As i type this I can’t help but feel a bit embarrassed to be asking for help from people who may not care at all. Yet i come hat in hand anyway. I have a huge dilemma that I need the answer to by May 1.
While I am unsure of the major I would certainly like to pursue, one topic that has piqued my interest is Agriculture and plant sciences. As such, I have been accepted to these Colleges: Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, Hamilton College. Tuition is not an issue for me as I have received similar financial aid packages from all. I’ve visited Hamilton and that’s all, but I truly fell in love with the small town atmosphere and the scenery and the feeling that it’s a great school. Yet, I’m left to wonder if a liberal arts education is the right way to go if I want a science major, especially one so specific. I don’t want to necessarily go to Davis based on the assumption I’ll do agriculture because I’m scared i’ll change it once at school and I’ll end up at a mediocre school for any subject other than agriculture and veterinary studies. Berkely has a good name and all and they actually do have my major sort of, but you know, it’s not the best in the field.
UCB and Hamilton each receive a type of recognition for their academic quality in "The 50 Smartest Colleges" by Business Insider (online). This should not mean that much to you, but you may be at the stage where you would appreciate some validating factors.
Hamilton's curriculum is evenly balanced across sciences and math (students major in math at a rate about 5X the national average), humanities and fine arts and social sciences. This is a great school for science (with a great science building), but could be a particularly good choice if you have an interest in exploring a wide range of subjects both inside and outside science. Worth noting, Hamilton graduates have been honored with prizes in science such as the Nobel. Their students have been acknowledged for their research with awards such as the Apker (physics).
While a college such as Hamilton would certainly give you a solid foundation in plant physiology, the study of agriculture specifically would have to be either a guided study, internship or post-graduate pursuit. In a field that is not widely taught to undergraduates in general, such as agriculture, however, Hamilton would not be different than even many large universities in this regard.
UCD is of course known for fields such as agricultural sciences and botany. Though UCD is not a specialty university, it has aspects of being one. Nevertheless, I'd think you could find some good offerings there in fields as diverse as economics, English/writing, studio art and anthropology.
UCLA is a good school, and I can see why you applied there, but in the end will probably lose out to one of the other three.
As an organizing strategy, you may first want to choose your favorite between Hamilton and UCB, and then compare this school to UCD. Or, compare your favorite betweem UCB and UCD, and then compare this school to Hamilton. Either or both approaches could provide you with nascent clarity.