<p>I'm from Colorado and really excited to have the chance to attend either of these amazing institutions. I visited both for their admit days. I thought the general feel of UCLA was more me, but I hate to pass up the prestige of Berkeley, even though they are really almost the same. UCLA was also given the title of New Ivy and Berkeley wasn't.</p>
<p>I wasn't completely blown away by either so that is also making the choice really hard. Part of me feels like if I have to pay 45k then I might as well go to the best, which would be Berkeley. And that I shouldn't worry about the social scene, because there is probably some group of people who I can fit in with there. And the other part of me loves the fact that I see a lot of people I feel like I get along with UCLA and I already had a roomate lined up there.</p>
<p>I'm studying International Relations. Any help?</p>
<p>Go to the place that is more you. For me, this was Berkeley. For you, it seems like UCLA. Don't worry about the differences. If you are at the right place, you'll make up the difference by doing well and being in your milieu.</p>
<p>The only people who should attend Berkeley are those who LOVE it when they visit. Cal has a unique sort of atmosphere that isn't the best fit for for everyone. LA and Berkeley are VERY different. Do not go by rankings.... both schools are excellent and are viewed as top schools by employers, relatives, etc. Go to the place where you think you will be happiest and where you see yourself fitting in. Good luck!</p>
<p>You have 2 great choices, you can't go wrong either way. Both of your choice have +/- over each other. My own d chose ucla over berkeley 2 years ago, and you are right, it was a hard thing to do in some ways. However, she chose the right one for herself amd has never looked back.</p>
<p>I would visit both IR dept websites and study the differences in the IR major requirements, specialities offerred, and courses offered as one factor. One dept may strike you as a better fit than the other. </p>
<p>Another factor is to look at study abroad options, particularily in languages if you are doing IR. While you can do UC EAP programs offered by any of the UC schools, I would look at what each campus offers for summer travel study that relates to either your major dept or your foreign language. They both have some great and unique programs. Perhaps one would jump out at you as fitting your academic interests better, and being able to work with those same profs on campus would be meaningful to your work. </p>
<p>Also, UCLA has a new major called Global Studies, its a minor too, not sure if Berkeley has the same, but it might be relevant to look at it.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptances! Getting into both UCLA and Berkeley OOS is quite an accomplishment.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters that you should not go by rankings. Go where you think you'd be happiest. </p>
<p>
[quote]
And the other part of me loves the fact that I see a lot of people I feel like I get along with UCLA and I already had a roomate lined up there.
[/quote]
This is important. UCLA has a reputation for being more social...if you click with UCLA's environment more, choose UCLA. Berkeley can be kind of isolating if you don't click with the people/environment.</p>
<p>Also, since you're coming from Colorado, I have a feeling you'd enjoy the Socal lifestyle more than the San Francisco Bay Area.</p>
<p>And, of course, Berkeley students are mean mean mean. Cruel and vicious! Back-stabbing monsters!</p>
<p>Of course, Berkeley is actually one of the most tolerant, most open-minded places to live and go to school. You don't have to put on a show at Berkeley, you can be yourself. There's a lot to be said for that.</p>
<p>Can't pass on going to a "New Ivy". Hopefully, you also applied to Skidmore College because it was a "New Ivy" two or three years ago and that's better than a "New Ivey" this year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
UCLA was also given the title of New Ivy and Berkeley wasn't.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would argue that, in terms of the standard of the magazine article you are referencing, Berkeley was already considered in a high echelon. That explains not naming Berkeley and not naming Stanford. This was a very arbitrary designation, not some absolute marker of quality.</p>
<p>You will not go wrong with either choice. When you note that Berkeley is higher ranked than UCLA, that is true, but they are close. What is really the difference between #20 and #25?</p>
<p>At the graduate school level, sciences only, Berkeley has a large gap over UCLA, but not in humanities. In IR, I don't know which is higher rated undergrad or grad, so I can't comment on the ranking which is most relevant to you, EXCEPT--- UCLA is probably stronger in the specific languages (and linguistics as well which you should take to supplement your understanding of language) than Berkeley.</p>
<p>Just as others have posted, you have to go with your gut feel ... where you click. There is no ranking for fit or culture. Go with what feels good to you.</p>
<p>Columbia_Student, I don't think I'd say 27% is <em>very high</em> and dismiss the OP's acheivement.</p>
<p>Couple reasons I think why OOS admissions were higher:
1. Likely lower yield of OOS students. Therefore, UCLA needs to admit OOS students at a higher rate to achieve the class it wants.</p>
<ol>
<li>OOS students pay higher tuition and fees. Given the budget problems, this could be a strategic plan to shore up some funding.</li>
</ol>
In the collection of current rankings, Berkeley programs are rated No. 1 in English, chemistry, and computer science; No. 2 in economics, history, biological sciences, mathematics, and psychology; and No. 3 in engineering and physics. </p>
<p>The magazine also ranks subspecialties, many of which correspond to Berkeley departments. In these Berkeley ranks No. 1 in civil engineering, chemical engineering, and statistics.
<p>UCBChemEGrad: I should have put <em>asterisks</em> around the world <em>large</em> gap. UCB has a small gap over UCLA in humanities, a <em>large</em> gap in almost all sciences/engineering.</p>
<p>I can live with a <em>small</em> gap in humanities and arts. For example, UCLA is ranked #3 in Linguistics (my area along with management) nationally, and UCB is... maybe 10? In English, UCB is co-#1 with Yale and Harvard, and UCLA is #7. Management UCLA #12 vs. #8 at UCB. There is a consistent pattern of a <em>small</em> gap between UCLA and UCB in arts & humanities, in general.</p>
<p>In fact, I may very well be the only student in the history of UCLA whose majors (Linguistics undergrad, MBA) were ranked higher than those same majors at Berkeley. So for me, UCLA was always much higher rated. Berkeley has surpassed UCLA in Management (I think about 12 years ago), but UCLA still hold national prominence in Linguistics.</p>
<p>^ In terms of the ordinal number rankings, yes the gap is smaller...but when you consider 3-5 schools rank the same, the gap becomes larger...;)</p>