<p>(since you already ruled out NYU), between berkeley and ucla, i'd say visit the campuses again to see which one you can imagine yourself in for the next 4 years.</p>
<p>NYU is not as prestigious as berkeley or ucla but its undergrad academic quality is about the same and its name recognition is pretty up there too (especially internationally, as someone else pointed out). (there are differences between the terms prestige, quality, and name recognition)</p>
<p>I don't know what your major you're doing, but I would choose UCLA over Cal over NYU based on what you've mentioned. I find it important to go to a school that fits me best, and it seems like UCLA fits you best.</p>
<p>I, for one, will be a NorCaler going down to UCLA this fall.</p>
<p>My major is undeclared at both ucla and cal, but i really want to pursue either business or communications. </p>
<p>One thing that I am VERY concerned about is the competition at berkeley... I hear that many engineering students have had mental breakdowns due to academic stress. Ahhh.</p>
<p>Pick UCLA. Its in a great part of LA and its a great school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My major is undeclared at both ucla and cal, but i really want to pursue either business or communications.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>business is "hella" competitive (in the spirit of norcal haha) at berkeley, but business-economics at UCLA is also competitive, but not to the extent of how berkeley students compete to get into Haas. </p>
<p>as for communications, i'm not sure about berkeley. at UCLA, i've heard it's competitive to get into the program, but once you get in, it's pretty easy.</p>
<p>NYU is pointless unless you already got into Stern or their mass comm
program. I believe these are almost impossible to transfer into.
Ideally you would have got into Stern and make up the cost difference
with Internships on wall street in the summer and even the school year.
But that may be dreaming ... could have been ... would have been $$$$$</p>
<p>kfc4u, I heard about how competitive Haas at Berkeley is too... :(</p>
<p>And I actually did get into NYU's communications program, which really makes my decision tough! But again, like I said, my choices are pretty much down to UCLA or Berkeley because of the tuition cost for NYU. I was also considering USC (Marshall) for a little bit, but realized that I could go to UCLA for less money.</p>
<p>But then again, berkeley is cool too! darn it this is really hard!!!</p>
<p>rule out NYU, it's a good school but it's not up to par with LA or Berkeley, at least not yet. visit both schools and make a decision based off of your visits.</p>
<p>
<p>NYU is definatly not as good as Berkeley, but it's close, and its better than UCLA. Plus NYU is widely known around the world to be one of the best colleges where students actually have a "life". Giving up a little Prestige to be a bit happier is deffinately worthit.</p>
<p> [QUOTE=bobbobbob] Yea i live in NY and even I know that Berkeley > NYU any day of the week.
</p>
<p>What do you live under a rock? I live in New Hyde Park in Queens (the good part) and if you think CA is better than NY than wow you must
</p>
<p>UCLA or UC Berkeley will open more doors then NYU will.</p>
<p>hey CHOUder i have to make the same decision....ugh...it's so hard!! berkley and ucla are such amazing schools and i love both of them. i've lived in san diego all my life though, so of course berkley sounds a little more interesting because it's so different. but i don't know if i want to get away from our awesome socal weather. i've also got this image in my head that cal is just really really into academics. does anyone know about their social life?</p>
<p>from what i hear, most ppl just study :(</p>
<p>if cost is a factor stay in California, if not go to NYU. I believe you got into Steinhardt</p>
<p>I wasn't too crazy about NYU's lack of a campus when I went to visit. But that's my personal preference.</p>
<p>The UC's would definitely be more economical (with less travel expenses and lower tuition) and the name recognition/academics are generally comparable.</p>
<p>I say no to NYU... I mean it is prestigious, but i think Berkeley beats it in that particular section... I would say UCLA and NYU would be about the say in the name recognition and pretigiousness... (my opinion) NYU's going up the ranks VERY quickly though. Oh, and if you want a campus, i would rule out NYU again (or lack of campus thereof)</p>
<p>And besides, if you can goto UC schools for instate price, why would you want to get a 30,000 plus loans for your parents? (thats what most people i saw got)</p>
<p>Though for business, i wouldn't goto UCLA.. I would choose NYU (stern) and i don't know much about Berkeley... but everybody knows stern is way up there in the business school rankings (top 3, i believe) though like others said, its hard to get in or transfer to... (or impossible)</p>
<p>If you are ready for academic challange, i say go for berkeley... Personally, i would be afraid...</p>
<p>Most people don't "just study" at Berkeley. And it isn't "impossible" to get into Haas. It is somewhat difficult, but far from "impossible."</p>
<p>I'm in the exact same boat. UCLA v berkeley v NYU, except im from Georgia so the costs are a little more equitable. although I've pretty much ruled out NYU also. I'm also thinking something along the lines of communication. Music scene is a must. and the stoner scene isnt a bad thing (I've heard CAL has really gotten more conservative than its stereotype). also, can anyone give a good academic comparison b/w the two. I know CAL is more prestigous but I am under the impression thats mostly from math/sci/research which isnt really what I'm into.
(dont mean to steal your thread chouder-sorry)</p>
<p>Berkeley is about as strong in the social sciences and humanities as it is in the sciences and engineering. However, it is slightly less good in the arts.</p>
<p>As to communications, I hear UCLA's program is stronger. I don't know much about it, but that's the word on the street. Berkeley's mass comm seems alright to me, although it's considered a joke major by many here. You take many classes in departments outside of mass com (be they sociology, anthropology, or whatever).</p>
<p>Check the mass com website (seach Berkeley for the mas com major).</p>
<p>Berkeley is more conservative than its stereotype, but is plenty liberal. UCLA is fairly liberal as well, and in some ways more liberal.</p>
<p>HAAS has a 50% admit rate...not too bad really. </p>
<p>If you're interested in business, hit up Cal. HAAS is ranked 3rd for ugrad business (though I have my doubts about a ugrad business degree in general, if its really what you want...) and Cal has high ranked programs in pretty much everything. </p>
<p>You say you live 50 mins? Which way? Any chance you come from the Stanford area? That's where I'm from and I def feel you on the whole "Its too damn close to home" factor.</p>