Cornell vs. UC Berkeley for Engineering Physics

[minalogy]

I was very fortunate to get into both Cornell (with the Meinig Scholarship) and Berkeley (with the Regents Scholarship) and have the difficult decision of choosing between the two.
While I know Berkeley is known for its engineering and physics programs, Cornell is apparently strong in that field and its environment feels a lot safer.
If anyone can give insight or anything else, it would be much appreciated!

 

[phinds]

Well, Feynman left Cornell and went to CA because of the miserable winters in Ithaca. That should tell you something

 

[berkeman]

Congrats on your very impressive scholarship offers.

To the point by @phinds -- have you visited both campuses? Have you visited them in the winter?

Full disclosure -- I went from my undergrad at UCDavis in NorCal to my graduate MSEE year in Michigan under scholarship, and was able to layer up to deal with the winters...

 

[Vanadium 50]

Berkeley is in a major metropolitan area. Hop on the BART and you can be in San Francisco in no time. Cornell...um...is not.

The crime rate in Berkeley is 35% higher than Ithaca. Is that significant? Maybe. It certainly has more homeless, and it certainly has more demonstrations that are, as they say, "mostly peaceful".

Academically, both are excellent.

 

[DaveE]

Look into housing availability and cost. The Bay Area is difficult in that regard. It's a great place to live, but everyone else wants to live there too.
Academically, I don't think it matters. They are both great schools.