UCLA v Berkeley?
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Anonymous
| Pros/cons? |
Anonymous
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I live in Los Angeles and have 2 high schoolers. The consensus amongst their peers is that UCLA is the preferred location. I don't think there's a lot of logic behind this other than it's here, in the city rather than what they perceive to be "out in the sticks".
Otherwise they're pretty much on a par. |
Anonymous
| Cal is overcrowded. |
Anonymous
| Both competitive, large classes. Depends if you prefer northern vs. Southern California. |
Anonymous
+1 Totally different vibe. I attended grad school at Berkeley. If I had to do it over again, I'd choose UCLA for culture fit and weather. |
Anonymous
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UCLA has the nicer location. You are in Westwood/West LA. Berkeley's surroundings are not as nice and there is a significant homeless population. The upside to a nicer location like UCLA is that it's safe, but the downside is that it's bland and a little boring. Berkeley is definitely not "out in the sticks" as a PP noted. It is also urban and you can hop on the BART and be in San Francisco in 30 minutes.
Academically, both are great. Berkeley is probably a bit more intense because it attracts people who are looking for strong academics. UCLA probably a little less so because people note the nice location. However, this is really all at the margins. If you want to do tech-related work, Berkeley is close to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, so it lends itself to internships and jobs post-college in the tech sector. If you want to do entertainment-related work, UCLA is in Los Angeles, so it lends itself to internships and jobs post-college in the entertainment sector. I suspect that you can't go wrong one way or the other. I'd focus mostly on what you want to and where you want to be post-college. |
Anonymous
Regarding weather, Southern California is, on average, warmer and has less rain (there's a reason why there is an aqueduct that goes from Northern California to Southern California). For the uninitiated, Northern California can be surprisingly cold in the mornings and the evenings given the lack of humidity. Northern California has a surprising number of "microclimates", so temperature can vary between different parts of the San Francisco Bay Area (up to 20 degree Fahrenheit differences). |
Anonymous
| OP, you should google your thread title. |
Anonymous
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I'm from the Bay Area and went to UCLA, while many of my friends went to Cal. I went to UCLA because (a) Berkeley because was too close to home and (b) I followed a girl. As a northern Californian, I kind of hate Los Angeles. But it was a great place to go to college for four years.
Berkeley +Historically, Cal has marginally more prestige overall in most programs (but not so much that it should be a deciding factor). +The Bay Area is extremely fertile for internships in tech and other industries. +Berkeley has better public transportation. SF is a 25-minute-ish BART ride away. +Berkeley's football stadium is on campus; as is the Greek Theater (a great music venue). +Berkeley has more going on within walking distance of campus than Westwood. -The city of Berkeley has a lot of urban blight and more crime than Westwood. -Berkeley is consistently mediocre in sports. UCLA +UCLA has world-class art programs (film, fine art, performing arts) and strong programs overall. +UCLA's campus is nicer, more distinct, and feels less urban than Cal--it's like a little island in LA. +UCLA is better if you like proximity to beaches, a little less rain, and slightly hotter/warmer weather. +At least in the 90's, UCLA had an extremely attractive student body, much more so than Cal. +UCLA more often produces very strong football and basketball teams. +UCLA has better food and slightly better dorms. -UCLA and Westwood are easily navigable without a car; but access to the rest of LA requires a car. -Cal students will remind you that it was the first UC and that the Bruin is derivative of the Bear. -The Rose Bowl (UCLA's football venue) is in Pasadena, which is a long, traffic-ridden drive across LA. |
Anonymous
Thank you for the detailed, thoughtful response. It is helpful. |
Anonymous
| Cal is better. But I am also not a fan of LA. If your kid loves Southern California then UCLA might win out. |
Anonymous
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https://100.ucla.edu/impact/out-of-the-classroom-onto-the-streets
“ In Los Angeles, the sight of homelessness is all too common. The problem is present in virtually every neighborhood, from Skid Row to Bel Air. For many Angelenos, to step over the homeless on the sidewalk — or look away from an encampment under an overpass — is an everyday occurrence.” |
Anonymous
| I’m certain there are plenty of homeless in Westwood, once you leave campus grounds. |
Anonymous
| Regarding homeless at UCLA campus, my child is a student and I've spent considerable time on campus: there are a few homeless people I've seen and heard about on campus, and I think one incident this fall with one breaking a window or door, but not that many that it is rampant (maybe the hills deter them!), but enough that I warned my child about walking alone at night. The school and security is aware of them and I have been there day and night, and literally have seen less than 1 or 2 in a given day. Westwood is awesome as a college "town" but it does have some homeless. Parents seem divided between those who defend right to be on public campus and those who prioritize safer campus. As to UCLA v Cal, I've never been to Cal, but given what I know, both are highly respected schools with smart and motivated students. I think Cal has a business program if I am not mistaken. |
Anonymous
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Both are excellent schools but extremely expensive OOS and hard to get into. Not sure its worth it bc there will probably be hassles along the way that your $ isn't going towards. But for independent students willing to problem solve there is a lot to love.
Agree with above posters, its not so much pro/con but the schools are different. Academics: https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/ https://www.niche.com/colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/ Its probably not completely accurate but it does give you a sense of each. Berkeley has a great Business school, UCLA doesn't offer that major. Berkeley has a lot of kids majoring in Comp Sci/EECS and now Data Science https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/05/18/uc-regents-vote-creates-uc-berkeleys-first-college-in-50-years UCLA has the edge in humanities and communication/arts programs. Berkeley is stronger in Environmental Studies. Finally UCLA is quarters, Berkeley semester system Lifestyle The schools are very different. UCLA is socal and sunny most of the year but there will be rain and slight cold during winter. Berkeley is chilly, foggy, sunny and windy all in the same day. You will be constantly taking off/putting on layers. Housing - Berkeley housing is a well documented pain - just google it. UCLA much better. Both have decent greek systems but you can also easily ignore greek life. College sports - UCLA much better for football/basketball. Both have strong other sports. |