<p>I will add my two cents from a different point of view.</p>
<p>Before my two sons’ college admission period, I have done quite a research on a lot of schools. One thing that I got out of that research is there is such a thing as a culture factor. To make the long story short, I steered my sons away from southern schools. Caveat: I don’t include Miami in the Southern School category. However, I don’t know about that school well at all, so I won’t comment on it.</p>
<p>I know this is a very broad statement and probably does not apply to all schools. However, given that for every single good southern school there are several other good schools in the East, West, and Midwestern with similar academic, educational, and professional opportunities, why should they bother? For my S1, Duke is the only elite school he did not bother to consider seriously for that reason: because the rest of the top 10 schools are in areas where he will fit better. For my S2 (at Bucknell), he never considered applying to anything below the Mason Dixon line. </p>
<p>We are a multi ethnic, multi regilion, multi national, and multi racial family from North East. that was a factor. </p>
<p>Now, many of you immediately may jump and accuse me of being bigoted in my own way. Guilty as charged. But it was our choice regarding what is the most hospitable environment for kids at the age of 17 or 18 who are just starting out on their own. </p>
<p>By the way, I can certainly understand why people with different cultural profile will not want to go to Berkeley. I respect that preference and choice.</p>