<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>The title pretty much says it all; though, I should also mention that I am a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship winner (that’s a mouthful!). So, wherever I attend I’ll basically be going full-ride. Also, because the JKCF scholarship provides for up to three years of undergraduate study, I’m considering a double-major in philosophy, global studies, or something of the like. </p>
<p>Additionally, my ultimate goal is to either attend graduate school for history and a career in academia or to attend a top law school and a career in international law.</p>
<p>With all of that said, my question is: should I attend UCLA or UC Berkeley as a history major? (Beyond simply the US News College Rankings) </p>
<p>I had the same issue, Pre-History@UCLA or Cal. I decided not to apply to Berkley. I applied to UCLA,UCI,UCSD. I got my answers yesterday, I got into all 3. So, I am going to go to UCLA(Obviously). I did not apply to Cal because I live in LA, and I did not want to move out that far, that was a personal choice(with UCI or UCSD, I could at least be home for the weekends). As for academics goes, they both have fantastic history programs. The departments are top-notch. You have two of the best school’s in the state and the country. You will have no problem going to law school if you graduate from either one of these schools(Of course, your LSAT score will also play a role in getting into the law school of your choice). At times, I believe more than academics are involved in choice of school when both schools are prestigious and competitive. </p>
<p>Campus
UCLA>Berkley… </p>
<p>Weather(Yes weather, if you have lived in LA all your life, it is important)
Westwood>Berkley</p>
<p>Student Life.
Again, UCLA>Berkley. You will be near Hollywood and will have plenty to due, since you can take Sunset and enjoy the perks of what Hollywood has to offer. </p>
<p>Granted, I am quite bias since I live in LA, and have wanted to go to UCLA since I was a child, but I am not being overly bias in my judgement here. </p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck, and hope you prosper with the choice you make. Take care.</p>
<p>@Tik1127 Thanks for the reply! I too have lived in Southern California for most of my life; though, I did spend about 6 years in northern California when I was in grade school. I have also been a Bruins fan and dreamt of attending UCLA since I was young. </p>
<p>I agree with you that the weather is better in LA, but I cannot comment on the student life because I have yet to visit Berkeley; however, I assume that they are both good in this regard given their proximity to great, albeit very different cities. </p>
<p>I suppose what I am more concerned with is turning down UC Berkeley at my own expense, academically speaking. My history professor, with whom I have worked closely over the last two years, told me that UC Berkeley has the “Holy Grail” of history departments and that I should really consider them if I am accepted. </p>
<p>At the moment, my heart is set on UCLA, but my mind is still mulling things over. (I’ve already been accepted to UCLA, still waiting to hear back from Berkeley)</p>