<p>Hi there! Im a mom whose daughter is undecided between Wellesley, USC, and Berkeley. She's aware that I'm writing this as as she's swamped with homework. We live in So. Califorina. Her debt at the end of her 4 years will be pretty much the same for all 3 schools. She is interested in Global Policy, International Relations, or Econ/Poly Sci To help her out a little I thought Id give you an isight of her pros and cons to all 3 schools.</p>
<p>Wellesley--She was set on Wellesley even before Spring Open Campus...she feels she would receive the best education with endless opportunities. She likes the fact that classes are relatively small and that she'll have easy access to professors. But...she doesnt feel that she have the full college experience (all girl school) and has this idea that the majority of the girls at Wellesley are Type A personalities and wont be open to a having a little fun!! Also, Boston is on the other side of the map.</p>
<p>U.C. Berkeley--She liked the diversity at Berkeley and feels she would fit right in (she's latin,friendly, humble, outgoing, with a touch of an indie style). Berkeley is a great school (2nd best in World for Public Schools and 22nd best Nationally in US News) and is 4.5 hrs away from home...but classes are overcrowed and feels she'll fall in the cracks. From what I hear lots of parties here!</p>
<p>USC--Divesity yes..maybe not as much as Berkeley. Offers many options and has one of the strongest alumnis in the US. Since USC is a private school, classes are smaller than Berkeley (average 30 per class). US News ranked this school Nationally at 25. She feels USC is too focused on sports but is do-able as it is 2 hrs away from home. </p>
<p>Thank you all for reading this and giving us some insight. Your help is greatly appreciated! I will be posting this on the other two threads.</p>
<p>Congrats to your daughter on her accomplishment of getting into these great schools.</p>
<p>With Wellesley, as you stated its an all girls school which might end up being a plus or a major negative. Wellesley is in Boston which has thousands college kids throughout the city so she also may be able to make alot of friends outside of Wellesley. Boston was my first choice location to get to college for that reason until I visited in February and realized I couldn't handle the cold and dreary weather. I realized it would be hard enough to be away from home and depressing weather would make my adjustment harder..but that was just me. Personal attention at Wellesley is a plus.</p>
<p>USC- In all fairness, although I am not fond of USC, it has become a very academically focused institution that is on the rise. Yet even though it is a private school, it is a very big private school at 33,000 students so I would just warn you to take that into consideration. One thing that turned me off from USC was the area it was in and the fact that to do anything you needed a car.</p>
<p>Berkeley- Okay, I'll admit it, I go here so I am biased. Berkeley has about 33,000 students, larger UG than USC, but overall about the same size as USC. I have found that at Berkeley if you are independent the professors will gladly help you, especially if your interested in the field. Unlike Wellesley, you will need to be more driven to get attention, but it is very doable. Lower division courses, ie intro course, are large, but I think that will be the same at every non-LAC university. Upper division courses are much smaller. The social scene at Berkeley is what you make of it. If you want to party there are many options, if you would rather chill with friends or study your daughter will have no problem finding that here. IMO, you can't beat the reputation of being the #1 public in the US also!</p>
<p>I hope I helped somewhat and good luck to your daughter, she'll do fine wherever she goes!</p>
<p>Theses are all good options. I faced the Cal versus USC decision and ultimately chose USC. </p>
<p>Based on that factors you listed, USC is in many ways more diverse than Cal, with a substantially larger population of international students and people from outside of California. </p>
<p>About your daughter's concern for too much focus on sports, yes there is enthusiasm for sports, but academics are not sacrificed. If she doesn't like sports, there are even more opportunities to explore the arts, sciences, and humanities through countless programs like Visions and Voices. There is something for everyone.</p>
<p>Sorry Trojan USC is not in the same class as Cal or Wellesley. Maybe when they grow up a bit more but not now.</p>
<p>Hi Calilatin, I'm the mother of a Wellesley daughter and she manages to have plenty of fun. True, much of the fun most be sought out and she is often at Harvard or MIT or BU or Babson, and she goes into Boston for concerts or Ballet or out to dinner. Sometimes she goes into Boston just to hang out at Starbucks and do her homework.
She LOVES Wellesley and feels her teachers and classes are the best possible. Before beginning Wellesley she had always assumed she would go Junior Year Abroad, but after a year there she did not want to leave Wellesley for any other school. She said the teachers are so good that she didn't want to miss the year of Wellesley classes.
Wellesley has a strongly international student body and she has friends from many countries. Before beginning she was worried about the all-girls aspect, but now really likes it. She feels it removes some of the sexual pressures found at many co-ed schools, and boys are easily found at the other colleges in the area. They go to Frat parties at MIT, and nightclubs in Boston, and parties at all the other schools.</p>
<p>
[quote]
2nd best in World for Public Schools and 22nd best Nationally in US News
[/quote]
What public school in the world is better than Berkeley? USNews ranks Berkeley #1 public and #21 nationally.</p>
<p>
[quote]
classes are smaller than Berkeley (average 30 per class)
[/quote]
Data on class size from USNews:
% Classes Smaller than 20:
Berkeley: 61%
USC: 62%</p>
<p>% Classes Larger than 50:
Berkeley: 14%
USC: 12%</p>
<p>Looks about the same to me...</p>
<p>
[quote]
From what I hear lots of parties here!
[/quote]
Ummm, Berkeley is far from a party school...There are probably just as many parties at USC.</p>
<p>You claimed your daughter liked the environment at Berkeley, which is important. If she wants to go away to school (but not too far), Berkeley is a great choice. Flights to Oakland from Socal airports are pretty cheap if you book well in advance, and you can get around the Bay Area quite easily via public transportation.</p>
<p>I graduated from one of the other "sisters" and I had some of the same reservations as your daughter had before enrolling. Those proved to be four of the best years of my life. There really is something special about that kind of environment. Yes, many of the students were Type A (you run into those folks at every college), but there were plenty of us Type Bs, and we did manage to have lots of fun. If it were my daughter, and money were no object, she would be on a plane to Boston this fall.</p>
<p>As to distance and culture change, I left Iowa for the east coast back in the day. In comparison, California to the east coast is nothing in the 21st century!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Berkeley- Okay, I'll admit it, I go here so I am biased. Berkeley has about 33,000 students, larger UG than USC, but overall about the same size as USC. I have found that at Berkeley if you are independent the professors will gladly help you, especially if your interested in the field. Unlike Wellesley, you will need to be more driven to get attention, but it is very doable. Lower division courses, ie intro course, are large, but I think that will be the same at every non-LAC university. Upper division courses are much smaller. The social scene at Berkeley is what you make of it. If you want to party there are many options, if you would rather chill with friends or study your daughter will have no problem finding that here. IMO, you can't beat the reputation of being the #1 public in the US also!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You mean if you are not independent you are not getting help? This is the sort of students that really need help. </p>
<p>I would narrow down the choice to Wellesley or USC. Wellesley is definitely more academics. But I heard it's severely grade deflation. But Wellesley has a very strong Economics department.
Regarding USC's too focused on sports. A lot of students at USC are not into sports, I've seen more nerds there when I did the ExploreUSC day :D. However, sports are a cash cows for most universities and for that I'm grateful for USC's reputation in football because it generates a lot money for USC .</p>
<p>^ Pleaaase, she means that you have to be independent and seek out professors help. Nobody is gonna be looking over your shoulder.</p>
<p>And if you think the level of student service at USC is closer to Wellesley than Berkeley, you're kidding yourself. USC is huge too.</p>
<p>I know Wellesley is a LAC, and I did not suggest USC is a LAC, but kids reject UCB for USC because UCs are having budget problems.</p>
<p>I think this is between Berkeley and Wellesley. Social sciences are not USC's strength.</p>
<p>^ No, it's because USC is throwing money at 'em. It's easier to become a condom when you're getting paid to go there.</p>
<p>Most of the students I see are saying Berkeley is too hard...they think USC will be less intense for some reason.</p>
<p>^That is not true. For some of these kids they go free everywhere, they picked USC over UCLA and UCB. And for some others where money are not a problem, they also picked USC over UCLA and UCB.
Sound like you wish you were a condom ?:D</p>
<p>Gawd no, being spent and used in a couple hours is depressing.</p>
<p>I would pick USC over UCLA - not Berkeley though.</p>
<p>People pick USC over Berkeley because:
1. They prefer the Socal environment/ LA glam lifestyle.
2. They have strong Trojan spirit.
3. They prefer a less competitive academic environment.
4. They have a stronger career focus and want to utilize alumni connections.</p>
<p>Being from Socal, I like the change in scenery Berkeley provides. I prefer an intellectual environment, cooler weather, and a diverse student-oriented city.</p>