<p>judging from this forum, it seems like most people aren't really happy at or with ucb. they seem like "eh its an ok school" but not really like they love it. this seems very contrasting with how people seem to feel towards a lot of other schools (the ivies, northwestern, etc). is this a common sentiment with ucb? and why?</p>
<p>TBVH, it really is a common sentiment. I don’t know why. For me, it’s the location - not a big fan of Hobo town.</p>
<p>Many Berkeley students make their own life at Cal. They create their own activities. Their memories of Cal often involve their fellow schoolmates/orgmates rather than the school. Berkeley is a people school. Very contrasting to what the atmosphere is like at most private schools.</p>
<p>^ Both of those responses and Berkeley tries to kill your grade without really caring for you, provided you’re in the right major of course. I mean, I never expected anything easy, but some of these classes seem ridiculous.</p>
<p>what classes seem ridiculous?</p>
<p>People with complaints will always have louder voices. Personally, I love it here. The atmosphere of the city is, of course, grittier and earthier than materialistic Westwood, but areas like Northside or College Ave./Claremont into Rockridge are definitely charming. And of course, the classes are kicking my butt, along with most people’s here; but really, what did you expect when you signed up for this school? Some classes here fail more than half the students, while others are a cakewalk. That’s just how it is.</p>
<p>I’m happy with everything but the people… I feel the people here are not very friendly. Sure they will smile and say hi when they bump into you, but then they will be on their way. Nothing like a swarm of poor and hungry kids with agendas to light up your day, they just can’t relax, whereas my Ivy friends seem much more laid back and friendly.</p>
<p>First off, Cal kids come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than private school students and are thus, on average, less happier with their situation. The second reason is that professors at Cal overwork their students–I spent a semester at Duke and found it be a joke compared to Cal classes. Overworked students = stressed students = depressed students</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that Cal has 20,000+ undergrads. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a positive attitude, you can carve out a really special college experience for yourself.</p>
<p>It’s not like you’re ever going to meet all 20,000 people, you meet a subset and I guess I meet more unfriendly people.</p>
<p>I agree that it’s stress and depression though.</p>
<p>I love Cal, I think about 85% of people I know here do too. Those who don’t are just focusing all their attention on academics and are in a major that is probably too hard for them. Basically everyone who leaves their room and tries to make friends will be able to be happy here.</p>
<p>First coming into Berkeley, I was like, holy crap why are classes so hard. Or rather, it was just chem 4A that was slaughtering me, which in turn affected my performance in other classes since I was stressing and losing sleep over chem labs so often. On the other hand, this collective suffering in chem lab helped me form bonds with my lab mates. =) I’ll miss them next semester… </p>
<p>Now that a semester is almost done…I don’t know. I’ve gotten used to the workload a bit so I’m slightly happier. Then again, my academic standards have plummeted. 3.0 in technical classes ftw…that sounds so sad. In my experience, I’m not too bothered by the ghetto environment or lack of friends. It’s the GPA. It’s especially frustrating when I know my stuff yet make stupid errors on midterms that count for so much… </p>
<p>But in the end, I suppose I am content. I still think about the other options I turned down last March/April, though…even back then, it was a struggle to finally submit that SIR. To be completely honest, I probably would have been happier going elsewhere.
Oh well~ I made my choice. I don’t hate it enough to seriously consider transferring, so I’ll have to live with it. Just hope that I can make my experience better.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman here, so I’m just finishing up my first semester. </p>
<p>Personally, I LOVE Cal. The people are more down to earth than the people I went to high school with, and I really like that. </p>
<p>Maybe people don’t like it because they are stressing out about schoolwork so much. Sure, I work hard, but I also have fun. Being in a sorority has made my experience at college infinitely better. It’s important to balance social life and school life, or else you go crazy. Basically, Cal is great. And I actually really do love the town, I think its a fascinating place. Plus, the closeness to SF is perfect.</p>
<p>One source of sadness: The sheer difficulty of getting the classes you want.</p>
<p>cal is okay, it’s not the greatest place to be but it’s not the *biggest * s h i thole either (although one could argue that it is more of a s h i thole than most UC’s).</p>
<p>A few disconnected thoughts on my experience so far:</p>
<p>I haven’t met everyone but from the ones that I’ve interacted with, they are less friendly than your average Joe. Some didn’t develop social skills in high school, others just don’t care about being amiable…there could be may reasons.</p>
<p>The students aren’t as intelligent as I expected and had hoped for. I heard stories of being surrounded by geniuses and having classes filled with the most intelligent people in America. I would say this is more true for the graduate students (my GSI’s are brilliant and Cal ranks in the top 10 in most if its graduate programs).</p>
<p>The location blows. Hobos, hippies, crazies, druggies, ect…intimidate most new students and ruin their initial experience by making it less comfortable. When a UCLA student goes out for a nice dinner at a popular eating place, they don’t see hobos everywhere screaming at them, streets that aren’t well lit, and lots of SES people. They go to westwood, high SES, clean, comfortable, and relatively safe.</p>
<p>Everyone is a political genius in Berkeley and they believe that everyone who disagrees with them are morons. I’m a liberal and I consider myself a part of the left but the uber-liberal’s there are just…crazy. They protest when army recruiting centers open, when republicans come to town, when someone in power says something that they take offense to. The busybodies in the city dilute issues and act like idiots to a point where no one really gives a flying f u c k about what they’re protesting about. So when a real issue needs attention, no one cares.</p>
<p>In my opinion, there are just as many good things to say about Cal as there are bad (and I’ve only listed what I consider the bad). But if you’re looking for a “college experience”, go to any other UC. If you’re only looking for prestige, UC Berkeley is obviously choice. If you want the “college experience” and prestige, UCLA or privates are the best place to look.</p>
<p>Overall, the city of Berkeley ruins what could be a mediocre college experience at the #1 public school in the nation.</p>
<p>prestige is nice and all, but yeah, i wouldn’t base my decision off that solely (it wouldn’t even be a huge factor to me, cuz really what i’m looking for is the best undergrad experience i can have and then go to usc or nyu for graduate school in film [and that depends a lot more on one’s talent than prestige of undergrad school, it seems.])</p>
<p>right now you guys are making me think ucla would be a much better bet than berkeley. the only thing about ucla is that the people seem kinda arrogant and rude (though i’m sure that’s not everyone, but just what i’ve seen/heard so far.) davis is another top choice for me, but it does lose some of that prestige (which–while not all-important, is still a factor and mainly cuz i seek an intellectual environment), but the people at davis seem to be the friendliest and happiest with their school. it’s a tough one, i guess, but you guys are making me think berkeley is pretty much off my list. 1.) i want to go to a college with a nice surrounding area. 2.) i want my experience to be academically stimulating but not ultra-stressful/depressing. 3.) i’d much prefer if most of the student body had a warm, friendly vibe as opposed to the one you guys are describing about berkeley. thanks for your honest opinions and info!</p>
<p>*If *I was content with GPA below 3.8, I would be significantly happier…probably. </p>
<p>As I see it, Berkeley has the potential to stir a sort of situational depression in students. Due, in part, to (1) the academic demands and (2) the diffuse and independent nature of the student body and academic culture (this is related but not equivalent to my first reason).</p>
<p>With one semester to go, I am quite curious to see if my situation come May–whatever the **** it may be–will bring about a shift in mood, outlook, or “happiness,” as you have it. I am cautiously optimistic.</p>
<p>I just want to say, as a new CA resident, that UCLA and UC Berkeley are regarded in basically the exact same regard, and to worry so much about ONE RANK’S DIFFERENCE is just ridiculous. (at least in pittsburgh people bow down to you if you graduated from any of the UC’s.) In this crazy economy, you’re lucky to get into either one of them, so be grateful and quit whining!!
rant over 
sorry-had to get it out of me.</p>
<p>^Uh it does matter, especially for business. All the top accounting firms, investment banks and consulting firms come to recruit here; that’s super important for bus. and econ majors.</p>
<p>Some other stuff about Berkeley that bothers me:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fend for yourself mentality</li>
<li>ASUC run by tards voting out Panda Express and overspending on election recalls</li>
<li>Crappy lower Sproul food places</li>
<li>Lack of good food - tons of sushi, Mexican food, pizza, coffee, and yogurt clone stores</li>
<li>Non-tasty DC food (too much rabbit food)</li>
<li>Size of Bear’s Lair, never enough tables</li>
<li>Cruddy roads (on-campus on streets)</li>
<li>Protesting everything, excessive whining (just want some peace)</li>
<li>Back page of the Daily Cal is ALWAYS sports</li>
<li>General grungy hippie hobo spirit of the place</li>
<li>Berkeley making me more sour than I ever wanted to be in my life </li>
</ul>
<p>I would still choose Berkeley for the prestige and job opportunities it has given me though</p>
<p>every semester at around the 13th week, I consider changing majors because of rigorous classes. Berkeley may not be full of geniuses, but there are enough smart kids to screw you over</p>
<p>I’m actually quite surprised at how many people are complaining about the student body. Perhaps these individuals are upset at their own inability to make friends, or maybe they are just hypersensitive. I agree that there is somewhat of a “fend-for-yourself” mentality, but if you ask around, most people would be happy to help you (probably slightly less true for scary pre-meds and pre-Haas). Many of the people I have met here are friendly and helpful. </p>
<p>On another note: You can’t expect every random stranger you meet to approach you and want to be your friend. Most people here are polite, but neutral toward strangers. There are people here at Berkeley who are upset that others don’t actively try and befriend them, but the truth is, if you want friends, you need to do your part and be proactive in meeting people and establishing connections! You can’t sit around waiting for people to come to you and then complain that everyone is unfriendly. Strangers are not your friends, they do not owe you anything, and they are under no obligation to you - so why do you expect something from them? Plus, given the sheer size of the student body, it is impossible to generalize and say that most people are unfriendly. There is a huge spectrum of people, and of these 20,000+ you’d have to be trying pretty hard not to be able to find a few friends among them.</p>