@Otterma @ucbalumnus Darn, should’ve applied to UCSB!! 
@prezbucky I’d be totally open to try something new; I’ve never actually experienced 4 seasons in my life. SoCal born and raised!
@areid411 That’s what I’m thinking; the “standing out” part is what is most attractive for me with Purdue. But Berkeley is Berkeley, and I get the feeling that I’m going to have to decide whether I want to be average at an excellent school or (maybe) oustanding at a good school. Perhaps I am mistaken about using the terms “good” and “excellent,” but at least in my life, that has been the attitude I have seen others have towards these two schools.
@roethlisburger I would be excited to live in either area. Yes, I am thinking I may want to do a joint nuclear-mechanical engineering major if I go to Cal, but I have to check on the logistics of making that happen.
@ucbalumnus Thanks for the advice, I’ll check it out for sure. Have you (or anyone you know) had experience with changing majors within the College of Engineering at Berkeley? Is it difficult? easy? heavily dependent on gpa?