How far is it from Berkeley Amtrak to UC Berkeley?

UC Davis vs UC Berkeley?

• Hey everybody, this is pretty long but please hear me out.  So I need to decide between attending UC Davis and UC Berkeley next fall. Davis gave me a Regent Scholarship as well as another scholarship both totaling about $15,000. Berkeley gave me about $5500 and money is definitely a determining factor since my older brother is going to UC Santa Barbara without any financial aid. I know the logical choice would be going to UC Davis but I want to know as much as I can about both schools before submitting my SIR. I plan to major in Environmental Science, both schools have a good reputation in it. I have a small list for each school but I would like everyone's input and opinions. Berkeley: I hear Cal for undergraduate is quite competitive and cutthroat - meaning lots of stress and time studying. Some professors are disengaged i.e. don't really care that you're there plus it is hard to stand out from thousands of other students. I visited a few years ago but don't remember much aside from people with pale faces quietly walking between classes without much interaction but I will be going to Cal Day. Does prestige factor alone outweigh the cost of attending?  Davis: Everyone seems friendly and helpful - seems to be more laid back- more parties/fun? perhaps a little easier than Berkeley but still challenging nonetheless. I know people say it's a cow town but I've already visited and it seemed pretty nice. The most positive aspects are the Regent Scholarship which puts me in the Integrated Studies Honors Program(could anyone tell me how helpful this is?) I know they are both extremely good schools but I want to get the right fit. This might not apply to some people's answers but what are the social/dating scenes like? I enjoy studying but I like to let off a little steam on the weekends, party a little, but nothing excessive. Lastly, this may seem a bit shallow, but how are the girls? I've heard good and bad things and I want to sort out truth from rumor. Thanks for readi

• Answer:

  They're both great schools--congratulations on getting in and getting offered scholarships! I'm a graduate advisor, and I can tell you that either school will look good on your record. If you're thinking about graduate school, undergraduate research opportunities and faculty recommendations can make a big difference. Can you get any feel for which department will offer you the best opportunities there? That honors program could open some doors and give you chances to work with some really good faculty, early on, while a lot of undergrads are just seeing those professors from the back of a huge lecture hall. Davis is going to have a lower cost of living than Berkeley. There are something like 16 trains a day from Davis to Oakland, where you can catch BART to just about anywhere in the Bay Area--so even if it is a little less urban, you can get somewhere more interesting pretty quickly and easily. I'm a little old to be able to tell you much about the social life either place. But just generally, they're both big universities--so there will be a lot of it! And women are women, wherever you go--I don't think you can generalize all that much about vast differences in the ones at those two schools.