<p>UC Berkeley: Cal is a melting pot of brilliant ideas and cultures. Every type of student goes to Cal and I think that is the beauty of it. Yes, the students are all very intelligent, and can all rightfully claim that they were the top of their class. Surprisingly, I was pleased with the good nature of most of the students I met in Berkeley. They seemed determined, yet always up for a good time. Contrary to popular belief, Cal has an excellent weekend life. Parties are plentiful (not sure if that's your thing) and students seem to make good use out of the free time they do have. Greek life is readily available if you need it, but is definitely avoidable if it's not your cup of tea. Spirit is high at this school, and everyone learns to love Cal Football. There is also SO many student organizations and activities going on, that your head might explode if you try to attend them all. Telegraph Ave is the nearby 'downtown strip', and is not for everyone. Yes, there are loads of homeless people roaming around downtown Berkeley, along with plenty of street vendors, hippies arguing politics, and hip hop street performers. Personally, I find it charming. Professors are Cal are among the best in the nation, and are inspiring, and passionate. Like any UC, Cal is a research institution, so professors are going to be working on their own research with grad students and undergrads that seek the opportunity. Office Hours are there to serve you, but you need to attend them, and meet your professors at your own will. This is where the whole "independent" environment comes from. No one is going to hold you hand, as this is a very pro-active school. Love Cal, going there this fall.</p>
<p>UC Davis: This school surprised me. I was ready to step foot onto a barren, dry wasteland, but was greeted with something very different. Davis is actually a very gorgeous campus. Trees are plentiful at this college, and ducks freely roam around on the grass and at the on-campus pond's edge. The campus is flat, as is the entire town, making it quite ideal for biking. Everyone bikes in Davis. I'm not kidding - bike racks are stationed every few feet. Students at Davis are F-R-I-E-N-D-L-Y, and kick back. Although Davis is just entering Division I sports now, there seems to be a good amount of unity and spirit. Davis has a great Rec Center (The ARC) that is free for all students. The surrounding town is small, yet quaint, and I personally found it adorable. There isn't a <em>huge</em> amount of things to do in Davis, but there are enough restaurants to sink a ship. There are two movie theatres, four bars, a load of coffee shops, and a few darling boutiques, but for heavy shopping, go to nearby Sacramento. The professor situation is similar to Berkeley - they are available as long as you seek them out yourself. Davis professors seemed very intelligent and excited to teach. Overall, I liked this school a great deal.</p>
<p>UCLA: This school is close in ranking to Cal and offers a similar sense of diversity and academic flare. UCLA is located in Westwood, which is the total opposite of Berkeley, but also brings along the 'love it or hate it' mentality. Westwood is quaint and offers a good amount of entertainment outlets. Some shops are expensive by some standards, but not others. I was born in Los Angeles and spent half my life there. Personally, I favor the Bay Area to So Cal, but many do not. The weather is absolutely gorgeous down there, if you visit during the right time of year, it really brings out this laid back, chill atmosphere among the city and students. The campus is very pretty, clean, and majestic. There seems to be a vast amount of opportunities for student activities, organizations, and internships. Everything is big at UCLA - the school, the buildings, and the student body. Social life is key at UCLA and it seems like weekends would be a blast. Student spirit is high - they simply adore their school and it shows. Same situation with professors as stated above. Now, I understand that it comes down to UCLA and UCB for a lot of people, and for me, it was Cal, but for many, it's UCLA. Personally, when comparing, I found the overall atmosphere at Cal a little more..scholarly (Don't kill me Bruins) But to each their own, honestly. I liked UCLA, and I think it's a prime place to get a highly regarded education.</p>
<p>UCSC: This school is a lot smaller in population compared to the three previous schools I have described, and is actually set in the town I have been living in for the past eight years. UCSC is set in a majestic redwood forest, and surrounded by lush trees. The students are chill, maybe a bit too relaxed if you ask me. Yes, there are rumors that this school is full of stoners and hippies, and in all honesty, I'm really not sure if this assumption holds up -perhaps. This is a beach town, so surfing, swimming, and boogie boarding are favorites among students and locals alike. Santa Cruz is a beautiful town, with an accessible downtown area that offers some great shopping and good eats. This town is liberal, so be prepared for left winged politics and plenty of vegan food. School spirit isn't too high, as UCSC cringes at the thought of becoming a sports oriented school or having anything to do with a dominant Greek presence. Professors are a bit more accessible here, due to the lower student body size.</p>
<p>Whew, that was loooong. In addition, I have visited a few CSU's (San Jose, Chico, Fresno, Monterey Bay), along with Santa Clara. If you are interested in any of those, lemme know.</p>