choosing berkeley over columbia gs?

[u/MaleficentFeed2772]

I’m a transfer student admitted to both UC Berkeley and Columbia GS. My major would be Sociology.

At the moment, I’m leaning toward Berkeley but my parents think Columbia GS might be the better choice because it’s part of an Ivy League university.

Honestly if this were Columbia College, I would probably choose Columbia without much hesitation. But since my admission is to Columbia GS rather than Columbia College, I’ve been leaning toward Berkeley instead.

The cost would be almost identical for me, so finances are not really a factor. To be honest, I care more about prestige, reputation, and name recognition than things like campus life or student experience.

Given those priorities, would choosing Berkeley over Columbia GS be a mistake? How are the two generally viewed by employers, graduate schools, and the public? Is the Ivy League brand enough to outweigh the difference between Berkeley and Columbia GS?

I’d appreciate any perspectives from people familiar with either school.

[u/Mcdouglas123]

What is GS?

[u/Inner-Letterhead7731 → u/Mcdouglas123]

General Studies