<p>I got into both UCLA and UC Berkeley for a major in biology. I currently live in northern California, the bay area, a little less than an hour away from Berkeley. I am so confused on where to go. I don't mind moving away from home to go to UCLA, I've always wanted to go there. On the other hand, I'm risking maybe not liking UCLA, and wishing I was closer to home. Plus, i do have a couple friends going to Berkeley, but I just don't know which I should choose. I am 50/50 right now. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Visit UCLA. Go on a campus tour. Go on a housing tour. Attend Bruinday.</p>
<p>^agreed completely.</p>
<p>Since it seems you have visited Cal, you should give UCLA a chance by visiting and see if you like it. Also, please don’t choose a school based off where your friends are going…people can drift apart + it can stop you from meeting new people by sticking to your comfort zone. I’ve witnessed both of the above. </p>
<p>And definitely dorm no matter what! You lose a huge part of the experience by not being in the dorms the first two years…much harder to make friends/lots of memories you won’t have.</p>
<p>^ definitely</p>
<p>going off to college should be all about new experiences. LA is a 6-7 hour drive so definitely go check it out and sign up for those tours.
If you miss home, it is a 1 hour flight away but I would really recommend staying at school the entire quarter to get the most out of it on the weekends.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the input! Yea I’m visiting next week during my spring break. One minute I lean towards one school and the next I lean towards the other</p>
<p>@at1994 - My son is a freshman at Cal and his twin is a freshman at UCLA. Cal (ain’t gonna lie) is hard. Both are beautiful campuses. We live in the Bay Area, so he comes home frequently. I’ve been to both campuses, both sporting events, both parents weekend.</p>
<p>My input? Go to UCLA. :)</p>
<p>@sfmom3
Really? Any specific reason for UCLA?</p>
<p>Firstly, all, I am the man he would be rooming with at Berkeley. The main points I am telling him about why to go to Berkeley is selfishly, we are both from the same background and have been great friends for years now. </p>
<p>I think people underrate the fact that being far away from home is super inconvient. Sure, it’s an hour plane ride away, but the reality is it takes 3-4 hours of going through security and getting to the airport, etc. </p>
<p>Another thing I am bringing up to him is the fact that I feel like it is easier to meet new people when you have a “wing man” in a sense to meet new friends, considering we are both very social people. </p>
<p>The con of Berkeley is the surrounding of the campus, it is interesting to say the least. It made us feel a little out of our comfort zone, but it is something we could easily get use to. </p>
<p>I love the fact that I will be able to go home simply by calling my parents and having them be able to pick me up, or taking a quick train ride back home.
They are both amazing schools and we are both blessed to have these oppurtinites. I think that visiting the campus gives you a superficial feel for the campus, and you can only take your chances and attend the college to truly get a feel for it. I feel that Berkeley is the right fit for him, knowing that he will not have an issue with the social scene whatsoever. He’s a great kid and easily can make friends no matter where he goes. Other than of course UCLA has one of the nicest campuses I’ve ever seen, I feel that Berkeley is a great place for him academically, knowing he’s a hard worker. Socially, knowing he can make friends being the great guy he is. Lastly, convience, knowing that he isn’t too far away from home yet at the same time, far enough to be fully independent.</p>
<p>I am going through the same problem. I got in both ucla and cal and I am pursuing business econ for both. I know that cal has a better business/econ program but I am from sf and going to la has always been my dream. I have yet to visit UCLA but I will definitely visiy before I make the decision. The city of LA seems like the perfect fit for me as I do enjoy the diversity of urban feel of it. Being close to hollywood and the center of entertainment is a huge plus. In addition the art scene in LA is superb. I do enjoy visiting galleries amd whatnote. My twin will be going to cal and be a part of class of 2016. </p>
<p>Sent from my GT-I9100 using CC</p>
<p>I got into UCLA as well and already sent in my SIR. I’m from the bay area and am doing biology as well. I’m very excited and i know i made the right decision. For you, It really depends on what kind of experience you are looking for.
Do you like the LA environment? I personally love it, especially Westwood area. Would you feel extremely uncomfortable away from your family/home? (like more than 3-4 months?) that would be very bad and would interfere with your academics and social life. Just like everyone else said, you need to go visit the campus. Before i did, i thought i wanted to go to UCB… boy was i wrong. The UCLA campus is beautiful and i love how the buildings are this brick/red color. When i stepped onto the campus, i knew that it was the school for me. I don’t know about berkeley, but i know UCLA has a very diverse population. You wouldn’t have trouble making friends. 
I took a few summer classes at Cal and that’s when i realized that i didn’t “love” it so much. The buildings were not my favorite, i didn’t like the surrounding city, i hate the narrow roads(…and drivers haha), and that old look. I did, however, like the earthy, down to earth, feel of it(mostly), and of course the academics are great.
What kind of weather do you like? this is a big factor for me. I don’t mind the chilly bay area weather, but i prefer the sunny socal weather so much more.
What do you think about moving away? I look at it as a way to be independent and free. I won’t have my parents snooping into all my business haha. If you’re already given a lot of freedom you might not feel the need to move away. </p>
<p>Anyways, visit on Bruinday or take a guided tour earlier([Tours</a> - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/tours.htm]Tours”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/tours.htm)) I’m planning on taking a housing tour. :)</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>I’ve been on housing tours when I was a high school senior, and I’ve given housing tours as a UCLA student during Bruinday. I just want to drop a little nugget of info and let you know that your housing tour will probably only show you 1 specific dorm building due to time constraints (I was nice enough to coordinate with my tour guide partner and show two buildings). I just want to advise visitors to keep in mind that we have many different buildings and each has its own community and it’s own quirks. However, our Dykstra building is finally undergoing renovation and prospective students no longer have to see the grossness that it once was. Make sure you ask your housing tour guide as many questions as possible, because what you are shown on your tour may not be the same as where you’ll be living.</p>
<p>A little background about the Bruinday housing tour guides
They are all students and live in the places they will show you.
They can be first years.
They are volunteers.
They are not extensively trained, but go through orientation sessions.</p>
<p>So just be kind to your tour guides. They’ll be knowledgeable about most of the dorms, but probably not all (I knew about every single dorm building because I was awesome).</p>
<p>And just as a last note, none of the dorm buildings have kitchens in them, so don’t count on bringing pots and pans to cook if you will live in the dorms.</p>