<p>My S has been accepted to all of these great schools and is having a difficult time deciding. Any help? I know they are all different, and any imput would be appreciated</p>
<p>Would your son be out of state at UCLA and UCB?</p>
<p>UCLA and UCB are much much more similar to each other than either is to Amherst. Your son needs to decide whether he would prefer a large research university with California weather or a small New England LAC.</p>
<p>Also, how does the cost of attendance compare?</p>
<p>Oh, wow. Big differences between the Cali schools and Amherst (I don't really know about the differences between the Cali schools): size of student body, level of prof-student interaction, weather, general feel (I've heard that Amherst is slightly on the athletic side, but really nothing compared to the other two)...</p>
<p>Does your son want a small, intimate environment or does he want a large school where he can be anonymous if he wants? Does he want a more liberal environement or a more conservative one?</p>
<p>We live in California and all the schools will cost about the same for us with FA. He just isn't sure which way to go......thought some of you might be able to pass along some ideas we may not have thought about yet.</p>
<p>I would think (having gone to Stanford and UCLA, but not a prestigious LAC) that the extra attention he will get at Amherst would be valuable. the older I get the more I appreciate mentoring, which is more likely to occur at Amherst than either large public research institution.</p>
<p>If the costs are the same, I think Amherst is a wonderful opportunity.</p>
<p>same position with OP's son. So far, everyone who's graduated and either working or doing grad school push me to go to Cal.
My only concern is the brutal GPA I might get from Cal.</p>
<p>A friend who got degrees at Stanford, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins did his PhD at Berkeley in a top 2 program. He said that the best prepared students there weren't from Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, etc., but were from the likes of Amherst and Swarthmore. Academically, I suspect the LACs are hard to beat. The social aspects are to one's taste. I liked Berkeley's large size. I would have found an LAC environment stifling. A friend told me one's reputation is sealed quite quickly and lives with one for 4 years. What style is your son?</p>
<p>It depends on what he wants to study. There are some areas of study you just can't pursue in depth at a small LAC.</p>
<p>He is coming from a relatively small public school in California, around the same size as Amherst. He just doesn't know if he would continue to enjoy the smallness, or is ready to see what a big university would be like. He may study Econ, Poli Sci or History.</p>
<p>^ Amherst might be the better choice. It will provide your son a much different environment from CA. He'll get more care and feeding at Amherst as well.</p>
<p>That's not to say Berkeley or UCLA don't provide the same opportunities, your son just needs to actively seek them out. </p>
<p>Berkeley has top programs in econ/poli sci/history. Amherst would be a fantastic choice as well if he wants smaller classes and more attention. </p>
<p>If your son is independent and outspoken, Berkeley or UCLA might be a good choice...if your son is more reserved, Amherst's environment may suit him better.</p>
<p>Definately food for thought. He is an independent student, and is no wallflower. I am thinking that maybe it is better to be a big fish?</p>
<p>honestly, I think small LACs are fantastic for outgoing, social people. You can't be anonymous in a school of 1700, and small classes really favor class discussion, obviously. I think you actually meet more people and make more, stronger friendships in an intimate LAC environment. I'm biased though - I ADORE going to Amherst.</p>
<p>The last post...where are you from?</p>
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Definately food for thought. He is an independent student, and is no wallflower. I am thinking that maybe it is better to be a big fish?
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<p>I hate to say this, but he wouldn't be a big fish necessarily. This is not to suggest your son isn't outstanding. But the caliber of students at Amherst is quite high. Also, he'd run into cultures he's not so familiar with, I would imagine. I had a good friend who had gone to Deerfield and then Amherst. Talk about being from a different world. Your son would encounter this world. I am a huge fan of Berkeley and to a lesser extent UCLA, but maybe he can go to one of these for grad school or whatever. I would choose Amherst</p>
<p>I did not mean that my son is a higher caliber student compared to those at Amherst.... Just possibly different coming from another part of the country. Also, there are clearly thousands fewer students at Amherst</p>
<p>tons of Amherst students from California, too. :)</p>
<p>That's good to know. I suppose we can all adjust to the weather.</p>