<p>I'm here reading thread on CC and all I read about is the bad things about Berkeley. The girls are ugly, everyone is anti-social, too competitive, too many hobos around the area, blah blah blah...</p>
<p>Kinda makes me nervous to go. So, any Cal students out there who really, really love it there? If so, why?</p>
<p>Hmm competition is everywhere. People are social. Girls are pretty. hobos are cool. trees are pretty. Life is good.</p>
<p>Competition is everywhere. The application process TO Berkeley is gruesome, but you didn't want the beautiful way out of applying to ____ or anything, right?</p>
<p>At ohp I saw hella cute guys and (in a none lesbian way) pretty girls. it didn't seem to me that competition was too steep...but then again, I don't compete with anyone except myself. Everyone's really nice and I was invited to some parties when i was there, so people obviously do some things at night. You'll most def get some anti-social people, but you'll have that anywhere you go.</p>
<p>I agree with 8^8, hobos are SICK! They're funny (in a non-rude way) and harmless. They start good conversations. </p>
<p>You can't beat Cal spirit or all the experiences you're bound to get....don't worry about the downers that knock it because it's gonna be what you make it.</p>
<p>i agree. college is what you make of it!</p>
<p>most of the hobos (or at least some of them) i hear, are berkeley drop outs. so they may be a little bit off, but like calrule said, they add to the environment</p>
<p>The campus is cool. EVERY major is cutthroat. The quality of education is second to none. Plus, the weather kicks butt on the East Coast (where I'm from).</p>
<p>I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Berkeley. Choosing to go there was thus far the best decision of my life!</p>
<p>Not all girls are "ugly," not everyone is anti-social, competition is only natural and only as big a deal as you make it (in my opinion), and there is no such thing as too many hobos. I really don't get the aversion to hobos.</p>
<p>I love everything. The environment, the classes, the people, the experiences, the campus, etc. Everything!</p>
<p>Ditto to kelkyann. And I'll add that the bums make very good lunchtime entertainment at Sproul. You totally don't need to pay to go to a comedy club. It's right there and it's free.</p>
<p>Anything good about the Berkeley the city?</p>
<p>^ SO much great food.</p>
<p>how about really good reputation (especially internationally)?</p>
<p>indeed .</p>
<p>I LOVE berkeley. The food, classes, professors, weather and sports are awesome. you wont find better fans anywhere. theres a thriving greek system and plenty of places to hang out and party in Berkeley and San Francisco. plus, you cant beat the prestige and credibility Berkeley holds.</p>
<p>It's a good cost-effective choice for undergrad if you cant afford to go OOS.</p>
<p>The people are very social. You walk around campus and you see many people walking together and talking or laughing. The campus is very beautiful and full of trees and grassy knolls. The city is, however, not that great but very unique. I love it and would not think of going anywhere else.</p>
<p>Who told you people here are anti-social? That's ridiculous.</p>
<p>I agree with most people about the berkeley environment. I'm from SoCal and coming up to Berkeley was certainly a new change for me that took a while to get used to. I can't say that i love berkeley yet (i am still only a first year) but i think in time, i will come to like it more and more.</p>
<p>As for the competition, it's what you think of it. If you think to yourself that everyone is out to ruin everyone else's GPA, then no matter what someone says, then that'll still be what you'll think. For me, I only compete with myself. And i still think to myself that this is college after all, not high school. Everything academically is up two notches from how it was in high school; competition/pressure is inevitable. </p>
<p>And finally about the social life, I'll say, it's what efforts you go out to make friends. Only 5 people from my high school came to Cal, and i was only close to one of them. So my first month and a half (or so) i certainly felt very lonely. It wasn't easy to make new friends; every time i walked in class I'm sitting next to someone completely different, and possibly in another year. The advice for that? Join a club! i've decided to join a school club to "spice up" my otherwise non-existent social life. And it was a decision I'm glad I made.</p>
<p>WOW, I LOVE BERKELEY. HOBOES ARE AWESOME. People in trees, and yeah some "non-decent" looking guys & girls, but as long as you look in the right places you'll find your "decent" looking people =)</p>
<p>i am a freshman at cal, and all my life i have been someone that has invested heavily in my academic AND social life. although cliche- work hard, play hard defines me.</p>
<p>and if you are anything like me, you will def love berkeley. </p>
<p>academically, the name UC Berkeley, speaks for itself. worldwide, the name prestige of berkeley rivals harvard, stanford, princeton, mit, etc. we have great professors, and even if you end up with a bad one, chances are you can get yourself into a discussion section with a good GSI, who will make up all the difference. moreover, the people here are all brilliant and motivated, and all have so many interesting characteristics. in terms of competition, yes- berkeley is a tough school, no1 will deny that, however, i would not say its cut throat. i went to a very competitive high school, and berkeley has not been harder. i have never heard of sabotage, and in general i have found people very helpful. and lets not forget nearly every single major offered at cal is top 5 in the nation. there are VERY schools that can beat that.</p>
<p>socially, there is plenty to do at cal. if you are the party type, there are parties every thrusday, friday, and saturday. and yes we do have hot girls. we arent usc, but we have have plenty of smart, cute girls, that are not *****es. the greek scene is quite big here and is extremely fun, and not too hardcore. plus you have the whole bay area at your disposal. SF is less than 30 min away. last but not least, we have a great sports scene. there is a lot of school spirit, and multiple sports events every week. football and bball games are a blast.</p>
<p>anyways good luck!</p>