If my D goes to Cal, she will be OOS among a throng of Californians who will have at least a few HS friends going. I’m hoping (as was the case for me Stanford) that the dorm provides a strong social unit that provides a lot of activities and successfully challenges people socially to try new things. For example, my undergrad dorms produced musicals, getting people dancing, singing, even directing for the first time. Intramural sports were dorm-centered, music groups and other activities (investment clubs) were also dorm-based. Different than my older bro who went to UCSB, where the dorm life was strictly weed/beer/loud stereo holding pattern until moving off campus.
This is only my opinion, but I would think with how many people apply to Berkeley who are from California, how selective the school is (and with a decent intake of OOS and international), and how many great universities are available in California, students don’t end up with their friends very often. Again, solely my opinion, but I don’t think she’d be thrusted in an environment where a ton of people are there with their HS friends and it’s her as a loaner.
That aside, I know absolutely nothing about dorm life … but everyone will feel like an outsider surrounded by new people until they get comfortable, so she’ll be right there with everyone else.
Best of luck to your daughter.
My son is a junior. We live in Southern California and at most the local high school sends 2 or 3 to Berkeley each year. His freshman year he had a roommate from North Dakota and a roommate from the Bay Area. He had a lot of friends in his dorm, but I think for the most part, in his case, most of his social life involved his fraternity. I did see a lot of signs advertising various dorm events when I moved him in. In addition to dorm-life there are numerous ways to get involved including greek life, club sports, rally committee, clubs, etc…
Your daughter needs to go to the Cal OSP overnight stay program. She can sign-up for it online on the OSP website. She will have the opportunity to stay overnight in a dorm meet other students go to a class and learn some of the great Brekeley traditions,