Which is easier? Snowboarding or skiing?

I'm going to the snow in the next few weeks on a week long school excursion it holds every year. They're giving us the option to either ski or snowboard. But I've never been to the snow before and thus, I've never done either. So for a beginner, which is easier? I will say right now that I don't have the best balance but I have read a few things that snowboarding, while very hard on the first day or two, is a lot easier to pick up then skiing. Is this true?