I’m torn between the two schools at the moment. I’m leaning toward UCB because it’s farther from home (new experiences) and it has a better program for my major with more interesting classes, however I’m not sure if I want to go. I plan on living in Los Angeles after college, which would mean leaving behind the friends I make at Berkeley. I currently have no friends here in LA, so having a strong social environment and maintaining friendships after school is important to me.
Would it make sense to go to Berkeley anyway?
You have foresight. Most UC students continue living in the area near the UC they went to because the majority of them grew up nearby. In terms of both maintaining friendships made in college and the local job prospects, being at the UC within that area is best.
Although many graduates stay in the regions of their colleges (and recruiting by smaller companies tends to be stronger at local schools), many UCB students come from southern California and return there after graduation, and many UCLA students come from northern California and return there after graduation.
Of course, ppl come from all over, but statistically more students go to the UC closer to their homes, and statistically more stay in the area afterwards. Definitely recruiting is local. That’s not to say you cannot, or won’t, move later, but all in all if you plan to remain after college, your thinking ahead about job recruitment and friend retention, going to school in the same area will serve you better and allow continuity at least for the short term.
I know at least 12 families whose kids went away to college, moved back home and they lost a ton of friends who were from the other area. Every parent cited it as a negative - at least starting out direct from college. Things can always change later.
And plenty of top companies are recruiting in LA. Needless to say the film and TV industries recruit tons. I know several kids who got jobs with the big entertainment firms/agencies by being in LA.