UCB vs. Santa Clara Univeristy

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
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<p>I have already been accepted to Berkeley, and I am on the waitlist for UC Davis and Santa Clara. I just got a call that I could be put off the wait-list from Santa Clara and I have to decide by tomorrow. </p>

<p>I know this forum is biased because it is a Berkeley forum, but what do the students here have to say about the large classroom size and competitiveness at Berkeley? Is it worth it when finding a job or going to graduate school in the future? Unfortunately, I have to choose one of these schools by tomorrow so could you guys please help me out. For those of you that have friends at santa clara. How does their experience compare to your experience at berkeley?</p>

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<p>I’ve lived in Santa Clara for a number of years. The people I know who go to SCU enjoy it. I’ve been on the campus a few times and its pretty nice (a lot nicer than Berkeley, I’ll tell you that). Plus the area is really nice and calm; Santa Clara in general is safe. </p>

<p>However, since it is a private school, it is more expensive. If money isn’t really an issue and you want smaller class sizes and easier, less competitive classes go to Santa Clara.</p>

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<p>This is really dumb. Santa Clara is no match to Berkeley. It is not even close.</p>

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<p>^ I was trying to avoid saying that, but yeah…what he said.</p>

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<p>Yeah… surprising you got into Cal but are waitlisted for SC/Davis. I have never heard that before.</p>

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<p>(You spelled University wrong in the title. :slight_smile: ) </p>

<p>Santa Clara University:
Small classes
Expensive (50kish, depending on how much gift aid they gave you); many people have said that the education in De Anza is the same as the education in Santa Clara, just that De Anza is much cheaper.
Closer relationship with the teachers (this varies actually, depends on what type of student you are)
Competition is not as high; in the engineering department, SCU is hard, but obviously Cal is much harder.
SCU is much better for pre-med than SCU.
VERY clean and INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL campus (SMALL though)<br>
Easy to get your courses (more so than Berkeley)
Safe community
You can most likely get a high GPA if you WORK at it; the pre-med counselor is really great at SCU. He said that if you take a year off after SCU (volunteering and such) and you have a 3.5 GPA+ with a 30+ MCAT, you’re 100% set for medical school (obviously, there are many exceptions).
Easy to graduate in 4 years. </p>

<p>UC Berkeley
Great reputation
Large class size
Lots of trash on campus; nice, beautiful buildings
Better professors (Won Nobel Prizes and such) -> harder to have a close relationship with your teacher, some are concerned with their research
Lots of competition
Most discussions are taught by TA’s.
Difficult to get the classes you WANT (general ed courses, such as Chem 1A or something)
Business and engineering departments are GREAT, but EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.
If you’re coming in for pre-med, you better not come at all - Berkeley is well-known for killing your GPA (if you had the option of UCLA, you might go there?)
LOTS of hobos…and some crime (gun-point, robbery)
You might need to graduate in 4.5-5 years. </p>

<p>You also need to think about AFTER you graduate. Do you think that your boss would hire you if you came from SCU…or Berkeley? Obviously, it seems like Berkeley is much better, but you can still manage to get a decent job at SCU as well. If you want an easier lifestyle, SCU might be for you - it’ll be easier than Berkeley, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be hard for you either. And, what about your major? Maybe choose the college with the better program? </p>

<p>For medical school - the admission department is aware how difficult the Berkeley classes are, BUT GPA is the MOST important factor. Even though you have a 3.3 GPA in Cal, someone from SCU with a 3.6 GPA may get in, rather than you. </p>

<p>For business - they look at the college you go to (but I don’t know that much about it, sorry). </p>

<p>I chose Berkeley, and I’m looking into a medical career. I chose Berkeley because the community was fit for me; for instance, I could connect with the people easily. SCU, on the other hand, was really similar to my old school, so it felt like I was back in high school (which I didn’t really want). I know it’ll be tough (science classes are killer), but I decided that working hard at Berkeley is better than wasting my time in SCU, not that SCU is a bad school. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Generally, it is also well-known that the college you go to is not very important, when getting a job. It is the GRADUATE PROGRAM that you attend is the MOST important. </p>

<p>Do NOT make a decision based on how prestigious Cal isl; base your decision off of what is best for YOU as a person; you’re gong to stay there for the next 4 years, so be careful. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>(Post where you’re going on here, so we know your decision! :slight_smile: )</p>

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<p>Wow thanks so much. I really appreciate the time you took to write all that. It has definitely influence my decision. I am actually considering being pre med meaning I would be an MCB major at Berkeley or a psychology and biology double major at Santa Clara. MCB at Berkeley is ranked higher then even Stanford so I am assuming I will do better on the MCAT if I go to Berkeley. As of now Berkeley seems like a better fit. I only have a couple more days to decide, but qwanie, you chose to be pre- health at Berkeley. What is it like? Would chem 1a be a good choice for first semester classes, or would would someone without a chem AP background benefit from a different course? Any specific professors/classes I should look out for that are interesting or unnecessary? Is there good pre- med advising at Berkeley? Pre-med clubs? I’m interested in MCB but would another major be better if I want to get the best GPA I can get for med school?</p>

<p>And for anyone who has any good info about the sciences at Berkeley -best classes/ professors to take- please feel free to post. It would be much appreciated. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Page 5 of the [MCB</a> handbook](<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/images/stories/forms/handbook/mcbhandbook.pdf]MCB”>http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/images/stories/forms/handbook/mcbhandbook.pdf) describes AP credit. MCB lets you use a 4 or 5 on AP Chemistry for Chemistry 1A, which is commonly taken first semester by intended MCB majors.</p>

<p>However, medical schools typically do not accept AP credit for pre-med courses. Ask the medical schools and on the pre-med forum about what kind of more advanced chemistry course you would have to take if you skip Chemistry 1A.</p>

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<p>I have a couple friends who go to Santa Clara and have visited them, Santa Clara is more relaxed then Berkeley and less prestigious. SCU does have a pretty good setup, with a lot people living right next to Campus. When I was there a lot of people were outside on their lawns playing BP and beer die, so if your into that kind of atmosphere its great. Berkeley’s science programs are also infamous for being extremely cutthroat, and has a nasty grade curve.</p>

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<p>UCB for sure. academics/athletics rule. second to stanford?</p>

<p>scu is good too but probably no match for berkeley</p>

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<p>My roommate here at Cal started at Santa Clara, but then transferred to Berkeley. He’s an EECS major. He seems to be doing well here.</p>

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<p>If I may ask, what are your stats? I was accepted to Santa Clara, but have not heard back from Cal. I am a bit confused as to why you were waitlisted Santa Clara, but accepted Cal. Is there something Cal especially looks for that you have?</p>

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<p>This thread is a year old by the way :P!</p>