I’m having trouble deciding whether UCLA with a Regents Scholarship is worth giving up UC Berkeley for. I’m going in undeclared and will likely need some direction/change my major a few times, but right now I’m hoping to go into physics. I like Berkeley better, but I really like what UCLA is offering me and I might have a better experience there.
Toss a coin because you seem to like both equally.
Honestly, follow the money. I’d go with UCLA for the Regents. Doesn’t Regents also get you priority registration? That could be huge at such a large school as either Berkeley or UCLA.
Here are some specifics:
About me: Lots of people brush off “prestige” but honestly I really like the opportunities and good impressions that comes with it. I like classical things, artsy things (even though I’m going into a STEM field) and I tend to procrastinate.
Berkeley:
Pros
I like the college/atmosphere itself better than UCLA. The classical buildings and hodgepodge of different architecture is amazing
It’s prestigious and for good reason. It’s something like #4 in the U.S., compared to #12 for UCLA (these are approximate rankings)
It has an excellent history in the physics department
I like the weather here more
I may (or may not) receive aid with the Middle Class Action Plan. My family is in the price range, but we haven’t seen any financial aid reports yet, so that’s not certain (anyone know anything about this, either?)
Cons
The surrounding city isn’t very nice/safe, but I don’t care about that too too much
UCLA
Pros
Regents scholarship means priority registration, guaranteed parking
Academic Scholarship +$10,000
Westwood is great
Only a few hours away from home (yes, this is a pro!)
Cons
I didn’t like the campus that much. I didn’t “connect” with it. I’d be fine going there, I might even love it, but I didn’t really get that impression right off the bat
Very “beach-culture so-cal friendly sporty tan” thing going on here that I’m not into so much
I wouldn’t bank on the Middle Class program. As a fellow middle classer, we were told not to expect much more than 10% off of tuition, if we were to get even that. Maybe you should call someone at UC offices and ask, since it’s so important for you to find out about your FA before making a decision.
Also, UCLA is no slouch. It has a lot of opportunity just from its location, and is ranked highly for a reason. Also, I never quite got that “beach-culture sporty tan” vibe from it, though I could just be used to that type of atmosphere. I just took it to be a very friendly, laid-back type of vibe that’s kind of nice sometimes for coping with intense academics. If you really, really like Berkeley, though, why not go with it? If cost is an issue, though, then just be smart about it. Will you be going to grad school? Will you be going into a field in which you can justify the cost differential? Just ask yourself those sorts of questions, and I think you’ll get somewhere with it.
Berkeley. Don’t be wooed by the Southern Branch.
But with the Regent you get a parking spot and priority registration. That alone is worth UCLA, don’t you think?
If you go to Berkeley you will not need a car, so the benefit is null. Priority registration may be beneficial for your second registration (incoming freshman get priority anyways), but the benefit wanes as you move up in your major. I don’t recall ever having difficulty getting a class I wanted. The college ensures you get into required classes.
Another difference is semesters vs. quarters. Berkeley is on semesters, UCLA is on quarters.