<p>Oh, well 40 is much larger than 35.</p>
<p>^ Please try to be more accurate next time. ;)</p>
<p>If one of my sons were asking me this question, I would tell him that the two schools are comparable in educational quality for undergraduates, and that his choice should come down to where he wanted to live for four years while he was in college. (Full disclosure - I have one degree from Cal, and my wife has two.) As we live only a few miles from the Berkeley campus, and the college experience can be enhanced by getting a little distance from one's parents, I'd probably be inclined to view UCLA as the better choice for him. (The the same token, Berkeley might be the better choice for the OP.) But it would be his choice.</p>
<p>My suspicion is that the OP won't have any trouble deciding once he's visited both campuses.</p>
<p>UCBChemguy-- I'm just having fun with you now, but I want you to notice something as published by UCOP --</p>
<p>They publish UCB and UCLA admitted 2008 students as follows on admit rate, GPA, Math, CR</p>
<p>UCB: 21.4%/4.18/696/665 <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucb.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucb.html</a>
UCLA 22.7%/4.15/686/653 <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucla.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/selecting/camp_profiles/camp_profiles_ucla.html</a></p>
<p>The interesting point, not small, is that these figures are for UCB Fall Semester admits. The 2,000 admits for Spring, 2008 are not included. It doesn't take a ChemE grad to reason that the Spring admits, a full 20% of the admitted class, has lower stats than the Fall Admits.</p>
<p>For all we know, and it is quite likely, that combining UCB's entire admitted class for 2008 would show identical stats to UCLA's entire admitted class.</p>
<p>^ Maybe...but who cares about SAT scores? Like I said, they don't really have a strong play in determining which school is "better"...especially in this case because the scores are close.</p>
<p>You mentioned you went to UCLA for its linguistics program. Looking at academic reputation in the field you're interested pursuing is important IMO.<br>
For my field, Berkeley ranks #2. UCLA is unranked.</p>
<p>Totally agree with Greybeard that a little distance from home can be good. Or bad, depending on the kid. It used to be pretty standard for kids from N/S Cal to go to UCLA/UCB pretty much because they wanted to get away from home.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
Berkeley rejects! clap-clap-clapclapclap!
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>I always find that ironic, because the truth is that about 30% of the Cal student body was rejected from UCLA. I guess we just have more class <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>To the OP, I say look at your field of interest, but also realize that it might change; 80% of students at UCLA change their major at least once, and I'd assume the numbers are pretty much the same at Cal. Visit both schools, take into account differences in weather, surrounding area, and size of campus (UCLA is the smallest of all the UCs, at 1 sq. mile...some like not having to walk more than 15 minutes to classes, some think that sounds too small (though I've actually never heard anyone at UCLA complain about the campus size, so I guess thinking about it may be one thing, living it is another)). What are the students like? Is the school too liberal for your taste? Too conservative? How easy is public transportation? How safe is the surrounding area? How's the dorm food?</p>
<p>Visit, answer those questions, and I believe you'll find your future alma mater. Good luck :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
“Berkeley rejects! clap-clap-clapclapclap!”
[/quote]
Sits a school known as Westwood High.
High, High, High!</p>
<p>U! G! L! Y!
U! G! L! Y!
clap, clap, clap!</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>vc08 30% weren't rejected, many didn't apply to UCLA and many got into both. While there is a percentage that was rejected I doubt it's anywhere near 30%. The only stat you could be talking about is 70% who get into both go to Cal while 30% go to UCLA.</p>
<p>To the OP: Ignore people like My2CentsrWrthMor (no, they aren't, by the bye...).</p>
<p>UCB is GREAT. The campus is absolutely stunning (the most beautiful UC for me, far beyond UCSC), the student body is richly diverse, and the professors are some of the very best. I'd pick Cal over UCLA any day... But that's just me. :]</p>
<p>There is a lot to do in Berkeley, too! It is a very liberal, progressive city, and I would say that crime (esp. considering the campus' proximity to People's Park) is something to consider. There are lots of good restaurants, venues, and ways to get involved. </p>
<p>Here's to hoping we both get in!</p>
<p>"...(pretty impressive considering Cornell has its own culinary school)."</p>
<p>If it does, that's news to me.</p>
<p>my friend is the president of the republican club at berkeley and he said there are only about like 400 conservative republicans compared to like 2-3 thousand members of the democrat club. of course i am sure berkeley has many different kinds of students but what i described was the general description.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to both UCLA and Berkeley. He chose UCLA. Don't know his reasoning for choosing UCLA but he is happy. He did visit both schools. I suppose he didn't care about rankings UCLA vs Berkeley. He chose the school he felt most comfortable. He is currently a freshman at UCLA. Visit the schools and then decide.</p>
<p>Hi. I’m a freshman at UC Berkeley and I was in your shoes last year. I’m from LA too but I really wanted to get away. So I choose Berkeley and I’m not happy with that decision. I miss LA all the time (the bay area is completely different!), and I don’t like the environment. Berkeley is really small compared to LA. Frats and sororities rule at Cal, and other than that, there’s just SF. LA is huge, I’m sure you know that.
Academically, they’re both great and very competitive schools. Both will be tough but worth it. Make sure you ask yourself if you’re absolutely positive you’re willing to leave LA. Make sure you see Cal if you get in. AND MAKE SURE YOU VISIT THE DORMS! Small cramped dorms aren’t for everyone…
Good luck:)</p>
<p>If I wanted to major in business, would going to Berkeley really benefit me? I really prefer UCLA’s environment though.</p>
<p>Then you have to go to Berkeley, since UCLA has no undergrad business.</p>
<p>Cristina I understand why you may dislike Berkeley based on atmosphere (although personally I really dislike LA- smoggy and to do anything you need a car) but the dorms at UCLA aren’t any better and only 10% of Cal students are in frats/sororities.</p>
<p>Does undergrad business really matter? Or should i just transfer to the Haas Grad program?</p>
<p>
Actually, they kinda are. I’ve had a few close friends from Cal come visit me, and the first thing they said was “dang, your dorms are nice!” Several of our dorms are undergoing renovation, or have just finished. Many of them are pretty nice, built w/in the last 10 years. UCLA has a very unique dorm system, where you can either live in the regular halls, or “plazas,” which either contain their own bathroom, or share a bathroom between every two rooms. Halls make up about 50% of the student dorms, and plazas make up the other half.</p>
<p>Also, West LA has very little smog considering it’s in a massive city. I’ve taken a couple of classes on pollution in LA, and I can assure you that West LA air really is pretty clean.</p>
<p>my top choice was ucla but i didn’t get in.
i am going to berkeley right now.</p>
<p>i’m from san diego & i REALLY wanted to go to UCLA b/c of its location & reputation.
i didn’t really think id get into berkeley.
but after one semester @ berkeley, i really miss home (so cal) and it’s way different here.</p>
<p>PROS of berkeley
- AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME football team/sports. I am SOOO stoked about football now.
- Social scene: im not much of a partier, but I go out a lot. SF every weekend… etc.
- you have a very diverse population.</p>
<p>CONS of berkeley
- too competitive. seriously. i dont think ive enjoyed any of my classes b/c of that.
- too liberal.
- too far away from everything. im more of a “city” type, so the scene isn’t that great here.
- lots of hobos. but i guess thats the culture.</p>
<p>so overall, i think i would choose ucla (not biased). it’s in a remotely nice area & i fell in love with it when I first visited.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>