UCLA or UC Berkeley
i feel so deranged. i think im cooling down from my spiral but is it narcissistic of me to say that i wished ucla rejected me so im forced to go to cal
Got into ucla for business econ and cal for haas spieker. I honestly don't know which to pick.
I live in socal and have never moved. ever. Everyone I know is staying in socal too. Cal gave me more aid in terms of cost, but honestly it's not really the biggest game-changing thing compared to paying full at ucla. (I am planning to negotiate to get my tuition lowered ever more since UCSC gave even more aid.) I've visited both campuses and they both appeal equally, but I do have a bias for ucla since its socal.
ALSO, the dining hall at UCLA, I know some may say the food doesn't really matter but I'm broke and I'm not trying to spend money everytime I'm hungry and have to buy it outside of the dining hall (since people say Cal has better food outside of the school, the bay is so expensive too). This is my biggest heartbreak. I really love food guys I'm sorry.
My parents initially wanted me to go to UCLA since its 30 minutes away from home (I'm still going to dorm though) but when decisions came out and I got into Berkeley Haas Spieker, circumstances changed. I guess they're open for me to go wherever is best and the one I see myself at the most (neither, I CAN'T DECIDE)
Yes, I know spieker is literally super good for my intended career (Project Manager, Technical Sales Engineer, Operations Analyst, or Supply Chain Manager or anything similar) since its in the main channel of silicon valley, and I'm hoping to work with FAANG either way. I also would like to take engineering courses at Berkeley too like IEOR program, which I heard is easier to take if youre in a progam already and not just undergrad. I'm just so crossed on the idea of leaving home 5 hours away with no friends (I have a friend who's committing to UCLA, one to USC and 4 others at UCSD)
I just can't bring myself to fully commit. I know no one there. Initially, I was going to commit to Cal with my friend who got in for bio, but she is now planning to commit to UCSD since she is going premed, which UCSD offers more opportunities for and grades aren't deflated as it is at Cal. -> Which is also another factor to why I am conflicted. I genuinely don't know how I got into Spieker. My video was straight buns. I was so unprepared. I was spitting straight nothingburger. I was so surprised that I got into Cal (not really, i checked astro daily...) But, I feel like the grade deflation will take a toll on me. I wasn't worried in high school at all since all the courses I took were really easy (my school is relatively small and suburban), which I think, personally, didn't prepare me enough for the "cutthroat" "rigorous" courses Berkeley gives. I'm not saying UCLA would be easier, of course it's still challenging and "cutthroat", but based on what I am seeing online, its slightly easier and definitely more loose and casual compared to the descriptions of Cal students not holding doors for people....
But if I do pick UCLA, I would take business econ, which idk seems useless, I heard it's mainly econ....??????? They have a good graduate business program though, but I dont know if I would be able to take any engineering courses to put me on track for my career. Or maybe they do and I just don't know about it yet.
I did not intend to spiral and vent this long. this is so corny
I'm sorry if this comes off as self-absorbed and out of touch.
Posted Mar 30, 2026, 6:04 AM UTC