UCLA Regents vs Berkeley

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
21

<p>Sure! ;)</p>

<p>I’ve even been told by multiple people here at UCLA that my personality is more suited for a place like Cal (not sure exactly why they’d say that, but it’s been uttered nonetheless. Maybe it’s because I swear all the time? :P). But you know what? I don’t think it’s such a big deal anymore. It’s a big school and everyone eventually finds a little niche… it’s challenging but has many extracurricular opportunities and all that good stuff. Some elements you like about Cal might not exist here, but there are things to appreciate about both schools. I get totally jealous when my friend tells me about the geekiness of the student population at Cal and all the absurd fun she finds there; UCLA’s environment is pretty tame. But, maybe that’s a good thing too.</p>

22

<p>Just going to keep it short and sweet - Got into both Cal/LA, threw out Berkeley because it was too close to home (even though it was arguably better in my major and engineering in general). Had actually wanted to go to East Coast Ivy’s, got into Cornell/Columbia but it was too expensive. Chose UCLA and I haven’t looked back! Being far away from home will let you grow more.</p>

23

<p>Interesting I have the same issues – except I’m from the bay area so for me:</p>

<p>UCLA:
Pros:
Regents – priority enrollment**, $
Alumni Scholarship – $
$4000k/yr cheaper than Berkeley b/c of ^
Farther from home (not that big of a deal for me)
Cons:
the whole North/South campus thing – I’d definitely be a north campus major</p>

<p>Berkeley:
Pros:
Liberal, politically active
Better polisci and business
I love Berkeley’s hippy-ness SF-ness :slight_smile:
Cons:
No priority enrollment
Close to home (1hr), but still probably won’t be going home that often</p>

<p>I cannot decide. This is so difficult… I’m going to visit Berkeley and UCLA this weekend and next weekend and hopefully that’ll help me decide… otherwise I have no idea. I’m going to have to end up flipping a coin :P</p>

24

<p>at which school are you more likely to run into jlo or james franco?</p>

25

<p>OP I am in the exact same boat as you. Regents for UCLA and only a couple grand in grants for Berkeley. SoCal native, seeking that “exotic, far-off, etc. experience with college”. And I even had many people in my life tell me that I seemed like a Cal type of guy. Well, by now I’ve decided to choose UCLA and I think I made the right decision. The deciding factor was my overnight stay at UCLA (it was a RSS hosted event): I really got to experience the campus as a student would and I realized that I loved UCLA so much that even if Berkeley was just as awesome, it would have to be much more to trump the perks that I’m getting from Regents. Get what I’m saying? If I were to look at the schools themselves, UCLA and Berkeley are more or less equally desirable in terms of academics, environment, society. (Though I do seek the distance, it has become less important after visiting.) Take Regents, everyone tells me that priority reg. is invaluable, and everyone in RSS is quite sociable and helpful. Sorry if that was poorly articulated, I’m going to be a South campus major, hahahaha.</p>

26

<p>Definitely in the same boat as everyone here. I’m from Nor cal, so going to Berkeley is way closer to home. I’m still in the running for an alumni scholarship, and even if I get it, I don’t think I will go. It’s too close to home. I want to experience college how it’s supposed to be experienced. I visited UCLA and fell in love. The weather is nice. There is so much school spirit. The surrounding area is also a plus. I know some say CAL has more prestige, but honestly I think your decision should be on where you want to go. A degree is a degree. I’ll be visiting Berkeley this weekend before I finally decide. Good luck in your decision.</p>

27

<p>OP I had the same situation as you exactly a year ago. Regents at UCLA and got into Cal. As a Business Economics major, Cal was much better suited for my major. My mother went to Cal so I had Cal pride since I was a little kid. I love Cal to this day and was planning on going until I attended the Overnight Stay Program here at LA.</p>

<p>After staying over, the energy of the people at UCLA took me by surprise and all the people I met really inspired me. My overnight experience at Berkeley was positive as well, but didn’t sweep me off my feet in the same way.</p>

<p>Upon getting back home, I ended up with the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. Both schools had incredible academic programs, an exciting atmosphere, and just seemed like great places to spend the next 4 years of my life. I wanted to go to both schools. I flipped a coin, pretended I was going to go to each school in turn, the whole nine yards.</p>

<p>Eventually, I decided to go with a small gut feel and the Regents Scholarship and come to LA.</p>

<p>I’ve loved every minute here and have had an amazing time. After making my decision, I’ve ran with it and not looked back, even though I know I probably would have been happy with Berkeley as well. </p>

<p>That would be my high-level advice, with the a decision as close as this, go with what feels right and don’t look back, knowing you chose between two “correct” options in the end.</p>

<p>As far as a few lower level comparisons I see:</p>

<p>Cal:
More of a unique/hipster atmosphere
Better structured GE requirements (therefore easier to double major)
Slightly more competitive in general
Better off-campus food
Berkeley is more accessible than westwood
Stronger Engineering/Business programs</p>

<p>UCLA:
Fun in the sun/LA atmosphere
Reagan medical center for easier access to pre-med experience
Stronger life science programs
Better dorm food
Regents and priority enrollment for you (pretty big deal)</p>

<p>Both:
Near big cities
International prestige
Great place to go to school</p>

<p>I mean, pros and cons can be listed all day. I think the schools are so even that, go where you want to go, and if anything the extra enthusiasm you have for being there will put that school over the top.</p>

<p>hopeful15, I was actually a coordinator for one of the sessions of the overnight stay program this year! I’m so happy to hear that our program had such a positive effect. We aim to give prospective students a realistic UCLA experience. After having the program convince me to attend last year I’m excited that it did the same for you :D</p>

28

<p>Hey halfasianathlete :slight_smile: I’m having problems with UCLA/Cal because everyone around me is like “Cal is a better school” but I loved UCLA and the OSP (session 2! wooo) and I don’t knowwwww it’s pretty hard…</p>

<p>Cal- dorms were bigger, otherwise more or less the same as UCLA
- closer to home
- people say it’s a more competitive and a better school for pre-med
-no nearby affiliated hospital except maybe UCSF
-the only thing that would make it worth it is the “prestige” that people associate with Berkeley and not so much with UCLA…I don’t even know if that’s true?</p>