<p>So I got admitted into Cal for Spring 2015 and LA for Fall 2014.</p>
<p>Ostensibly, both are good schools and I'm lucky to have been accepted into both, but it's so hard to choose! Both schools will cost me approximately the same amount of money though for Cal I'll have to do fall in their FPF program or at a community college, which doesn't sound like a lovely prospect to me. I want to visit both campuses first but there are like 300 spots left for FPF as of now. I have a friend accepted into Cal, but I don't really know anyone going to LA, so that's one thing attracting me to Cal. </p>
<p>Yeah... I'm an INTJ and I plan to major in English. Are the English departments at both schools relatively on par with one another? They say Cal is higher ranked in the Humanities in general and stuff, but still LA... Ugh.</p>
<p>First, I would not pick based on where one person I know was going. It is too bad you didn’t visit already, are you instate? You are familiar with the part of LA UCLA is in and don’t like it?</p>
<p>I feel like my INTJ’ness makes it hard to connect with people. It’s literally a godsend that I’ll know one person if I so choose to attend Cal. Yes, I’m living in California. I don’t dislike Westwood at all. Location is one of the reasons I’m attracted to UCLA! My stepfather’s family lives like half an hour from UCLA too. Unfortunately I’ve visited neither campus :c</p>
<p>Not sure what INTJ – is that a reference to Myers Briggs characteristics?</p>
<p>Apart from not being able to start at Cal until spring, is UCB your preference? If so, read the many posts about the spring admit program – nearly everyone seems to LOVE the FPF program AND they tend to really get to know each other in a small setting with more intimate access to professors which sounds like it would be perfect for your personality type. Getting into FPF sounds like it might actually be a perfect fit for you. But if you want it, you’d better act fast – I believe that those 300 spots go fast and when they’re gone, they’re gone.</p>
<p>Berkeley’s English department is really really good, I have heard. If you are not a big fan of LA, choose Cal. Spring admit is fine, join FPF…you won’t feel like you are not part of the community and by Spring…you will be just like regulars. Berkeley is a more urban campus, so if that scares you, UCLA. But honestly, I will go by the department and English is supposed to be one of their strong ones…(but Berkeley is strong all through out). Semester system at Berkeley is better than the Quarter system at other UCs …(at least in my opinion)</p>
<p>Berkeley’s English program is top-rated.
My roomate years ago was an English major and raved about his classes.
The FPF program is a good compromise.
Choose Berkeley over the Southern Branch.</p>
<p>Congrats on your admissions. You have two great choices. It is a shame that you cannot visit both schools, because it should help you considerably in making the right choice. I think that your first impression of the cities and the school environment will make the decision rather easy. One is bound to give you the right vibes. Fwiw, you should also consider housing throughout the 4 to 6 years in your decision. </p>
<p>Fwiw, I would not worry too much about the preliminary steps at at Junior College. There are thousands of students at Cal who followed the same path --offering a tangible proof of the education levels available at both types of institution in the first 1-2 years of undergraduate. </p>
<p>English at Cal has had a good reputation for a long time. It’s an institution within the institution. UCLA has in the last 30 years improved greatly and is now very strong, too. Those are two great choices for English with the nod going to Cal. You can’t go wrong, really. And both schools have so many other strengths if you decide to do something else. I hadn’t heard anyone use INTJ since I stopped reading Jung more than thirty years ago.</p>
<p>I am a current student at UC Berkeley (and I’m also an INTJ). Berkeley is one of the most diverse and welcoming universities in the country (and it is very accommodating when it comes to topics such as sexual orientation).
There is everything at Berkeley that you could ever want (in terms of academics, research, sports, extracurriculars, social life, easy to get around, etc). The students are awesome and very enthusiastic about Berkeley and would welcome you with open arms</p>