University of California - Berkeley
Reviews

The World's Mixing Pot of Young Minds

On the outside, Berkeley seems like a extremist liberal school with protests always in our midst. It is true to an extent, Berkeley has been the voice of change for many years. Students here fought for racial equality and justice back in the sixties. Now students of all races and religion stand together to fight for more beliefs, such as the "Occupy" movement. Any person can find a group of the same interests, because people from all over the world come to Berkeley for school. On my walks through campus, I witness groups of dancers practicing and one night the Festival of Lights or Diwali for the people of India. Culture is celebrated here.

No "Safety"

Say the word, pull out your wallet, and "wa-la"

Number 1 Public School in the Nation

We are the underdogs--although our funding has been heavily cut from the state, we still manage to compete with schools like Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton for top programs in basically any field. Come here for any disipline-and you will be receiving a top notch education with some of the best professors in the country.

Lots of Asians

There are many different ethnic backgrounds but the majority population is Asian and there is specifically a lot more Asian food because of it.However, there is still a large variety of ethnic groups and tons of international students.

Nice Weather Overall

I actually enjoy the Berkeley weather. August and September are nice and warm, with the occasional cloudy day. The dreariest months are November and December, when it is very cold, rains a lot, and by mid December the sun goes down really early (4:30, 5:00) which is a little disconcerting. After the bad months, though, it gets a lot nicer in the spring and the flowers blooming makes everything really nice. When all is said and done, even with the rain, you still get a lot of beautiful, sunny, seventy-something degree days.

Sunny With a Chance of Mild Showers

Being in California it's generally sunny, though we occasionally experience some cold fronts from the bay and periodic rain. But I love the rain, it's a nice break to the otherwise monotonous sunshine.

Lots of Variety, Great Prices, Can Find a Great Restuarant for Every Occasion

Berkeley is a goulash of every ethnic and religious group on the planet and the food reflects that mixture. The stereotypical American fast food is top notch as well. Top Dog is the favorite snack shop at night, although the wait is long and one hot dog is rarely filling. Around that area is a massive neighborhood of every type of bar and restuarant one can think of. One of the favorites for students is Fat Slice, which is very filling, fast and cheap for the student rushing to class. Several Asian outlets line Northside and have food of every Asian nationality. For family outings, there are plenty of nice European high class style restuarants to the west side of campus. It is very hard to not give Berkeley an A+ for the off-campus food.

Pretty Diverse Campus!

Although the majority of students are asian and white, several ethnic backgrounds can be found on campus! The students on campus come from varying economic backgrounds as well. Every student has a mind of their own, which ads to the overall experience on campus!

Unit 1 FTW

Unit 1 is definitely the best dorm. Close to campus, new, nice, I lived in a giant suite. The R.A.s are friendly and helpful, there are always a lot of events. Not many people stay in the dorms after freshman year though due to the price and the abundance of apartments around campus

There's Something for Everyone

Greek life is a bigger deal than expected at Berkeley, frat parties are a pretty common aspect of the social scene and it seems like there are a lot of greeks on campus, that being said, there are plenty of people who don't join and have just as much fun in the co-ops.

Workload

The workload at UC Berkeley highly depends upon the student's major and area of speciality. As a biology and public health major, the workload is particularly heavy.

Dining Food

The food here at first is amazing! Endless upon endless amounts of food. There is a lot of variety of food throughout the week from mexican or chinese, to pizza and more! Clark Kerr dining is the best although it far from campus, then Cafe 3, then Crossraods. There are a lot of on campus stores and cafes where you can get food, that are extremely convenient! However, after a while it gets tiring so make sure you eat out side the dining hall once in a while.

Social Restrictions

Because our school is public and unlimited, policies surrounding social activity are very lax and most often encourage sociability. There are ample policies in place should social activity get out of hand or inappropriate, and campus police are very effective in curtailing violence. We feel very safe.

Crossroads

I really have a deep connection with crossroads. IT a huge cafeteria way better than any cafeteria that i have been to. The staff there are pretty laid back and are easy to carry a conversation with. I like the food there. It set up as a buffet. THEy have pizza, french fries, sandwhiches, ice cream, culteral food(depends on the day) fruit and vegetables, vegan section, meat, rice, desert. It pretty good when you dont feel like cooking. obviously, the food is not amazing or the best that i have ever tried but i mean how many college student do you know that cook for everyday?

Great Professors and Opportunities, Classes Fill up Quickly

Many of the professors here are very passionate about what they teach and usually have some exceptional past accomplishments. Obviously there is always the occasional lecturer/professor who just don't captivate their students at all, but if you do your research you can usually avoid those professors. What can be frustrating at Berkeley though is the registration process. Classes fill up quickly, and if you have a bad appointment time for class signups, you may find yourself on a huge waiting list that you sometimes never get off of. Overall, though, I am very satisfied with the academics here. Lots of people also study abroad, which is a great opportunity!

Awesome Bay Area Weather

The weather here is fairly mild, being as UC Berkeley is right next to the San Francisco Bay. In the summer, it will be fairly warm, but will not get above 90. In the late winter, it will be rainy and cold, but never cold enough to snow. The weather is diverse enough to keep it interesting, without being extreme enough to be uncomfortable.

Life at Cal

For me this experience has been amazing. Living on my own away from my family has been hard but very much worth while. I live in the dorms more specifically the all girl dorm. All I have to say about it is don't dismiss the option. If you are a person who needs quiet time to study definitely Stern is the place to go. All of Unit four is perfect for that. If you want more of a social atmosphere then the Units one, two and three are right for you. All I can say is from my personal experience but I love living in stern for one since I am a science major all my classes are super close by. I am literally a minute away from some of my classes. Berkeley is a huge school so proximity of classes is important. Aside from that another plus to living in Stern is you get to hear the concerts that happen in the Greek Theater for free because we are located right next to the Theater. Another plus about Stern is that the rooms are much larger than the other Units which makes a difference when living with one or two other people. Campus live is easy going people are always doing something and you will see how relaxed the campus atmosphere is. We are located about an hour by bus from San Francisco. The public transportation is good enough that you can get around without a car. Berkeley is amazing and is a place that any one can call home. There is a place for everyone and a club that can fit whatever your interests maybe. We are not all hippies if thats a deciding factor you better rethink those reasons. Berkeley is a place where everyone can find out who they are and be free to explore that.

It's Awesome

The dining halls offer really great food. They have a variety of selections. They have typical American food, Indian food, Chinese food, Thai food and much more. Sometimes they offer special menu which includes sushi and seafood. The best place, I think, is crossroads. It's the most convenient dinging hall and the workers there are very friendly. I also have many options about using the meal plan dollars, such as teapot, lotions, cups, and study materials.

Beauty and Brains

Berkeley is known for it's prestige and rigorous academics. It's no surprise that even the people who party day and night manage to get good grades and stay up all night to prepare for exams. Cal's greek life is full of fun and is comprised of those who know how to have fun and use their brains.

Social Life

Interesting life. There are awful some interesting characters, and things are not dull all the time.

Every Type of Food Imaginable

Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Mexican, Italian, Persian ... you name it, we have it. There's a huge range of budget to upscale dining in Berkeley, but the quality can be hit or miss. A certifiable hit? West Coast Pizza's cheesy sticks. Late night delivery. It's food of the gods.

Homeless People

There are a large number of homeless people on campus and outside of campus. There is always something happening with them and your day will always be extravagant because of them. Usually they are kind but they can be crazy. DONT WALK BY YOURSELF AT NIGHT

Dorms

living in the dorms might be a good idea freshman year but beyond that its a rip off

Repetitive and Poor Quality

The food at the residence halls is pretty lower-scale average. You can easily get tired of eating it over and over again and need to find other places (eating out) which Berkeley has plenty of.

In terms of value, you aren't getting that much bang for your buck when you order meals from the dining commons, so I recommend living at a co-op or choosing a different option.

Okay

Computers are decent and we can get work finished on it.