Has anyone in the history of the world ever chosen UC Santa Cruz over UC Berkeley? People are going to think it’s insane but after touring both campuses I feel like Cal is so snobby and elitist. But if I got into both would it be insane to turn down Cal for UCSC?
No, you are not insane. A happy student is a successful student. Go to the school where you feel the most comfortable academically/socially and financially.
I’d ask whether I can get my classes at both campuses. I expect that UCSC has better access to core courses, but that’s not entirely clear. Maybe if you can get honors at UCSC? I’m pretty sure that they have an honors college or two. You may also get priority for your required class at registration. I’d choose UCSC because it’s much more pretty, too! Another thought: Which campus has professors that you’d prefer to work with and will you have access to them? Just double check that UCSC has profs like that. I have a feeling that they are also more accessible than at Berkeley. But again these are just gut feelings and worth checking out before you make a decision.
May depend on whether your intended major is more competitive to get into at one compared to the other.