<p>I'm deciding between UCLA and Cal, and the deciding factor is the amount of research opportunities for undergrad students. I hope to go to the school that has profs who are willing to let psych undergrads help them with research. Does anyone know which one will be better for me? </p>
<p>Also, I visited the campuses, and I liked Cal a lot but felt that I did not belong there. I visited UCLA and thought it was okay but I felt like it was a very safe decision. Of course, no one can decide for me but the time is getting closer. What school should I pick?</p>
<p>Usually, Berkeley has the slight edge on academics over UCLA, but psychology is the only field in which the two schools are tied in the USNWR rankings—both are ranked #2 in the country for psychology.</p>
<p>I’m not really certain, but I imagine the availability of research opportunities is roughly equal at the two schools. They’ll certainly be about equal in terms of quality, considering their strength in psychology. So, I believe, you’ll have to make your choice based on nonacademic factors.</p>
<p>You’ve already visited both campuses. That’s good. Try and figure out which school would be the better fit for you. What qualities do you want in the school you wish to transfer to? After answering that question, it should be easy to determine which school has the most of these qualities that you desire in a university. I hope that helps.</p>
<p>@Cayton, thanks for the help! </p>
<p>One quality that’s very important to me is the type of faculty at UCLA (professors, advisors, counselors, everyone) is like. I want to go to the UC that has a faculty that’s willing to help me and other students succeed. </p>
<p>Any advice on that? lol</p>
<p>@randombookie </p>
<p>Hmm, I won’t pretend to be an expert on this, but my educated guess is that the faculty at both schools will be somewhat impersonal because they’re teaching at large research universities. But, it is worth noting that forming relationships with these professors(As well as teaching assistants whom you’ll be interacting with a lot more than the professors) is not impossible. Class size is often smaller at the upper-division and you can always go to their office hours to talk with them about psychology and possibly research opportunities.</p>
<p>The thing is, though, I don’t know which school’s faculty are more approachable, lol. I wish I knew, but I don’t. Still, if you make an earnest effort to get to know your professors and teaching assistants, you will succeed and it’ll take you far. Sorry if I didn’t help you decide which school to go to, lol.</p>
<p>This was back in the Stone Age, of course, but I went to Berkeley and basically ALL the faculty were approachable. Many, in fact, dated their students. 
Some would have cookies at office hours. Most were pretty cool. </p>
<p>@lindyk8, Aww how sweet, the cookies part I mean haha. Thanks for the info 
Did you ever consider UCLA? And how did you like Cal in itself?</p>
<p>@randombookie , it is a very individual thing. both schools have different vibes. You can’t go wrong with either school, so really it should be the one you feel is the best fit for you. I understand what you are saying about Berkeley. I’m hesitant to say it would probably not be my choice between the two because I don’t want to offend anyone. I had a great time there, but now that I know more - for me, I would relate more to UCLA. If I had to try and describe it I would say Berkeley is more serious, more research/theory/political across the board, but not with a real unifying campus community feel (compared to UCLA).</p>
<p>Why do you feel UCLA is safe? Because you live near there? If that’s it, I wouldn’t let that part sway you. Also, in terms of research, I believe you won’t go wrong with UCLA’s psych program, although I do not know what the psych research opportunities are at either school.</p>
<p>@lindyk8, seriously? The professors have cookies during office hours?
I think I’d choose Berkeley just for the free cookies :p</p>
<p>In all seriousness though, you said you went to Cal - and even though you said it was a while ago, how difficult are the academics really as difficult as everyone says?</p>
<p>Haha @AnthroFlo it was Professor Hugh Richmond, the Shakespeare teacher. Always Pepperidge Farm… </p>
<p>Plus, professors would invite groups of students to their homes, or more often, they would come to student parties. It was not that unusual.</p>
<p>Really, though, I lived there for about 10 years after I graduated and eventually through other people became friends with lots of professors. They were all nice, albeit kind of quirky - but friendly. My experience is they really like the students. Just go to office hours! </p>
<p>@AnthroFlo, I assume you are majoring in anthropology (??). Honestly, it’s not THAT hard. Of course, I’m talking about humanities. I cannot vouch for sciences/math and assume they are pretty tough. Now I’m not saying you’re going to get straight As, but I ended with about a 3.3-3.4 and frankly just always crammed for finals etc. I did go to all classes and do all homework. But I didn’t kill myself like a crazy person. I could have done better. Everything I hear is exactly how I feel: the hardest part is getting in. (However, expect it to be harder than CC, obviously.)</p>
<p>Haha, now that I mentioned cookies, I think I need to get a memo to UC Berkeley. We don’t want an uprising!</p>
<p>@lindyk8
I will try my hardest to take Professor Hugh Richmond for the cookies :p</p>
<p>Will do (: You mentioned you lived in Berkeley after you graduated, how did you like it?
You also said in an earlier post looking back now, you might have considered UCLA, why? (not trying to pry, but I’m making the decision myself and the more insight I have the better).</p>
<p>Yup, I’m an anthro major, specifically wanting to study cultural anthropology and within cultural anthropology I want to study environmental anthropology (but thats more grad school). I don’t expect to get straight As, but I’d like to try to graduate with a 3.75 (magna cum laude) in case I decide to go to grad school. </p>