<p>Anyone here ever chosen between Cal or UW (with honors?) Its my biggest dilemma of the moment. Narrowed it down to these 2 and I have about a few hours to decide. I KNOW that Berkeley has a better ranking, but for undergrad I'm looking for complete package, and I happen to love Seattle.</p>
<p>would i be making a HUGE mistake passing up Berkeley?</p>
<p>If you are seriously deciding between the two, you don’t deserve to be at cal.
go to your state school.</p>
<p>They are both amazing schools, that is why I am so torn!</p>
<p>I am from CA so Berkeley is my state school, and obviously cheaper.</p>
<p>Even more interesting. </p>
<p>Complete package - other than Seattle instead of bay area, what do you mean?</p>
<p>oops, i realize i may have phrased that wrong. </p>
<p>complete package - good academics, but also good social life, activities, opportunities, etc. I’m especially interested in outdoor opportunities</p>
<p>A lot of people think I’m crazy to be considering UW over cal, I guess I’m already on the defensive. but no I totally get that both could have the complete package, i Just wanted to specify that that is what i was looking for in a school (as opposed to solely the best reputation).</p>
<p>Oh wow, you’ve certainly gone down to the wire here! I actually was faced with a kind of similar choice… It came down to Berkeley and University of Florida for me (state school). Upon visiting Berkeley I fell in love with it… On top of its great reputation there was so much to do between the ‘college town’ and San Francisco, plus it’s just a beautiful place and I could picture myself there. It all comes down to where you think you’ll be happy, and what that school could do for you in the future.</p>
<p>I don’t believe there is any deficit as far as social life, opportunities or activities at Cal compared to UW. </p>
<p>The only item you mentioned in the list is outdoor activities, and if those are code words for nature in the Seattle area, then I submit that it collapses to the one factor that may be overriding for you - you want to go to school up in Washington and not in California. </p>
<p>If you mean outdoor activities but not specifically the area near Seattle, activities like hiking, skiing, running, then you will find as many opportunities at Berkeley. The university students association owns a lodge up in the mountains - [Welcome</a> to ASUC Auxiliary](<a href=“http://asuc.berkeley.edu/asinside.aspx?uid=55]Welcome”>http://asuc.berkeley.edu/asinside.aspx?uid=55) - and there are plenty of trips that students pull together to go up to various ski areas like Heavenly, Mammoth Mountain, Northstar, etc. For water recreation, we have the bay for sailing, the ocean nearby, beaches and surfing, the Sacramento river delta for boating. Outdoor time - seriously, unless you enjoy being outdoors in the rain, you will have far more time suitable for outdoor activities in Berkeley than up in the pacific northwest. Hiking and camping - the Sierras are nearby. </p>
<p>Ultiimately it sounds like your decision for UW is driven by the area, not the school. </p>
<p>That can certainly be a reason to go there, as long as you recognize that is the choice you are making. If it were for a local community college in Seattle versus Cal, would you make the same choice? Not comparing UW to a CC, just offering that to help you sharpen your decision. </p>
<p>The decision is deeply personal and it may be that UW and the Seattle area call out to you, while Cal doesn’t. If that is a significant factor for you, then you have your decision made. </p>
<p>I listed all the stuff above because the only invalid reason to pick UW over Cal is if you do it thinking Cal does not have the activities, social life, school spirit or outdoor opportunities you seek, since you will find if you investigate that it does offer all of that. Those are not a differential.</p>
<p>You are completely right. I’m kind of obsessed with Washington in general and that’s why this is so hard.</p>
<p>Aside from that, the honors college at UW was pretty appealing in terms of smaller environment, smaller classes etc. </p>
<p>However, after a lot of consideration, I think I’m going to Berkeley. It makes the most sense financially, and obviously all those things you’ve said about it are true. </p>
<p>Thank you for all the last minute advice haha</p>