<p>I know there are tons of these threads so I'll keep it simple.</p>
<p>What would I be missing if I chose San Diego over Berkeley?</p>
<p>I don't want to sacrifice my education, but the regents scholarship is a very tempting and calming thing to have. Having access to all of the opportunities with the Regents, as well as making nearly everything easier (housing, registration, etc), are all extremely welcome. However, I can't help but worry over the loss of an amazing school like Berkeley.</p>
<p>So in conclusion, what opportunities, and anything else really, would I be missing out on if I chose SD over Cal?</p>
<p>i wouldn’t recommend asking the ucsd group, because i’m sure that the vast majority of students that reply on threads here are ucsd students, not berkeley students. they might be able to provide you with a better idea of what their campus is like.</p>
<p>first, congrats on getting into such great schools, and receiving the regents scholarship!
but it all comes down to you. you should really put in a great deal of thought, do a lot of research on each school, and (probably most importantly) visit each campus, multiple times if you have to. sometimes the campus and surrounding areas, its environment, students, etc. can make or break your contentment with your undergrad career.
(and i’d say that both campuses are incredibly different; it would be very likely that you’d prefer one over the other after a visit.)</p>
<p>and don’t discount the academic quality of ucsd. it, like berkeley, is an amazing school and can provide you with countless opportunities for success, post-grad. ucsd is still a young school but also is making great strides to become an elite university.
i think that either school will be a great choice for you.</p>
<p>Regents definitely makes everything easier. You have priority enrollment, so you have a much better chance of getting the classes you want. Also, if you apply for research positions or internships, it helps reviewers place your resume at the top of their list. All the UCSD Regents scholars I know have landed some pretty prestigious internships, and I can already tell they’re bound to end up in very good grad schools. </p>
<p>That being said, a Regents scholarship at UCSD is pretty hard to land. If you really like Berkeley, you’ll probably be a high achiever there as well. I say go with whichever school strikes your fancy.</p>
<p>Thank you both for the input! I haven’t visited Berkeley yet, but I plan on it. If everything is true about the snobby people, hobos, and rampant overbearing liberalism, then I’ll definitely like SD better.</p>
<p>Haha very funny I’m not too worried about a social life. I don’t like partying, but I do like hanging out. There’s plenty to do around both campuses too… I do like the fact that SD has the biggest gym on the west coast though haha.</p>
<p>Berkeley is an amazing academic and activist environment. There really isn’t any other college in California that compares to it. It’s not for everyone, though. The people that choose to go to Berkeley tend to self-select themselves as it’s a polarizing campus (i.e., if you’re conservative, it’s not a haven for you).</p>
<p>That said, San Diego is polarizing as well. There are many of the traditional institutions found at other campuses that are missing here. No football or real campus spirit when it comes to sports; no frat row / minimal Greek life; no college-town feel; etc.</p>
I’m not too worried about a social life. I don’t like partying, but I do like hanging out. There’s plenty to do around both campuses too… I do like the fact that SD has the biggest gym on the west coast though haha.</p>