Berkeley v. Davis

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
21

<p>Certainly the UCs share some common funding and resources, but that's not all the money used on each campus.</p>

<p>I don't think Oakland crimes affect Berkeley students that much. Berkeley crimes certainly, and to a much lesser extent Oakland crimes, but its less relevant, and different parts of Oakland have different levels of crime. Really, there is very little chance that you will come here and be murdered in Oakland (unless you try). I can't find a page of crime statistics online. </p>

<p>Berkeley's "f-u" attitude? What is that, exactly? You should come visit campus sometime. I think that might help you reformulate your image of things.</p>

22

<p>
[quote]
Certainly the UCs share some common funding and resources, but that's not all the money used on each campus.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Exactly right. Only about 35% of Berkeley's budget comes from the state. The rest is obtained through things like student tuition/fees and research grants (mostly Federal) </p>

<p><a href="http://budget.vcbf.berkeley.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://budget.vcbf.berkeley.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>whokilledbobby, "San Francisco, a hot bed for political upheaval"? have you ever been to SF? it's the wealthiest and most expensive big city west of Manhattan...</p>

<p>Oakland is a big city, the bad parts are very far from campus. The parts closest to campus are pretty nice and very expensive actually, like the Claremont hotel, Rockridge and Elmwood districts.</p>

<p>Davis is not a great school. It is an above avg school, except for a few depts like agriculture and pre-vet. It does sound like a better fit for you though...</p>

24

<p>Really, that "political upheaval" comment is interesting. What are you referring to?</p>

25

<p>Dear DRad and CalX,</p>

<p>I have lived in the Bay Area my entire life. I have visited Berkeley SEVERAL times. I go to San Francisco at least 3 times a week. I watch Bay Area news every night. I know what happens in the Bay Area. I know what happens in the East Bay. And personally when I visited Berkeley for the engineering open house upon leaving the campus I saw a lot of hobos hanging out on the grass on campus. </p>

<p>As for the Political upheaval portion that you seem to not understand, </p>

<p>First off the Bay area has ALWAYS been a hot bed for political controversy. Just a while ago Gavin Newsom was breaking federal law and allowing gay marriages to take place. Sounds political and controversial to me. </p>

<p>Second, as for Berkeley's f-u attitude: The country still has the images of People's Park and the political action that took place there in the 60s in their minds. Also I heard that some students recently protested on campus because the Cal merchandise was made in sweat shops. There is still definitely an outspoken attitude on campus. I do like the fact that Berkeley students stand up for what they believe in though. I am not saying that everyone on campus is outspoken, but more so than at many schools Cal seems to have a militant political aspect to it by virtue of its history.</p>

<p>Davis is more than an average school. I am considering not going to Berkeley because Berkeley doesn't have a Biomedical Engineering program. They have Bioengineering which I got into. But I would like the medical emphasis more than the Engineering emphasis which is why I think I am going to Davis.</p>

<p>Berkeley is a great school no doubt about it. But since this is a Berkeley v. Davis forum I thought it would only be fair if someone from the Bay Area brought up some of the negative aspects of Berkeley so the person who originally posed the question could get a sense of what the East Bay is really like. </p>

<p>Although the East Bay does have some very nice posh areas, Oakland Hills etc, you really have to watch where you go and make sure you don't suddenly end up on the scary side of either Oakland or Richmond or even Berkeley for that matter on parts of Shadick Avenue. Personally I like Gilman Street but I know that it isn't exactly located in the best area. </p>

<p>The problem with Davis is that it lacks the excitement and buzz of the Bay Area. I went up there last week and Sacramento is boring. San Francisco and the East Bay are so exciting. Also Davis is HOT! For someone used to the climate of the Bay Area I am definitely going to have to adapt to the new environment up in Davis. I am still contemplating going to Berkeley because I am a native of the Bay Area and my 2 best friends are going there. If you want excitement and a new experience I would definitely go to Berkeley.</p>

<p>It's like anything else, there good parts and bad parts. Just weigh both sides then see what comes out at the end as being best for you.</p>

26

<p>i have a hard time believing you lived in the bay area your entire life if you think richmond and berkeley are right next to each other...</p>

27

<p>
[quote]
Although the East Bay does have some very nice posh areas, Oakland Hills etc, you really have to watch where you go and make sure you don't suddenly end up on the scary side of either Oakland or Richmond or even Berkeley for that matter on parts of Shadick Avenue.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think you're very wrong there WKB. You'd have to drive a good deal away to get to the bad areas in Oakland, which are southeast of town and well out of the way. Shattuck is quite safe. Thousands of students live in or near the downtown Berkeley area. It has the best grocery store/supermarket in the entire country (Berkeley Bowl) and many great bars and restaurants (Jupiter's, Triple Rock, Downtown, Beckett's Irish Pub, Liaison, Top Dog,...) bookstores and movie theaters. It sounds like you're just uncomfortable with the urban setting and the few homeless people who loiter there. I guess you must be from a suburban part of the Bay Area.</p>

<p>Davis might indeed be a better fit for you.</p>

28

<p>I do understand the historical political events you described in San Francisco, but I don’t imagine that as “political upheaval.” That phrase reminds me of mobs and riots. That phrase reminds me of violence. Perhaps my definition is too narrow.</p>

<p>An f-u attitude doesn’t remind me of many people on campus. I think it’s being misnamed. If by “f u” attitude, you mean people standing up for what they believe in, then I guess I was thrown off by the name you gave the attitude. I think that a lot of students are respectful (not that some would agree, and not that I think everyone is, or that everyone is all the time), and this title implies otherwise.</p>

<p>I think of Davis as more than average. Berkeley has a bioengineering program and I imagine that you can find support for certain medical related things here, but I’m not sure. You should ask an engineer what the curriculum is like, and how flexible it is. </p>

<p>I do think that parts of the East Bay have many problems, and sure, to a greater extent parts of San Francisco, although every area has different problems. The Berkeley campus and close to it is generally fine, and students should make smart choices (ie not go out alone at 3 am with cash hanging out of their pockets looking for people to talk to). </p>

<p>
[quote]
It's like anything else, there good parts and bad parts. Just weigh both sides then see what comes out at the end as being best for you.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Certainly</p>

29

<p>DRab: you do see a whole lot of Cal students walking alone on southside at 2am out for a bite at Blondies or Top Dog, or back from the bars. My ex used to walk back home alone all the time from her night shift job...</p>

30

<p>Certainly, I'm one of those students. Right off campus is one of the best places to be late at night. I don't know how to characterize the bad places . . . what would you say?</p>

31

<p>I think people who are from suburban backgrounds tend to wrongfully perceive less polished urban scenes like the one in Telegraph and Shattuck as unsafe. Most students start out being apprehensive then build up their comfort levels and eventually come to enjoy the lively vibe and commerces.</p>

<p>The only somewhat bad places in Berkeley IMHO are on the SW corner of town (San Pablo area at the Oakland border), not within walking distance of campus.</p>

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<p>anyone who exercises any common sense will not have a problem with safety here</p>

33

<p>Well seeing that I am on a Berkeley forum I would assume that I would get ganged up on trying to back Davis. So I guess there is really no point in trying to assert my view that Davis is better in some ways than Berkeley. </p>

<p>However they are both UC campuses. And with that said they are both prestigious. </p>

<p>As for the assertion that I am not a Bay Area resident I would just like to say that I am a fourth generation San Franciscan. I was born in San Francisco, I attended school for nine years in San Francisco and I really do love the Bay Area. </p>

<p>Anyway I just hope that woolybugger51 also goes to the Davis forum to see the different attitude the people have towards Davis on a more Davis friendly thread to get both sides of the story. </p>

<p>Peace out</p>

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<p>hey bcp...do you go to bellarmine in san jose?? jw...i go to presentation. bleh</p>