<p>They tend to be around the same, even though UC Berkeley tends to be a little harder to get into when it comes to engineering majors. However, for political science, it’s very similar.</p>
<p>If your son gets accepted to both UCLA and UCB, he should definitely visit both campuses. Some people love UCLA but hate UCB, others (like me) find it the other way around.</p>
<p>Four years ago, I had to make a similar decision, except it was between UCLA ECE and UCB EECS. Yeah, I knew that UCB’s EECS program is stronger, but they’re both strong programs with plenty of opportunity.</p>
<p>I visited UCLA and got quite annoyed at how it looked like the stereotypical “perfect” college. On paper, it had everything you could have possibly asked for. Yet, the package as a whole just didn’t feel right.</p>
<p>Then, I visited UCB and really loved the quirkiness / culture around. At that point, I made my decision and submitted my SIR.</p>
<p>At the same time, I have several friends who much prefer an all-around solid college experience to the quirky one here at Cal. It’s all personal preference. Invest the time and money to visit both.</p>