UCB vs. Smith

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>So this is a bit of a different dilemma from other students on this thread, but im legitimately stuck between these two schools. </p>

<p>I've heard nothing but good things about Smith, and I've always been looking for the east coast college experience with the beautiful campus, small close-knit community, and I don't mind the campus being a little secluded (though I've always hoped my future college could be around half an hour from the nearest big city.) I know people who've gone to Smith and they are incredibly happy there, so I don't doubt I'd have a great time (though the lack of boys I admit is a little unfortunate.) </p>

<p>I was raised in California for a long time however, and where I live now there is much more support for my attending UC Berkeley. I've visited the campus before, and it's very beautiful but the feel of the school is very different from that of Smith. I attend a very small high school so the idea of being with even 1000 new freshmen overwhelms me, nevermind the 6000 that Berkeley has. And I've heard some difficult things about attending a UC at this point in California's economic turn - people have to scramble to get enough credits to graduate because classes aren't as available as they used to be, etc. </p>

<p>Job prospect wise, however, UC Berkeley does have a head up over Smith. As of now I plan to go to law school and this may be sheer statistics but Berkeley's law school acceptance rate is 10% higher than that of Smith. And as an international student, the area where I live in values the name of the school more than anything, so being a UCB kid opens up more doors for me than Smith does (unfortunate, but true.) At the same time, UCB's funding claims it's changing but I'm unsure of whether students like me would benefit (nonresidents, full paying internationals) from them at all, whereas smith provides paid internships and other opportunities like study abroad more intensively than a UC would. </p>

<p>Sorry this is so long, thanks to anyone for their help with this!</p>

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<p>I would go with the school you’re more comfortable with.</p>

<p>Job prospects wise, I guess it could depend on where you plan to find a job afterwards. Berkeley is a strong name in many places, including California, of course, and abroad, especially Asia. I’d be wary about using law school acceptance rates – it’s hard to get any accurate info when it comes to what alums are doing – and after all, getting into law school depends heavily on how well you as an individual student do in school and on the LSAT.</p>

<p>Anyway, I go to Berkeley, but when choosing schools I was REALLY tempted to go with a liberal arts school. (I didn’t consider Smith, but was seriously looking at Carleton, which was the private school that gave me the most financial aid.) So I understand your dilemma with small, close-knit community where everyone seems to know each other vs. the vibrancy and diversity of a huge place like Berkeley. I still wonder what would’ve happened had I attended a small college, but hey, now that I’m a junior, I’m SO relieved that I’m no longer in the dorms. Maybe I would’ve gotten sick of living in dorms for four years.</p>

<p>Frankly, I think the biggest different between a small school that’s slightly secluded and a big public university might be the level of involvement with the local town. Berkeley students are so integrated with the town, involved in its politics and in its schools. Hundreds volunteer or work at the local schools, making up the majority of the district’s volunteers. There’s so many local cultural celebrations where groups of Cal students inevitably show up. </p>

<p>I think if I were at a small college, I’d be interacting with my classmates more often. At Berkeley, everyone’s more spread out – students live in different parts of town, sometimes out of town. There’s so many choices of how to live. Whereas at a small liberal arts college, most everyone lives in the dorms. Which might be help community bonding, or might be a pain. It might be hard to get away and have privacy and of course, dorms have rules (curfew, roommates, etc.).</p>

<p>As for “scrambling for enough units,” I think this has impacted certain popular classes necessary for some science-y majors. I haven’t been affected, being a Rhetoric major. (and that’s another thing – there’s SO many more choices to study at a big university. The only liberal arts college that offers Rhetoric as a major per se is Bates, I think.) The humanities and social sciences are more flexible. And it’s not hard for L&S students to get extra semesters, which also wouldn’t happen at a small liberal arts college, where nearly everyone has to graduate in exactly eight semesters. Some of my friends have taken fifth years or a ninth semester (including me), and it’s more because we want to explore some more (eg. take pre-med classes at a slower pace) or study abroad without limiting our time at Berkeley, not because we’re forced to take an extra class that we couldn’t get into before. I think Berkeley’s generous about not suddenly kicking people out or having students stick to the prescribed timetable.</p>

<p>Of course, you might consider weather…Northern California and Massachusetts are pretty different.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision! Smith is a great school too. :)</p>