<p>Hi , I was accepted to bo both Berkeley and GW and do not know where to go. My major is Political Science and I basically have scholarships to both.</p>
<p>Can you help?</p>
<p>Well, GW is very respected in pol. science, but Berkeley is better as far as overall prestige. If it’s cheaper to go to Berkeley, you should probably go. However, if you think you like DC (it’s perfect for your major) then GW would be a good choice.</p>
<p>It really is your call. P.S. Where do you live?</p>
<p>Santa Barbara, CA. My ambition is to become a diplomat. I know Berkeley is better as far as overall prestige, but doesn’t the program matter more?</p>
<p>IF you are specifically interested in government and diplomacy, and IF after all scholarship and grant aid the cost is essentially the same, GW is probably where you want to go. For people interested in politics, DC is the center of the universe.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, you do really need to sit down and compare the costs of attendance. What does “I basically have scholarships to both” mean exactly? How much will you have to pay out of pocket, through loans, and through work study? What do you have to do to maintain those scholarships? Berkeley may work out to be significantly less expensive than GW. Don’t forget to include transportation from wherever it is you live to and from campus two or three times a year for four years.</p>
<p>I’d go to GW, better for what you want and a chance to see a new part of the Country. And Cal’s budget cuts will be brutal making it hard to graduate in 4 years and limiting resources. It’s a great time to avoid UCs if you can afford to.</p>
<p>I think Hmom makes an interesting point. Obviously you applied to GW for the PoliSci program, but what other benefits can come from going to such a school? Like Hmom said, do you want a change of scenery? NYC is only a few hours drive; you could probably go there for a vacation if you’d wanted to. Even more than that, the American culture truly comes to life in DC; however, if you want to stay in sunny Cali… Yeah, Berkley’s the one.</p>
<p>On another note, I second happymom’s question. How much ARE these scholarships? If they’re the same in all instances, you need to reconsider costs of traveling and debt after school.</p>
<p>Go to Cal.</p>
<p>Look at the semester/yearlong program they have where you can spend in DC.</p>
<p>Remember that you will have summers to be in DC and have polisci internships</p>
<p>Cal>GW by ffaaaaarrrrrrrrr</p>
<p>and Cal’s PoliSci program is known as the best one out of all the UCs.</p>
<p>If you want a career in politics or diplomacy, GW is the best choice by far.</p>