University of California - Berkeley - Campus Housing - Campus Housing

C+

Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankings Review this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available?		Yes
Campus Housing Capacity		7,647
Undergrads Living On Campus		35%
Number of Dormitories		8
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments		4
Best Dorms		Clark Kerr Campus Unit 1
Worst Dorms		Stern

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Most students associate the dorms with freshman year. Sophomores have the option to apply for second-year housing, but most opt to live off campus because it is less expensive and offers more freedom. Although incoming freshmen are asked about their lifestyles and housing preferences, so many students prefer the Units (Units 1, 2, and 3) that there isn't enought room to accommodate everyone who requests it. That said, social students in Stern, Bowles, or Foothill are sure to let you know that they “got stuck there.” Clark Kerr’s Spanish missionary architecture and Harry Potter-style dining hall offer the Ivy rejects some consolation and seem to attract many of Cal’s wealthier students.

Even though roommates are randomly matched, most pairs get along fine. The Units and Clark Kerr are all coed and have coed bathrooms, which means showering, brushing your teeth, and going to the bathroom next to your new neighbors—so everyone become family very quickly. To add to the social atmosphere, the Units are also closest to Telegraph Avenue—arguably the "Berkeleyest" part of Cal—and to the Greek system, which dominates the freshman-year party scene. Whether or not you love your roommate or housing location, it’s hard not to appreciate dorm life as a central part of freshman year. Most people make friends with people on their floor, and will say hi to people from their freshman dorm even as a senior. The dorm is a safety net, of sorts because even if your dormmates aren’t your best friends, it’s still nice to see familiar faces on campus and have people to sit with at Crossroads.

UC Berkeley Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Campus Housing at University of California - Berkeley

mgalinato

Toxicology '15

B+

Unit 1 - Freeborn

The only problem with Freeborn is that there's only one elevator. Every so often it breaks and students end up having to use the stairs (If you live on the 8th floor, it's a workout).

However, I really liked the building. Everyone is friendly, easy to talk to and and the building is substance free, so you don't have to deal with stinky odors as much.

May 27, 2012

Comment actions: Rate

Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at University of California - Berkeley

marshesmi

Architecture '15

B+

Cramped

I lived in a triple and we had very little room an storage space. The bigger rooms cost way too much and often farther from campus.

May 22, 2012

Comment actions: Rate

Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at University of California - Berkeley

susiemelania

Political Science and Government '12

A-

Social Atmosphere

Berkeley is known for its open-mindedness. The fascinating variety of school clubs on campus are a great alternative to a social life beyond the Greek environment. No ethnic background is required to enroll, say, for the Indian Student Association other than a true interest in the region and in hanging out Indian style. Everyone is welcome as well as ideas and a god time. Berkeley does not have clubs other than three hang outs where minimal dancing goes on, but the clubs always put up great socials and their members great house parties that don't stray way from a healthy and fun party.

Apr 19, 2012

Comment actions: Rate

Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

What do you think of your school? Register to submit reviews to let others know what it's really like »

First

User rating for University of California - Berkeley - Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 54 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types		Doubles Quads (available only in Bowles Hall) Singles Some doubles/triples joined into suites with shared bathroom and common area Triples
Bed Types		Twin extra-long
What You Get		Bookshelf Cable TV Carpet Closet Desk and chair Dresser Ethernet access General lighting Mirror Window coverings

Available for Rent

MicroFridges

Cleaning Service

Hallway, common room and bathroom cleaning only

Did You Know?

Berkeley is the only UC campus to offer a lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender-themed residential program.
When a Berkeley professor invented the new energy-efficient light bulbs, everyone in campus housing was able to trade in their old bulbs for free.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Bowles
Number of Occupants: 192
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: No, men only
Room Types: Quads
Special Features: Library, TV lounge, recreation room, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff, access to Academic Center with computers at Foothill, laundry facilities, also resembles a castle. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Clark Kerr Campus
Number of Occupants: 818
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes, except for suites
Room Types: Single, double, triple-person connected with other singles, doubles, or triples (suites)
Special Features: Single-sex suites with shared bathroom, dining center with outdoor patios, Academic Center with computers, Security Monitor Program, recreation rooms, study lounges, laundry facilities, outdoor pool, sand volleyball, tennis courts, track, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Foothill
Floors: Seven coed buildings
Number of Occupants: 776
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Single, double, triple suites with three to eleven bedrooms
Special Features: Academic Center with computers, dining center in commons building, assembly rooms, TV lounge, mail services, laundry facilities, recreation area, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Stern
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 267
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: No, women only
Room Types: Single, double, double rooms in suites
Special Features: Main lounge with fireplace and grand piano, recreation area, laundry facilities, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff, Security Monitor Program, Academic Center with computers, dining in adjoining Foothill Dining Center. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Unit 1
Floors: 8 in each of four high-rises
Number of Occupants: 237 per building
Bathrooms: Coed bathrooms shared by floor, single-sex bathrooms shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Single, double, triple, triple-room suite
Special Features: Single-sex floors, sixteen floor lounges with balconies, main lounge with fireplaces, Security Monitor Program, laundry facilities, dining center, recreation area, vending/ice machines and live-in health workers, live-in hall staff, Academic Center with computers, houses the African American theme program. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Unit 2
Floors: 8 in each of four high-rises
Number of Occupants: 230 per building
Bathrooms: Coed bathrooms shared by floor, single-sex bathrooms shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Single, double, triple, triple-room suite
Special Features: Single-sex floors available, sixteen floor lounges with balconies, main lounge with fireplace, Academic Center with computers, academic support and tutoring programs, Security Monitor Program, laundry facilities, recreation area, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff. All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

Unit 3
Floors: 8 in each of four high-rises
Number of Occupants: 230 per building
Bathrooms: Coed bathrooms shared by floor, single-sex bathrooms shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Single, double, triple, triple-room suite
Special Features: Lounges with balconies, main lounge with fireplace, dining center, Academic Center with computers, Security Monitor Program, laundry facilities in central commons building, recreation area, vending/ice machines, live-in health workers, live-in hall staff, houses Spens-Black Hall (rooming for upper-division and transfer students). All University buildings are designated smoke-free.

University Students’ Cooperative Association (co-op)
Floors: 17 buildings with three to four floors
Number of Occupants: 1,200
Bathrooms: Shared by floor; shared by apartment
Coed: Yes
Room Types: Single, double, some triple rooms; apartments with one to four bedrooms
Special Features: Each house is independently managed by elected house members, and every member contributes work time to running the co-op. There are two co-ops for women only, a vegetarian house, a gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender theme house, and an African American theme house. One house is reserved for UC Berkeley graduate and re-entry students. For more information, visit their Web site at www.usca.org.

Campus-Owned ApartmentsWhat's This?

College Durant Apartments
Number of Units: 120
Residents: Graduate and law students only
Room Types: Two, three, four, five, or six-bedroom apartments
Special Features: Apartments furnished, phone and internet lines provided in bedrooms, common area lounges, study rooms, recreation room, vending machine room, mail room, shared outdoor courtyard, laundry room, bicycle storage

Manville Apartments
Number of Units: 132
Residents: Graduate and law students only
Room Types: Single studio-style apartments, unfurnished
Special Features: Central courtyard, secured entry and elevator, common areas, lounge, laundry facilities, mail room, three study rooms, storage spaces, limited parking spaces available for additional fees.

Smyth Fernwald Complex
Number of Units: 74
Coed: Yes
Residents: Student families
Room Types: One, two, or three bedroom apartments
Special Features: Peaceful living environment for student families

University Village, Albany
Residents: Students with families only
Room Types: 760 one, two and three bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom townhouses
Special Features: Recreational and community center, a café, laundry rooms, and child care center

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name: Meegan Brooks
Hometown: Granite Bay, CA
Major: Political science

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of California - Berkeley 2012: Off The Record"

Amazon Barnes & Noble Google Smashwords

Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

University of California - Berkeley
- Campus Housing

Yes

Maybe

No

Jump to a section:

Campus Housing

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?