Hello,
I'm planning to study abroad in Spain, and I'm not sure where to go.
I have friends in Barcelona and Madrid and in Malaga and they all rave about their cities.
I'm not sure if I want to go to Andalusia because of the accent and I don't like hot climates.
I want to save Madrid for grad school/work...
So, if you could choose, Barcelona or Valencia?

I would choose Valencia. You can go to Barcelona for a weekend if you wish (it's three hours by train) and Valencia is not so big without being small either. When do you plan to stay ? Valencia can be very hot in summer but Barcelona too.
I would feel more comfortable for a study trip in a city like Valencia or Malaga than in a big one like Barcelona. It's easier to move around, meet people...lots of nightlife also

I'm planning on a fall or spring semester...but not the summer.

How big is Valencia? is it like boston, or smaller?

I'm Spanish (live near Valencia) I don't know how big Boston is It is the third biggest city of Spain, after Madrid and Barcelona, around a million inhabitants.

I would go to Valencia as well. I live in Barcelona now and did my master's work here. Luckily I already learned Spanish in a high school exchange year in Alicante because here I speak Catalan all the time. You have to know that it has a big role in your life here, so if you are going for language, Valencia is better. Valenciano is not so prevelant.

Claire

If you want to learn Spanish, then don't choose Barcelona. First language there is Catalan.
Valencia sounds well, although I don't know the city itself, I love the whole region. Beautiful light, delicious Mediterranean food...

Well, I'm not too concerned about Catalan. I mean, I don't speak it, but I do speak Spanish and Italian and will pick up French, so it won't be too foreign to me.
If i were to go to barcelona I would plan to study catalan anyway.
Is the language barrier that much of a hassle? Is the language that prominent? Is catalan more common in the wealthier class or the lower classes, or is it spread out?

I have a year to think about it...and I thought that I was going to choose barcelona, but now everyone is going for valencia...I met a boy my age from there and he was quite nice.

it is as prominent as english in england It's also spoken in Valencia (valenciano) but not so much as in Barcelona.
Anyway, most everybody talks spanish too in Barcelona. Nothing to do with social classes. They are bilingual and prefer to use catalan ,that's all