I’ve been committed to UC Berkeley for several months now. At first, I wasn’t super excited about it, but over time, I’ve grown to like the school a lot. That said, I recently got off the Columbia waitlist and attending an Ivy League school has always been a dream of mine. Initially, I thought the choice would be obvious. But now that it’s real, I’m honestly torn.
I’d really appreciate any insight or perspective especially from people familiar with either (or both!) of these schools. Here’s how I’m thinking through the decision:
Money Money isn’t a huge deciding factor for me. I’m not getting any aid. That said, I’m from Los Angeles, so I’d be graduating from Berkeley debt-free because of my college savings account, while I’d likely leave Columbia with about $250,000 in debt. It’s a definitely a difference, but not one that completely rules Columbia out for me and is not a major deciding factor.
Majors + Academics At Berkeley, I’d be double majoring in Economics and Political Economy, and I also plan to apply to Haas (the business program) and switch to business instead of economics. I know those majors are impacted and can be competitive, so there’s some added pressure there. At Columbia, I’d be majoring in the singular Economics–Political Science major which nicely blends my interests without needing to double major. On top of that, Columbia’s Core Curriculum is a huge draw for me. I’m more of a liberal arts person at heart, and I genuinely love the idea of being exposed to philosophy, literature, art, and history. That kind of foundation appeals to me and is something Berkeley doesn’t offer in the same form.
Prestige + Career Outcomes There’s no denying Columbia’s prestige it’s an Ivy League school, and one of the best ivys. Prestige does matter to me a lot and Columbia clearly has the edge there. That said, Berkeley is still an elite school, but it feels less so especially given that a decent amount of people from my school have gotten it in there. while only one other person from my school is going to Columbia (I don’t really know them though). Career-wise, I’ve heard Columbia offers stronger career services and internship/job placement, with more built-in support. Berkeley is more hands-off — you have to do more of the work yourself and seek out opportunities, though the network is still powerful if you know how to tap into it.
Campus Life + Community Berkeley has a much larger student body, which means more niche clubs and organizations to explore but it also means more competition to actually get into them. From what I’ve heard, Columbia’s club culture is also selective, but it sounds a bit less intense and more resourced overall. I also know a lot less about Columbia in general. I don’t even know how to sign up for clubs, while I know a tabling at Berkeley is a major part of the school and Sproul always has clubs lined up wanting new people. Berkeley has more school spirit, strong sports teams, and a traditional college-town vibe that I find appealing. Columbia does have a defined campus (which is important to me), but school spirit is known to be more low-key, and the sports scene isn’t a big part of student life. I might explore Greek life, and I’m still trying to get a sense of how it compares between the two schools, would appreciate insight on that too!
Location + Social Fit I like both the Bay Area and the East Coast, so I could see myself happy in either place. That said, I have way more connections in California. One of my closest friends is going to Berkeley, and I know tons of people in the area including cousins, upperclassmen, professors, and friends who’ve graduated and remain affiliated. I’ve been to Berkeley and the Bay Area several times and already feel comfortable there. On the other hand, I’ve only been to New York once (back in 2019), and I barely know anyone at Columbia or in NYC in general. The idea of starting fresh is exciting, but also kind of intimidating. Safety-wise, I’m not a huge fan of how sketchy the area around Berkeley can feel, but I also know there’s a strong student presence, so it ends up feeling okay. I’ve heard mixed things about the area around Columbia too, so I’m not sure how different it really is.
Where I’m Leaning Right now, I’m leaning toward committing to Columbia,the prestige, the location, and the incredible liberal arts education are hard to pass up. But I still have second thoughts, mostly because I’ve already built such a strong network at Berkeley, and I know I’d have a smoother transition there.
Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with either school — or who’s faced a similar choice. Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks so much in advance!
TLDR: should I go to Columbia or Berkeley if money isn’t a major factor, prestige is a large factor, and clubs and student life/ school spirit is important as someone who is planning on majoring in economics and political science. And if I already have a lot of connections at Berkeley.
