<p>Hi guys ~_~
I’m in pretty dire need of decision right now… May 27. D:< AH.</p>
<p>I took the advice and visited UOP, Cal, and Scripps (didn’t have time or transportation to UCI). It cleared a lot of things up but I still can’t decide. I’m stuck between Berkeley and Scripps.</p>
<p>Scripps:</p>
<p>PROS
Cheaper (4k over 4 years)
Stable tuition
More opportunity for research, to stand out
More supportive environment</p>
<p>CONS
Too small, claustrophobic atmosphere
Less networking
Less suitable community
Less career options
Less exciting</p>
<p>CAL</p>
<p>PROS
Name recognition
Actual compatibility with the people there
More interesting career options
Opportunity to pursue pre-optom activities
Taking a challenge</p>
<p>CONS
Higher cost
Unstable tuition
I’m a number/surrounded by big fish
Less supportive environment
Grade deflation and possible academic overwhelming</p>
<p>In a nutshell, Scripps is way too small, but Berkeley is too academically intense.</p>
<p>I want to go to Berkeley for the social aspect, but I have VERY real fear that I won’t be able to handle the workload. In high school, I was already doing too many all nighters to withstand it and I had to drop out of IB and take part-time CCC instead. It could be very stupid of me to put myself in that situation again, but I have a hard time forcing myself to go to Scripps anyway. Both times I visited my experience was very bad and the girls there simply aren’t my type of people, although I can force myself to muster up a small circle.</p>
<p>A side note about media studies: not a viable option for me at either Berkeley or Scripps. Berkeley’s is theory-oriented, which I’m not too interested in, and Scripps’ is production-oriented but simply awful and myopic. I still can’t understand why a supposedly high-standard school would have end up with something so bewilderingly unprofessional.</p>