URGENT: Georgetown vs. UC Berkeley :0

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
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<p>Looking for any sort of guidance. Lucky enough to get accepted to both, and now so torn between the two. Here are my considerations (and for a moment let's just pretend finances aren't an issue, I can only deal with so many things at once). </p>

<p>History major, open to other humanities subjects, interested in debate, politics, journalism, possibly business and theatre. Might also want to study abroad. </p>

<p>Priority: Great academics, expanding my comfort zone, great group of open people who I can have fun with, have a vibrant social life with, and will accept me for who I am. </p>

<p>Here's what I'm thinking so far:</p>

<p>Cal:
Great history program, also great in pretty much every field, but huuuge class sizes. Have to fight for personal attention. Won't know professors nearly as well. Social life might be overwhelming, but all the people are so genuinely nice and laid-back. Really like the whole laid-back atmosphere. CON: 25 minutes from my house. Also afraid I might get lost in everything, won't make as many important connections. Not sure if I'm ready for such a huge school.</p>

<p>Georgetown:
Fantastic programs in government, economics, and probably history, but I would need to stay in those areas because I think instructional quality drops when you leave them. AMAZING connections with professors, other students, internships, and DC. I would definitely have a plan with my life after four years there. Great personal attention, love the spiritual/moral aspect of the Jesuit education, great support system. VASTLY different vibe and social structure. Not really laid-back at all, and concerned about the social scene and if I'll fit in as much as a more laid-back California kid. Feeling a little bit like I'd have to fit myself to the school, as opposed to Cal, where everything under the sun already exists. </p>

<p>Also posted this on UC Berkeley thread. Please help! Thank you!</p>

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<p>UCB sounds right to me.</p>

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<p>Why’d you think so?</p>

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<p>You’re in-state, right? Private schools are only worth it if 1) you’re wealthy and $$ isn’t an issue or you get substantial scholarship/aid, 2) it’s a top-x private (define x), or 3) you have a pretty good idea of what you want to major in and/or the school’s program is top-notch (JHU BME, Georgetown SFS, HYPSM Econ, ect.)</p>

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<p>You don’t seem to have solidified your interests yet, so Berkeley would probably be better. And I think Berkeley has a way better history program…</p>

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<p>Georgetown for sure. I just got back from the Hoya Saxa Weekend program, and it was absolutely amazing. The dorms are centered in campus except for one, which makes everything easily accessible. I’m from California, and I too am laid back. But over there, a LOT of kids outside the DC area are from California. And everyone is so nice and acceptable. You certainly don’t have to fit the school. Upperclassmen were asking where I’m from and how things are going for me, and were convincing me to come. Unbelievably friendly, everyone is just so nice. I talked to some students about the lecture classes, and they said they are around 200-300 students which is much less than Berkeley. And you said that you would definitely have a plan for post school life if you went to GTown (which is true, Alumni network is insane), so why wouldn’t you go? Experience a lifestyle you’ve yet to experience. The East Coast is very diverse.</p>

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<p>I imagine it’s the same elsewhere, since students are smart enough to know not to make a bad impression on prospies. </p>

<p>But anyway, I’d recommend Georgetown over Berkeley if $$ truly isn’t an issue, since you’d really only choose Berkeley for in-state tuition or engineering/CS. However, for many students it comes down to the money. Still, it is nice to get out of the area for college.</p>

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<p>I’d second the point made by TheBanker. Every program like this at any university should be taken with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>I hear Georgetown has a really top-notch history program.</p>

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<p>I was unsure if I should’ve written that, as, like stated, people don’t want to make bad impressions. But I met some friends through the program, and they discussed the other programs they had attended at other schools, and they said that the students came off rude. Maybe it was just their case?</p>

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<p>Could be that the other universities just have less competent admissions ambassadors programs. To what extent that correlates with how good the university is I don’t know.</p>

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<p>The GAAP Weekend is so fun and it sealed the deal for our daughter - she attended admitted student weekend at Duke too. It fell flat for her compared to Georgetown - to this day I wonder if this weekend is why she made her choice. She was admitted to Cal but never went to see it (I still can’t believe this - we tried to bring her, but she had sports conflict.) Bottom line - Georgetown is super fun and there is a lot to do all the time, but it is not like the month of April on the Hilltop. The students are all having a blast with one event after the next - it’s a way to draw in prospective students, but it also is just a celebration for all the students. The upperclassmen that spoke to one student that posted I’m sure were sincere in what they were saying - they were likely having fun too in the spring sunshine with the cherry blossoms all around - DC wakes up this time of year. If finances are an issue - consider going to Cal, you can’t beat it and will certainly enjoy it as an upper classman once you declare a major and are in a smaller setting. The first few years with huge classes will teach you a lot. If funding isn’t a big issue and you love Georgetown, the only draw back I can see as a mom of a freshman is the long flight home out of Reagan National. Our daughter has flown home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, 2 spring breaks (they should make one long break for Easter - two is kind of a bummer.) She doesn’t complain about this and she has met Diane Feinstein and Gavin Newsom at the airport (she talked to Diane about the dog she was carrying not realizing who she was.) Besides the travel, she has had amazing Govt. classes, taking an outstanding history class on the atomic age - a great professor from Princeton who is passionate about teaching - it is one of her favorites. Great English classes too. Georgetown offers a lot to the undeclared student - she is still undeclared. In short - she loves it. Good luck w/ your choice.</p>

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<p>FYI in the last admissions cycle, California had the second highest number of matriculants (173), second only to New York state (189). So there are plenty of laid back Californians to be found on the Hilltop.</p>