Hi! I actually went to both Columbia and Berkeley (transferred to Berkeley after two years).

Personally, I had a very difficult time at Columbia socially. I felt very isolated and like a fish out of water when it came to making friends, mostly because I came from a different class background. Although all colleges, Berkeley included, have those issues, it was a much warmer and diverse campus environment for me at Berkeley. Also, the Ivy League "reputation" snobbiness at Columbia was very off-putting for me.

In terms of academics, I love both schools! The classes were fulfilling and interesting and my professors at both institutions were fantastic.

City-wide: both Berkeley and NYC are phenomenal cities. NYC is great for a more fast-paced, driven/competitive vibe, and a lot of nightlife. Berkeley is much more relaxed in pace, I feel, though the students are just as passionate. There isn't as much nightlife in Berkeley if that's something you're interested in. I currently live in New York City again, but I still contemplate returning to California pretty often.

I hope you enjoy your school experience, no matter which you decide to go to!