<p>There is a big difference about being more concerned about others than yourself and choosing a school based on such concerns. After all, how does the choice of school really "help" anybody except yourself? How does choosing one school over another really advance whatever social cause you are trying to achieve? This isn't like working for a charity or donating money or giving a starving person something to eat. The world isn't going to be a better place just because you chose School A over School B, and if you truly believe that it will, then I'm afraid that you have a highly inflated sense of self.</p>
<p>Well, I think the person in question wanted to get involved in causes which advanced the "social good" and she wanted to go to Berkeley because she (correctly) assessed that UCB and the City of Berkeley were great places (if not the greatest) in which to promote the "social good." </p>
<p>Once again, choosing a school for individual reasons (as you seem to think students do) and choosing a school because on its fame in advancing the "social good" (which this student seemed to want to carry out above all else) are not mutually exclusive scenerios.</p>
<p>That's fine, dobby, and that's no different from my old soccer buddy who went to Cal because he wanted to play soccer. Once again, it's an INDIVIDUAL goal here. The point is, the dominant theme is whatever it is the individual student is trying to achieve.</p>
<p>But anyway, that's neither here nor there. The story still sounds rather dodgy to me, and I think you would agree that there are some things in her statements that don't quite add up. The truth is, a lot of people lie about their real reasons for going to a particular school. I know a guy who purported to have all sorts of reasons for going to a particular school, but confessed to me that his true reason was that he was impressed at all of the gorgeous women he saw on campus when he visited and he wanted to be at what he deemed to be a 'target-rich environment'. Of course he's not actually going to SAY that in public, rather he's going to talk about how he loves the academics, how he's getting the classes he wants, etc. etc. But he privately admitted to me that he chose that school for the girls.</p>
<p>I chose Berkeley because I wanted my facebook to have a prestigious affiliation. :cool:</p>
<p>We should give dobby a lie detector test.</p>
<p>I'm not saying that dobby is lying. He may well be telling the story correctly the way that he heard it. If anybody is lying, it is probably that girl. I personally suspect there is a lot more to the story than she is letting on.</p>
<p>Despite your opinion sakky, there are solid reasons for choosing Berkeley over Princeton or other Ivies besides athletic scholarships and financial considerations. Academic reasons. Berkeley's international reputation is superior to that of most Ivy league schools. I chose Berkeley over Princeton because its Engineering Dept is the better one by far; it is actually better than that of all eight ivies. I think I would have made the same choice had I not been an engineering student, it seemed like its environment was richer and more interesting.</p>
<p>For many, there are strong cultural reasons for choosing Berkeley over Princeton. Princeton and the other ivies lack socio-economic diversity and their cultural environment is far narrower. I think that's what the OP was referring to. Berkeley graduates more students from lower-income families than the eight Ivy League schools combined.</p>
<p>It cuts both ways too, upper middle-class kids from CA tend to favor schools like Brown or Dartmouth over Berkeley as those are perceived as "collegiate luxury goods" that they can afford.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. It's been a while since there has been active discussion here, but I'd love to hear from more participants. I think I am the "OP," that is the person who originally posted this thread, and I'm open-minded about various colleges. I'd just like to get more information from people who have first-hand experience.</p>
<p>My daughter and I visited Berkeley in July and we loved the campus. My only concern is the size of the classes. I've heard there are many very large classes over 100 students. How many of your classes have been over 50 students? Also I noticed that many smaller classes like Spanish and Hindi (capped at 25) have long waiting lists. Have you had a problem getting into classes you want to take? Thanks!</p>
<p>A concerned mom</p>
<p>I must say this answer is going to be personal. And yes, I love Berkeley. I am not perfectly knowledgeable about the school, but from hearing and knowing some things about the school, I must say I love this school.</p>
<p>Well, UCI is in my town, so I don't like the college that much. Not that it's a low-ranked UC or anything, just that it's waaaay to close to home (would feel like a 'second' high school, if you know what i mean..) UCLA is in LA obviously, and LA's just 1 hr taking Frwy 5. I know LA and the general feeling of it. So living 4 yrs there, I would imagine it would get pretty old.</p>
<p>Getting out of SoCal and trying NorCal would be great. Cal is in Bay Area and discovering new things about SF would be awesome. </p>
<p>Also, I love berkeley's Strong political activism. The school environment is nice and the school itself is a very good one. </p>
<p>Hopefully Cal Class of 2012..~</p>