You chose UCLA over Berkeley...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>I feel like there are a lot of threads along the lines of "BERKELEY OR LA??? OMG IM SO STUCK," which is definitely an issue worth discussing for students like me who love both schools and are really just stuck in deciding which one to go to, but those threads usually evaporate into endless debate.</p>

<p>Let's try something a little different. Please, if you chose UCLA over Berkeley, why? Please be as detailed as you can without taking too much of your precious time. Was it for academic reasons? Social reasons? financial? emotional reasons? Please be as specific as possible, thx.</p>

<p>I'm talking current students and grads, please. </p>

<p>How do you view your decision now, year(s) after you've made it?</p>

<p>I really appreciate any students/grads' comments/words of wisdom in response. Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>I am a first year at UCLA right now, and I chose LA over Berkeley last year.</p>

<p>I had a tough time deciding where to attend. I had visited both schools before admission decisions came out, and my gut feeling had always told me that LA was the right place for me. That being said, I was an engineering applicant, and so I had to give serious consideration to Berkeley (my parents also really wanted me to go to Berkeley for the better education, although they weren’t going to force me into a decision). Yes, Berkeley does have better academics, but depending on the department, the gap does have a wide range. (I also would’ve been a Regent Scholar at Berkeley…not at LA)</p>

<p>When it came down to it though, I think that there is much more to the decision than the academics, as I’m sure you know already. For me, the combination of the social scene at UCLA, Los Angeles in general, and the distance from home (I’m from Orange County) seemed to matter more than the difference in the departments between LA and Berk. Not to mention that I did not feel very comfortable in the Berkeley/Oakland are (dont get me wrong, I personally feel that it’s kind of a love it/hate it kinda place).</p>

<p>I’m almost done with my first year at UCLA, and I have no regrets whatsoever about choosing LA over Berkeley.</p>

<p>When it comes down to it, I think I’d have to agree with what most other people are saying: go with your gut instinct.</p>

<p>Hope that helps. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I was a pretty much a coin flip on UCLA versus Berkeley, so I just went with my gut feeling. There wasn’t any specific reason; I just thought UCLA would be a better fit, and that’s proven to be the case for me.</p>

<p>Your gut is rarely wrong - trust your instincts.</p>

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<p>I got admitted into Berkeley for Spring 2011 and UCLA for Fall 2010. Right now, the decision is still very tough for me. I signed up for FPF (Fall Program for Freshman) though just to be safe. I’m really pretty confused myself.
I visited both campuses last week and absolutely loved them both. However, I absolutely hated, i mean with a passion, the Berkeley area surrounding the university. It was too crowded and congested. LA on the other hand, has Bel Air and Beverly Hills all around. Its a rich neighborhood, Westwood is. The thing with me is, I don’t think I can last four years at Berkeley with that sort of surrounding. So I still don’t really know.</p>

<p>I will give you one word of advice:
You Can’t Go Wrong With Either One. So just choose one, and stick to it. Hold no regrets. You will get an awesome education no matter which you decided to attend. Good Luck! I’m going to need it to.</p>

1 Like
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<p>As a former bruin who graduated in 2001 and experienced not one, but three life-changing experiences at UCLA and thereafter, I am grateful for the decision I made in choosing UCLA over UC Berkeley, USC (full ride), UCSD (half-scholarship), and NYU (meager $10,000 scholarship).</p>

<p>I think Baller21 right above me said it perfectly. It was a very easy decision for me.</p>

<p>“YOU CANT GO WRONG WITH EITHER ONE.”</p>

<p>This phrase served as the most basic yet the most important premise upon which I made my decision. So setting aside the job prospect and academics (by far the most important criteria for many), I really focused on just how comfortable I would fit in at either campus.</p>

<p>Making my personal decision much easier, back in 1995, UCLA won their first NCAA basketball championship for the first time in 20 years, and watching UCLA students celebrate in Westwood on live TV further in wild harmony further served to confirm my premonition that I would be able to find many unique things about UCLA, as well as my hidden, dormant set of identities.</p>

<p>Ironically, the very factor that pushed me to choose UCLA eventually became the very catalystic force that fueled my personal growth. I chose UCLA because I thought I would be comfortable living in Westwood and LA, but over time, I recognized that UCLA was anything but comfortable…in a very positive sense.</p>

<p>If you push yourself, you will find the life of a student at UCLA hectic, tiresome, and stressful - all the things that will for sure provide you with a right set of circumstances conducive for future growth as a person and as a student.</p>

<p>On a side note, I really believe that the best way to choose between the two schools whose caliber of academic excellence at undergraduate level is virtually bare-minumum (no disrespect to UCB by the way) is to follow your gut feeling. Dont you ever dare to hold yourself from accepting your gut feeling. </p>

<p>Some say it is an instinct. Others say it is a fateful calling. But whatever you wish to name it, just take some time so that you can readily recognize the personal aspect of your gut feeling.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you who are now at the threshold of your new chapter in life.</p>

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<p>I chose LA over Berkeley for many reasons:

  • I visited today, and the campus and the surrounding area was just way more appealing to me. I felt more comfortable and definitely safer at LA. I don’t want to worry about getting robbed or stabbed while walking around at night especially after a party or something.
  • it’s closer to home (i just love socal… the environment/weather/familiarity of it is just better for me and I can visit home frequently.
    -LA has a lot of consulting/i banking firms everywhere and i saw that there were alot of financial buildings right outside of campus.
  • i’m a pretty social guy and I think there’s a good balance of academics and social life.
  • I can visit my friends at other colleges and all the colleges in LA as well.
    -there’s just alot of things to do in LA compared to Berkeley. Berkeley just seemed bland and honestly… kind of suffocating. I mean it definitely has an interesting vibe but the grungyness and the weather (all the rain) there is not alluring to me at all and also I feel like I would be incredibly bored of it after 2 or more years living there.</p>
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<p>@mkskycastle2: what is your intended major? Business economics?</p>

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<p>Two years ago, Sports Illustrated ranked UCLA first nationally for best balance of academics, social scene and athletics. I think that pretty much summed up my decision.</p>

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<p>When my son chose UCLA over Berkeley, he said that it was because the UCLA students looked so much happier on campus. 8 people from his high school were admitted to both schools, out of those 8. 7 of them chose UCLA.</p>

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<p>@UCLA Band Mom, that sounds an awful lot like my school (with more kids of course. I’d say 60-70% of kids at my school admitted to Berkeley and LA chose LA in the end). Is your son from SoCal?</p>

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<p>Here’s something to think about:</p>

<p>Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US - population: 3,833,955</p>

<p>Berkeley is the 263rd largest city in the US - population: 101,371</p>

<p>…Make as many inferences from this data as you wish. =)</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, from San Diego</p>

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<p>As a few people have stated I went with my gut feeling for choosing UCLA over Cal. I wanted my college experience to be a chance for a change. As a NorCal native I wanted to get away from home and be more free from my parents. Though, in retrospect, going to Berkeley would have been much easier in terms of moving my stuff at the end of the year I’ve been lucky to find an easy storage situation. Regrets are mostly about not being able to see my old friends as often but it makes those few visits seem much more meaningful.</p>

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<p>It is also interesting to note that almost all the students who chose UCLA over UC Berkeley, those whom I have talked to, have no regrets about the decision.</p>

<p>Dont get me wrong. UC Berkeley is still the top dog of UC system in terms of academic prestige. I dont think anyone will doubt this.</p>

<p>But most people who chose UCLA over Berkeley feel that their individual experience will compensate for what they MIGHT lose from the perspective of academic prestige (not quality, let me remind you).</p>

<p>UCLA is a huge campus, a term that should bear both positive and negative connotations. But through the journey here at UCLA, you will be well positioned to experience many aspects of your personal discovery, which will invariably become the cornerstone of your new, forging character for the future.</p>

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<p>I chose UCLA because I liked LA and SoCal wayyy better than SF and NorCal. In addition, I love UCLA football and basketball, despite the recent lacking in success in these two the past few years or so. Our football team may not be as good as that one other school across town, but unlike Cal, at least we don’t have a 50 year Rose Bowl drought. In addition, our basketball team is legendary and #1 among top schools like Duke, Kansas, UNC, etc. What the hell does Berkeley have beside academics? Think about it, when I joke about schools with my friends, it usually goes like this:</p>

<p>Me (UCLA): Yeahhhhhh baby, we just beat your ass in basketball! Final Four, w00t w00t!
USC Friend: Oh yeah? Well we just kicked your ass in football, ROSE BOWL w00t w00t!!
Berkeley Friend: Oh indeed? Well as an academic institution, the University of California Berkeley has successfully accomplished itself on a higher level of national ranking that elevates itself to the highest standard of American education.
Me and other friend:…um…okay?</p>

<p>In regards to academics, Berkeley and LA in undergrad is not a far stretch. It’s not a huge cap like Harvard and Cal State whatever. And unless you’re majoring in Business or Engineering, your generic liberal arts degree does not make a difference if its from UCLA or UC Berkeley (which btw, I am a liberal arts major).</p>

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<p>

What you mean is that no one will dispute that most notable rankings bodies place Berkeley as the top of the UC system. </p>

<p>There are one or two ranking bodies out there that rank UCLA higher, most notably THEQS. That would be an entire organization that would be disputing UCLA is more prestigious than Berkeley.</p>

<p>In departmental rankings, Berkeley is ranked quite a bit higher than UCLA in nearly all categories but it should also be noted that nearly all our rankings come from USNWR. These rankings have relatively weak reflection on reality. To make a point, USNWR ranks undergrad Berkeley Engineering one rank higher than Caltech. </p>

<p>Of course, Berkeley students tend to be very proud of their school. While few dare take these rankings and say, “Berkeley > Harvard”, “Berkeley > Caltech”, or “Berkeley > MIT”, they will use them to incessantly bash schools such as UCLA or Rice or even Cornell that are around their ranks or only slightly better.</p>

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<p>Honestly Berkeley holds more caliber over UCLA. It really isn’t debatable. Nationally speaking, people will be more impressed with UCB graduates than UCLA graduates. Internationally, this is 100% true. If you go out of the country Berkeley holds so much more respect than UCLA. (not hatin on UCLA). << This is academically speaking.</p>

<p>I have been admitted me to both, and will visit in a week. I am gonna miss the open house or UCLA but will be there for UCB open house. My dad is basically forcing me to go to UCB, and his arguments make sense.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Does UCB’s weather suck? Is it as bad as New England’s?</p></li>
<li><p>Are UCB people really just weirdos or is that a sterotype with no basis?</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Leftist, those were rhetorical questions from his father… and they were in defense of Cal. -.-</p>

21

<p>Alright so I would be able to find normal, fun-loving, procrastinating students who manage to do well at UCB? I mean from CC, I’m beginning to think that UCB is as bad as UChicago lol.</p>

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<p>Well, I guess I have to rephrase my previous comment. When it comes to the prestige factor (e.g. popularity, general consensus, rankings, etc), Berkeley defintely holds an upper hand over UCLA.</p>

<p>But this general consensus among the general public or even the recruiters does not necessarily mean that Berkeley students have better job prospects.</p>

<p>THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL, as the candidacy of each job prospective applicant really hinges on the individual merits of each person.</p>

<p>Thus, based on the hypothetical notion that the job prospect ultimately depends on the caliber of each individual who has carved and tailored his or her individual education, internships, experiences, and soft skills, the difference between Berkeley and UCLA virtually comes down to the perception of the general public.</p>

<p>So if you can deal with people asking, “So how come you didnt get into UC Berkley”, I think you should be ok.</p>

<p>Whenever my students asked me why I did not “get into” Berkeley, I am not bothered or irritated at all, since I still have the Berkeley acceptance letter someplace in my room.</p>

<p>If you can deal with this sort of situation, then the difference between the future roadmaps of Berkeley and UCLA, in both career and personal life aspects, is really marginal at best.</p>