<p>prospective student, just wondering what it is that people love and hate about Cal. Im concerned with issues relating to academics, study habits, social/party scene, girls/guys, surrounding area and campus. post away, thanks!</p>
<p>read andrewtdx's post that's a permanent on the board, most inciteful stuff about cal.</p>
<p>study habits: what you make of them, there's nobody holding your hand or checking on you here.</p>
<p>social/party scene: if you're shy, it's gonna be hard meeting lots of people, because it could be overwhelming. if not, you're gold. There's a great greek scene, plenty of parties...although at times for a frosh, it seems like there's not a party when there needs to be...i.e. after the UCLA game...but that mostly came from anger over a certain frat's policy that night of not letting us toke inside...angered me thusly.</p>
<p>girls/guys: speaking as a guy, there's alot of natural beauties, but also a sizeable contingent of "WHOA" in a bad way. I dunno though, i dig all kinds of girls. </p>
<p>Surrounding area: Berkeley can be sketch, but the danger factor is minor, man up and be smart about where you are and who you're with. Berkeley is full of fun stuff to do...i love the vibes, it feels like you're in one of the 2 remaining communist strongholds on earth, berkeley, and havana, few corporate profit hounds around (although they're sneaking in. Also the bay area is full of cool stuff...San Francisco, is a cultural mecca...If you're bored with berkeley, you're bored with life.</p>
<p>Campus: AWESOME, the magic still hasn't gone away....walking on sproul..with the sun shining, the student groups, memorial glade, the campanile....it's amazing the only way to understand this is by visiting, at aroudn...12ish,....on a sunny day....and during the week....just awesome.</p>
<p>SO....basically you just gotta go bears!</p>
<p>punkdudeus: I think I know what frat you're talking about...</p>
<p>no, it wasn't fiji, although i had the same problem, it was sammy's, but it turns out it was just a fluke that night, some alumni had a stick up his you know what.</p>
<p>Cal:</p>
<ul>
<li> In terms of sheer academics, few other colleges can begin to match Cal's departments...if any</li>
<li> It's close to SF, one of the world's great cities</li>
<li> Berkeley is actually a real college town by nature</li>
<li> There have been problems with the surrounding areas possibly needing gentrification (People's Park has turned into an issue)</li>
<li> Like other big research universities, you may be wanting for attention as an undergrad</li>
</ul>
<p>This is just an abridged list. Berkeley's positives are many, and its negatives, while visible, are few.</p>