UVa is not as stressful as in UCB).
Please give me some advices,thx~</p>
<p>I’m having the same issue!
I got into UCB and UVA for biology, as I’m taking the premed path. UCB is more prestigious than UVA. Yet, UVA seems more peaceful, has a better campus life, actually has a med school, and seems safer. </p>
<p>I’m so confused! I hate how we’re only given a month to decide!</p>
<p>Personally, I think college education is almost the same among the top universities which are ranked top 30. But, social and communication skill is much more important than academic. I prefer the campus and student life in UVa at the moment. Keep searching information about these two universities, just three weeks left…</p>
<p>Please do more research online and compare the different ranking lists from different source. A friend of mine sent her daughter to UVA a few years ago. After graduation her daughter went to Wall Street and then lost job. Her daught went to China last year tryng to find some opportunity, and finally came back to study for MBA in another US business school. In this world, everybody knows UCB, nobody knows UVA. If you just want to live in Washington DC area as a generic worker, UVA is your choice. If you want to work/traval the world and compete for the future, go to UCB.</p>
<p>I am from China, too! It is obvious that UCB is much more famous(at least among Chinese), but they seem apathetic to admitted students… UVa sends emails and holds parties in China(It is great for me since I cannot access to UVa directly).
what is more, UCB has suffered from the recession…not to mention the rising tuition fee, many of their great profs are leaving Cal now
I am still perplexed…
ps: I plan to followed the premed path, so I will major in MCB(but they will offer me B.A instead of B.S… 囧)</p>
<p>Yeah, UCB is internationally prestigious…
However, UVA seems quiet and safe. I seem more attracted to UVA in terms of teh environement. However, in terms of prestige and academics, I’d rather chant aloud BERKELEY than UVA. I also plan to take premed. the only downside is that berkeley has a reputation of inflating grades. Im confused as to whetehr I should go 2 berkeley and take premed, or go to an international school and take a 6 yr medical program…
Thanks anyways :D</p>
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<p>1.) Unless you plan on living overseas (or amongst people who THINK they’re still overseas), the prestige gap here is not nearly so large as you seem to think.</p>
<p>2.) Plus, environment ought to trump prestige anyway.</p>
<p>Sure - a beautiful community college should always trump Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>She’s not talking about Harvard or Yale or a community college. She’s talking about Berkeley versus UVa in this context.</p>
<p>Moreover, she’s also not talking about campus beauty. Environment encompasses things like caliber of student body (e.g. will your friends be smart) and faculty relationships.</p>
<p>my points remain the same. yes, these are factors to consider, although I would claim the differential in caliber of student body or faculty relationships goes to Cal, but your statement was “Plus, environment ought to trump prestige anyway.” to which I replied with an even bigger gap than exists between UVa and Cal. However, the gap is not insignificant or irrelevant, just smaller.</p>
<p>to rider730:
You mean UCB overshadows UVa?
international prestige is important to me. But I value the academic atmosphere most.
plus, do you think there are too many Chinese students in Cal? I am worried that I will come back to China with my Chinglish! o_0
thx!</p>
<p>Probably either is better known than Duke, a college everyone really just associates with basketball, in the same way the people associate Notre Dame with football… At least
UCB and UVA are noted for academics; Duke not so much.</p>
<p>i am also deciding between ucb, uva, and w&m. i plan to follow the pre-med path, and would like to know if anyone has statistics on how well graduates from each fare in med school admissions.</p>
<p>True, true…
The decision seems to get tougher by the day, especially with the deadline approaching!!</p>
<p>Most importantly, I’m frightened by the premed system- you know risking four years of hardcore, intense studying for a CHANCE of getting into med school. I’m a star high school student but I don’t know if I can be patient enough for four years. Yet, I can’t stand turning down either UCB or UVA… theyve always been my dream schools… oh well…</p>
<p>today a friend of mine said she went to berkeley yesterday and found there are baggers all around the streets…
Although I am not so particular about environment, it sounds terrible to live in a messy place for four years(no offense).
However, after searching on the internet for weeks, I must say I Love UCB’s websites. There are a abundant of great academic activities involving almost every major. And the peer advisors are great, too. They reply to my emails in 24hrs.
But it seems that Cal is decadent. The dean of biology department of letters and science college is leaving for Brown…
I almost made up my mind to go to berkeley, but all those negative news about berkeley make me wavered between UCB and UVA…again and again
SIGH^SIGH^SIGH^
Yes, decline either admission makes me crazy… Whatever, knowing that I am not the only person struggling with this hard decision soothes my anxiety…thank you</p>
<p>I know exactly how you feel Wendydai!
Except don’t worry about Cal decaying because its new dean will probably be just as good or even better… in fact, he’ll probably have a nobel prize!</p>
<p>Its just the environment and when it comes to that, I’m on the same exact page as you are on.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that if you’re worrying about prestige, then it matters whom you’re trying to impress. A medical school admissions committee won’t be any more impressed by Berkeley than UVa. (And, for that matter, neither is US News and World Report.) An engineering firm in China will be much more impressed by Berkeley than by UVa. An American who’s basically familiar with college will disagree with #12, but a lot of internationals (or others who focus on PhD-level research) will think #12 is basically right.</p>
<p>Since the OP is a premed, the gap between UVa and Berkeley prestige-wise is negligible.</p>
<p>Moreover, even if the prestige gap were moderate, the environment concerns ought to trump. It turns out that being a good premed is really difficult when you’re unhappy.</p>
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<p>Bluedevilmike…LOL! You’ve just summed up my D’s thoughts to a tee! She’s pre-med (1st year) and opted for UVa over Northwestern last year. Some thought she was crazy, but UVa’s weather and social climate won her heart. </p>
<p>I personally feel UCB and UVa are more or less equal, and Cal’s rep is in limbo right now given the state’s economic woes – GO WITH YOUR HEART!</p>
<p>how come this thread is full of posts from people who attend, or whose children attend, UVa, UNC and Duke and other colleges in that region, who have little to zero knowledge of Cal, but instead of posting over in the UVa forum, came here to talk down Cal? Is the thread in the UVa forum filled with Berkeley students trashtalking the other school?</p>
<p>At least get answers from Cal students about what it is like at Cal and what is going on based on budget issues in the state, then make your decision.</p>
<p>1.) I don’t think that calling Cal and UVa roughly peer schools constitutes “trashing” Cal.</p>
<p>2.) For what it’s worth, I grew up in Berkeley and know the school very well. The vast plurality of my friends went there.</p>