<p>UCD would probably be my top choice. I’ve heard Santa Cruz is absolutely beautiful, but I’ve never been there, so I can’t objectively say where that would be on my list. Plus I know there are a lot of stoners there (stereotypes FTW), which is fine, but I’m just not sure I’d fit in.</p>
<p>I love the Davis campus so much, especially with regards to the biking culture. The air is so clean there! Two years ago I got into Berkeley and Davis as a freshman (later found out I couldn’t afford to attend either), and I was so tempted to pick Davis, but in the end the prestige won me. Plus I love the Berkeley campus too. In a few days, assuming I get into Berkeley, I’m going to be having the same dilemma as I did then.</p>
<p>@allfieldsreg, I currently go to UCSB. Im a surfer and in high school i thought UCSB would be a heaven on earth for me. You live next to to the beach, great academics, parties all the time, laid back. However, my two years here have been far from heaven on earth. If you surf, you have to be nomadic and go to ventura or up north. so that part was disappointing, UCSB gets ranked number 1 surf college almost every year which is joke. there are not waves here 75% of the year. anyways, the partying is fun, but gets old after a year. there are a lot of d bag girls and whorish girls. its hard to make real friends here. most of my friends are just people i party with all the time with the exception of a few. I do have to say thought it is a fun and there is always something going. but I am transferring to UCLA and hope i have a better social experience.</p>
<p>eholla: Hey, don’t pick UCB over UCD for the prestige. Pretty please. The differences in prestige (and more importantly, in undergrad quality and post-grad success) between the two is negligible, especially at the undergrad level. You sound like you love Davis, and only LIKE UCB. Go where you love.</p>
<p>bullrumper: Sounds like the same kind of people you’ll find at UCLA.</p>
<p>There are other reasons besides prestige why I’d pick Berkeley over Davis. And I do love Berkeley, I just love the Davis campus a little bit more. But the fact is, I feel very happy on both campuses. Also, I’m a linguistics major and Berkeley’s program is more well established, and the Bay Area has a much more active theater scene, which is also important to me. What I realized is that I’ll be really happy at either school, but I’ll also feel like I’m missing out on something at either school. So in the end, prestige tips the otherwise equal scale.</p>
<p>eholla: I sound exactly like you, just UCLA vs. Davis. In fact I’m struggling with that right now, UCD where I could transition to it very smoothly and be very comfortable there, vs. UCLA which is an amazing opportunity that a few years ago I would have never expected to have, but I’m not in love with being so far from home and likely triple dorm.</p>
<p>It’s a tough call for me… but when you think about it either way I win because both are amazing schools, but god help me if I get into CAL as well and have to factor that in too haha!</p>
<p>@CityByCity: I applied to UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCD, UCSB and UCSC. I got into UCLA, UCD, UCSB and UCSC so far and I’m still waiting for Berkeley and San Diego. How about you?</p>
<p>@deanzatransfer: Same here! Right now I’m debating between UCD and UCSC. Even though I got into UCLA, I don’t think I could stand going there. But I’m still waiting on UCB too (and UCSD–but I’m pretty sure I’d go to UCD or UCSC over it). What’s your first choice?</p>
<p>Well, considering that prestige is a factor, my first choice is Cal (I really hope I get in…). How about you? Will you go to Berkeley, if you get in? Are you also from the Bay Area?</p>
<p>Prestige isn’t TOO much of a factor for me personally. I mean, we’re going to get the same quality undergrad education at pretty much any UC school–so what if not all our professors are Nobel Laureates? Doesn’t affect my undergrad experience much at all. And there’s something to be said for being a big fish in a smaller pond too. </p>
<p>So I think I’ll go to whichever school I fall in love with the most. There are a lot of things I like about UCB, so if I get in, I’ll highly consider it. But there are things I love about UCSC and UCD too…it’s going to be a very difficult decision! </p>
<p>And no, I’m from Southern California. Ready to take on Northern California though. :)</p>
<p>I disagree that the education at all the UCs is pretty much the same. Some UCs are definitely better for certain majors. </p>
<p>Putting prestige aside I would probably choose Davis just because my friends go there lol but if not for that, probably UCLA because I like the campus.</p>
<p>I live in the Bay Area and I’m kinda over it. I’d love to go to SoCal for new surroundings. If I get in, I’ll probably have to choose Berk, but I’ve seen almost all of Berkeley and SF. Been there, done that, about a gazillion times over. And Berkeley (other than the campus) doesn’t appeal because there are about two or three streets that are fun to explore…the rest is helllllaaa ghetto haha. But Im sure SF is a lot more fun if youre 21+, which Im not yet </p>
<p>After la, I’d probably choose SD, and then Davis.</p>
<p>goingmeta: I was saying that I could be a big fish in a smaller pond at UCSC and UCD. Granted, there are plenty of ambitious, highly intelligent people at UCSC and UCD. But there would be less competition for resources and I would also probably stand out more as a student of the highest caliber, and therefore there would be more opportunity for someone like me to seize research positions/internships/jobs at those campuses.</p>
<p>minilily: …And you’d “have” to choose Berkeley because…?</p>
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