<p>yayarea510: i'm serious about my brother being a mentor, but was kidding about turning people in. pm me with your name if you want, and i'll make sure you set up alright. he's actually leaving wednesday bc all the ra's/mentors have to get there a week before the freshmen move in. are you on the facebook group? if so, you probably know him...</p>
<p>but, ok, about the pros of bowles: my bro's farthest walk to class from the dorm was about 25 minutes. but, it goes quickly when you can watch people screaming at other people on the street, it's actually quite entertaining. bowles is the closest dorm to the stadium, actually right next door, which is HUGE on football saturdays. also, it is the oldest dorm in the UC system, so they have a lot of bragging rights. they also have the best traditions. once a week a group goes over to sing to the women of stern, they form bowles intramural teams, have floor rivalries, etc. they also have pre-game bbqs, and sing songs on the lawn in front of bowles right after the game (which is a huge tradition, the band gets involved, and virtually everyone on their way out of the stadium stops to watch at one point). they also have your typical college-guy traditions. for example, when someone walking by yells "hello bowles hall!" the students yell back "hello, *******!" it's actually pretty funny, even if no one is outside, someone with their room window open will lean out and yell back at you. it is really like a fraternity within itself. it may sound weird now, but i don't know of anyone who regretted living there. i only know of people who complained that they couldn't move back in as sophomores. also, the quads work out nicely. as someone said earlier, there is one large room with two beds, then two smaller rooms off to the side with one bed each. my brother got a smaller room and loved the set-up. he also had a perfect view of the bay and the gg bridge.</p>
<p>hope that helped, you guys can pm me with your names if you want any help or whatever.</p>
<p>^^^uh...good try, it's not like a frat because there's a bunch of narc whack-ass RA's a year older than you that think they can dictate morality and tell you what to do. but there's always ways around that. it's a good place to have small parties tho.</p>
<p>well, i meant fraternity as in its original meaning, like a brotherhood (and i'm not as stupid as you think about that lol bc i know a TON of people who've lived there besides my brother). of course it's not an animal house. it's a friggin dorm! you eat, sleep, and study there (supposedly :/)</p>
<p>^^^btw, vc08, the beds are set up differently now, there's a bunk bed (2beds) in each side room, and 4 desks in the common area, which i like better, TIP: put a desk in each side room if you can, and put couches and drawers in the common area.</p>
<p>also, u get a great view, but unfortunately, no one has a view of the golden gate or the campanile, because the building faces southwest, not due west. but it's still the best view in berkeley.</p>
<p>good advice about the bunk beds....haha, i meant to say bay bridge. that makes since, right? there are so many bridges, i know it was one of them. anyway, he could see the bay, which was pretty cool. most other dorms i've been in at other campuses have a view of like the parking garage.</p>
<p>Get a bike if you know how to ride one. It is a downhill ride to nearly every class from bowles.</p>
<p>It is not far from classes nor the units. In reality, it is THE closet dorm to campus.</p>
<p>The rooms are hella spacious, and if you land a room in the front you get a great view. There's the added bonus of privacy when you sleep vs work. No disruptions except loud sh1ts and the band on maxwell field, and some cvnts who talk really loud on the front steps late at night.</p>
<p>It's not bad having all guys. Become good friends with your roommates. Brings chicks back every now and then. Visit the units. The lack of girls is not a concern unless you make it so.</p>
<p>Bowles has some nice subsidized activities. Attend as many as you can.</p>
<p>I'm certainly glad I stayed their my first year. The living conditions are such **** in the units in comparison (suites exempt).</p>
<p>I know, I was just kidding. I wasn't raised in the Bay Area, actually San Diego, and everyone in SoCal thinks it's stupid, so therefore I think it's stupid. But whatever floats your boat I guess...</p>
<p>"yah one thing i think u should do...at the end of ur first year....go out with a friend...sit on the front of the grass of bowles...at the top of the hill to the left of the stairs, facing out towards maxwell field...it's a sight ur gonna miss when u leave..."</p>
<p>ay...you make me cry...<em>tear</em>, I miss Bowles times. I wish I could be a freshman again man.</p>
<p>Bowles has parties. Bowles is near frat row. Bowles has girls. Bowles can be massively fun. Bowles also has incredibly smart people. 'Nuff said.</p>
<p>you can bring a wireless router if it so pleases, and you will need to get an ethernet cable, the Cal Student store suggests getting the longest possible...but you may not need to.</p>
<p>haha, yeah, which is why most of the top high schools in the state are in socal, right? i never slammed the norcal people, only the "hella" thing, so calm yourself please.</p>
<p>what the f*** is your problem? I was just trying to help people out. You obviously weren't accepted to Cal based on your sense of humor. If you can't stop attacking me based on one joke I made, then just get off this thread.</p>
<p>Yea, we laughin! Great way to prove that you're a comedy genius and not an insecure sheep!</p>
<p>Anyways, come, there might still be hope for you if you're pretty. We could get down to business without you ever having to voice any stupid comments ;).</p>
<p>what a sl*t. As a Californian, I'm embarrassed to live in the same state as you. Please stop your inappropriate comments, or I will report you to the moderator.</p>
<p>When people talk about the 'bad/arrogant people' of Berkeley, I'm really hoping it's not people like TropicalTriceps. I can't stand oversensitive chauvinists who take every opportunity they get to bash another group they don't like.</p>