UCLA or CAL?

<p>I recently got accepted into both CAL and UCLA, and I'm really honored and excited to be accepted by both schools. Both are great academically and carry a lot of prestige but I'm just not sure about which school to go to. Out of high school I really wanted to go to UCLA, because I wanted to get away from the bay area where I live, but during my time in community college I was set on going to Berkeley, but now that decisions have been released I'm not so sure. I like Berkeley's bioengineering program and it would be cheap to go there if I lived at home, but I don't really like the campus or the city very much. I plan on taking a tour of UCLA soon to get a feel for the atmosphere, but I am curious as to how others have dealt with similar situations.</p>

<p>I’m choosing cal as I want to get out of SoCal. I much prefer UCLA’s campus to Cal though, but just want a change of life.</p>

<p>Same issue here, any insight especially from a Bruin/Bear will be appreciated!</p>

<p>Simply ask yourself, what would Patrick Willis do?</p>

<p>I’m in the same predicament… I was not expecting to get accepted to Berkeley, nor was I even considering it. I only applied there because of the application fee waiver, tbh. I was completely set on going to UCLA, but after getting accepted to Cal, now I don’t know what to do. I’m an English major, but I plan on double majoring or minoring in film production. UCLA has always been my dream school, and I’m pretty sure that I would be happy there, but I feel like being accepted to Berkeley is such an amazing opportunity. The prestige factor is the main appeal of Cal at this point since I’ve never been to the campus, and don’t know much about it. Am I being foolish for seriously considering a school simply based on its prestige? I’m hoping to make a trip up there in a couple of weeks, but I don’t know if it will be possible. I’m just scared of making the wrong decision and regretting it later. Any words of advice?</p>

<p>Same issue here. English major who aimed mostly for UCLA, but ended up getting into Cal too. Now I’m forced to re-think everything.</p>

<p>I don’t know about anyone else, but the biggest thing that will help me decide is visiting the Cal campus and surrounding area. I’ve never been up there, so I think that’s a big part of what’s keeping me from saying yes to one or the other. Hoping to go within the next 2 weeks or so… I feel like after I do that, making a decision should be much easier. That way I won’t feel regret later, because at least I can pretty much picture what I’d be choosing and what I’d be passing up. </p>

<p>And if I’ve considered housing options, transportation, etc. but still can’t decide, I’ll probably then look to academics to break the tie. Quarter system vs. semester, how many classes would I have to take to fulfill the major reqs and the like.</p>

<p>I guess my advice to others (so far) is figure out the top 2 or 3 things that are most important to you and go from there. If you’re anything like me, you could have a long list for both schools of specifics and still be unsure. Haha.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Same predicament here. </p>

<p>Things I love about Berkeley:
Semester System
Far from home</p>

<h1>1 Program in the nation for my major</h1>

<p>Prestige</p>

<p>Things I love about UCLA
Weather
Close to home
a little bit cheaper
housing options</p>

<p>This I Dislike about Berkeley
Distance from home
fear of the unknown
weather
hobos?
expensive</p>

<p>Things I dislike about LA
Quarter system
too close to home
I know so many people there already
less prestige than berkeley</p>

<p>My pros and cons for both school are pretty even, thats why I just want to visit the schools and find out my financial aid package, and go from there.</p>

<p>I am also an English major accepted at both schools and STRUGGLING to decide!!!</p>

<p>@Maninder guess I’m going to ole miss!</p>

<p>I transferred to Cal last year and am switching to UCLA this year. I’m not using my old username (which had my real name in it), but you guys are free to PM me on this account and I can try to answer any of your questions. CC people helped me a ton when I was transferring and I’m just trying to pay it forward!</p>

Same

I got accepted into both schools and don’t know what to do. My major is Comm, so I think for my major I should go to UCLA. However, I don’t know if I could forgive myself if I passed up Cal. It may the prestige and idea of living somewhere new that fascinates me about Cal rather than the actual academics (although it’s supposedly “better” than UCLA).
I’m going to try and visit Cal but I wish I had more than a month to decide! They gave me roughly the same amount of aid, but Cal is slightly more expensive, not to mention trying to make rent up there!! I don’t know what I’ll do, but my gut keeps telling me to go to UCLA because the COMM program looks amazing.

as someone who attended both schools… I can say that both schools are really similar in climate and rigor…

for me the key difference makers were: SoCal vs NorCal and Quarter System vs Semester System