As petty as it may seem, I didn't realize this until someone mentioned it to me my first semester here. Knowing me, no matter how perfectly everything could theoretically have gonna during my time at UCLA, I knew that the second something went wrong, no matter how insignificant (not getting a research position, not being able to register for a major class I wanted), I would undoubtedly think in my head "Well, of course, that's because we're not the first. I bet this wouldn't have happened at Berkeley."

Is it ridiculous? Maybe, but it's much easier long-term to live down taking an opportunity and potentially finding out it wasn't the best for you, vs taking a safer option but potentially not letting your wings spread, and regretting it later.