<p>I was facing the same decision back in 2007, but I have completely different academic interests. I went with UC Berkeley and have never looked back. I really like it here, I love the Bay Area and San Francisco, and I think I would have felt pretty out of my element in Ithaca.
If you like Berkeley and it’s better for engineering, I think you should think about choosing it, but at the same time, they’re both good schools, and you’re better off being happy than being at a slightly higher ranked school. They’re also both huge, as Melodie was saying, and you won’t have anybody on your back to make sure you’re going to class and doing your work, so you have to make sure to keep yourself motivated.</p>