UVa vs. Michigan vs. Berkeley

<p>For social sciences like Environmental Studies, Anthropology, and Political Science. What do you think?</p>

<p>I'd say Michigan is probably a little stronger than the other two schools in those particular majors...but it is really insignificant. I would focus on overall fit.</p>

<p>I think Berkeley is the most renown in Enviro and Michigan is marginally better renown in Anthro and PoliSci. However, these are entirely graduate school measures and are probably not totally applicable to the undergrad. I've always considered UVA to have the best undergrad experience of those three.</p>

<p>if i got into all of them, i'd goto UVA.</p>

<p>UC Berkeley's Political Science department is top-ranked... I don't know much about the other two social science fields, though...</p>

<p>It has great resources in the other areas, too. I think all schools will probably work well enough, don't you?</p>

<p>i would go to UVA personally, the smallest, has the most private feel out of those, definetely the hardest to get into in-state and out of state.</p>

<p>bball87I don't know if I agree with you in some ways. As to private feel, the poster should probably head to a private school for that (whatever it means), if that is what the poster wants. Also, not that it really matters, I question whether U Va is the easiest to get into in-state or out of state. It shouldn't really be a factor in the decision, as they are all about as hard to get into out of state, as in, really hard.</p>

<p>Bball, I do not agree with your assessment. For one thing, Michigan and UVA both have the private feel. And as far as difficulty of admission, I would say Cal is the toughest to get into, but all three have similar quality student bodies. The SAT ranges, mean unweighed GPAs and class ranks at all three schools are identical. In terms of actual academic ratings, all three are very good. Like I said initially, it is a question of preference. I would recommend the OP look closely at all three and visit them if possible.</p>

<p>OOS, Michigan is prolly the easiest to get into -- due to exploding demographics in Calif and Virginia. </p>

<p>I concur that a visit is necessary. UVa has a certain southern feel, and I believe that Charlottesville is the quintessential college town. Of course, there is nothing like football Saturdays in Ann Arbor, with 100,000 screaming fans in the Big House. Berkeley has to be seen to be believed...you either embrace the naked people and Telegraph Avenue as part of the campus scene, or you hide in your dorm and can't wait to go home...</p>

<p>I'd say Ann Arbor and Charlottesville are both examplary and ideal college towns.</p>

<p>hey, 63,000 crazy wahoo fans at scott stadium is pretty tight as well. (Uva students get in football games for free with ID cards. in Michigan, i heard they charge their own students for football games).</p>

<p>i got accepted by both michigan and uva. i chose uva. but u know what? im a freaking virginian resident. so i;'d be STUPID to choose Michigan. if u r a michigan resident, it'd be stupid to choose uva. coz in-state tuition is sooooooooooooooo cheap!</p>

<p>however, if you are OUT-OF-STATE. then the decision process is harder for you.</p>

<p>Berkeley: 42% asians, i m an asian myself, and have lived in a foreign country for 16 years of my life.......i'd rather explore some Western culture. therefore, berkeley wasnt even on my list. However, it's an excellent school for people who REALLY want to learn.</p>

<p>Michigan: one of my best friends in HS goes there now. he likes it alright, he complains the large size sometimes....and also complains about Ann Arbor......i dont see what the hell he's complaining. coz i dont care if he doesnt like Ann Arbor, all my favorite musician artists such as Beck and Sigur Ros play shows there. So i gotta give it a thumb up. excellent school as well.</p>

<p>UVa: hey this is where i go, so OBVIOUSLY i'm biased. well, we do have a southern feel, and the lots of students here are absurdly wealthy....with some being fairly elitist. We are very very proud of our rich history and great tradition and especially Thomas Jefferson. you'll hear the word Jefferson for like 50 times every day. People here are definitely preppier than Michigan and Berkeley combined. the Prep school kids from New England i know are enjoying UVa very much.
We ARE "private" since only 8% of our funds are from the State of Virginia. and our campus (UN world-heritage site) is definitely best of the 3, actually one of the best campuses in U.S.
our motto is "work hard, play hard".
Politics science at UVa: We got Professor Larry Sabato, the "most quoted professor on any US campus" according to Wall Street Journal, he founded UVa's "Center for politics" as well.</p>

<p>Haha please, bluebayou, where are these naked people? I've been here for months and have not seen a one. I'm not sure what private school feel is, or what a college town is, but Berkeley's location rocks, considering how easy it is to get around the Bay Area. It sounds like it's more urban in nature than U Va, which you might like or dislike. As to the asian presence, yes, they are here, but it seems as if many of them are more American than I am in the ways of pop culture.</p>

<p>probably a reference to the naked guy at Berkeley. His real name is Andrew Martinez. Do a google search on 'berkeley naked guy' and you will find out more info. Here's a snippet from one site:</p>

<p>"It took a hell of a lot of courage, but Andrew did it. He knew that there was nothing dirty or shameful about his body, and decided to start going to college classes in the nude! Since he was attending the University of California, Berkeley, at the time -- a very liberal school -- many people thought he would get away with it. And in our minds and hearts, he did.</p>

<p>But eventually Berkeley kicked him out, after passing a rule against going naked on campus -- a rule specifically aimed at him. Andrew continued hanging around Berkeley, was arrested for public nudity by the city of Berkeley, fought the charges -- and won! For many months, it was perfectly legal to walk around nude in Berkeley -- until that famously liberal city, too, passed a law against it. "</p>

<p>I've seen naked people walking around Berkeley, but not the type of naked people that you're real excited about seeing. As for the schools, I think all of them are excellent and, as others have said, the choice should really be about which school feels right. I go to Cal, and altough I'm not a poli sci major, I did take one class taught by the great Prof. Zook, who is far and away the most brilliant and entertaining teacher I've ever had. I'd probably come to Cal just to take a few classes with him.</p>

<p>Michigan has a senior tradition called the "Naked Mile" where a bunch of seniors run across campus in the nude at the end of winter term. </p>

<p>Unfortunately the police have been trying to crack down on it over the past few years but people still do it. </p>

<p>I hope they give up and just let the tradition live on</p>