<p>I'm an international student from a far far away land (:P) and I've never been to the states. Recently I've been accepted to some of my reach schools including UCBerkeley, UCLA and NYU and I'm trying to get to know as much as I can about them before deciding. (I cannot make a visit prior to May 1 unfortunately.)</p>
<p>I'm applying as undecided to all three for CAS/CLAS but I'm fairly interested in digital/media art atm. I've done some researches about the schools (and hence chose to apply), but I'd be really glad if people that live in California/have visited Berkeley/currently attend there can give me some more insights regarding:</p>
<ul>
<li>Location<a href="Safety?%20Difference%20between%20SoCal%20and%20NoCal?%20Fun%20town%20with%20many%20things%20to%20do?">/b</a></li>
<li>Weather<a href="I'd%20prefer%20specific%20if%20possible,%20i.e.%20what's%20the%20lowest%20temperature%20during%20winter?%20rain?">/b</a></li>
<li>Accessibility to nearby places<a href="i.e.%20can%20we%20walk/take%20subway/bus%20or%20do%20we%20need%20a%20car?">/b</a></li>
<li>Dorms<a href="er..%20air-con?%20curfew?%20:P">/b</a></li>
<li>Overall atmosphere</li>
<li>Diversity<a href="cliques?%20Are%20there%20many,%20MANY%20Vietnamese%20people%20in%20Berkeley?%20I'm%20not%20being%20racist-%20I'm%20100%%20Vietnamese%20myself%20but%20my%20family%20keeps%20worrying%20that%20I%20would%20be%20inclined%20to%20only%20hang%20out%20with%20Vietnamese/Asian%20and%20end%20up%20not%20getting%20to%20know%20other%20cultures%20=%20a%20waste%20of%20opportunity.">/b</a></li>
<li>Anything else** that you can tell me about Berkeley :)</li>
<li>Your opinion on **Berkeley vs. UCLA vs. NYU<a href="my%20cousin%20is%20in%20NYU,%20who's%20also%20my%20only%20source%20of%20emotional%20support%20in%20the%20US%20:P?%20haha">/b</a></li>
</ul>
<p>I know that Berkeley is academically competitive and that it has big (huge?) class sizes, but if the external factors listed above are good, I think I'd be able to handle the stress! :)</p>
<p>If you come to Berkeley, you are a free man (or woman)!
Berkeley is a 30 minute BART (subway) ride from San Francisco, San Jose, Richmond, etc.
Berkeley has a moderately warm mediterranean climate with the occasional rainy day (our mild winters drop down to the low 40s which is quite tolerable) so I wouldnt worry about air conditioning. There are very safe areas of Berkeley (and the bay area) as well as very unsafe areas. This is not a problem for a prospective student at Cal, though. The campus is quite safe, and the dorms are near downtown berkeley and telegraph and college avenue, so there is plenty for you to do. You can get anywhere on foot, via bus, or via Bart.
Having spoken at length with friends at UCBerkeley (where I will be attending next fall), UCLA, and NYU, Ive got to say that Berkeley has the most welcoming environment overall. There are elitists everywhere, however, most have been relegated to UCLA
Berkeley is very nice, the people are generally kind, the students come from ALL over the world. You will meet tons of people in the dorms who come from a wide variety of lifestyles.
If you NEED to live in a big city, try NYU or possibly UCLA.
In a nutshell, Berkeley is very accepting and tolerable for most people.</p>
<p>“Berkeley is a 30 minute BART (subway) ride from San Francisco, San Jose, Richmond, etc.”</p>
<p>I laughed at the Richmond part. Not to sound mean towards Richmond (I’m a life-long East Bay resident), but I don’t think that Richmond is one of the big attractions for prospective students coming to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot! My favorite teacher also recommends Berkeley over other schools including some privates (she personally prefers big universities) and says that Berkeley is a really cool, “interesting” place. I’ll definitely think over.</p>
<p>Every school will have it’s pros and cons. I suggest talking to students and finding out the ‘vibe’ of the campus and students. However, I’m confident that when you step on to Berkeley’s campus and gaze upon Sather Gate, the Campanile, the memorial glade, doe library, and bowles hall that you will fall in love. It’s a very refreshing campus, when most of California’s top universities such as Stanford, USC, and UCLA are typically have Spanish architecture.</p>
Did you do your research or apply to the right universities? I’m somewhat certain Berkeley is not well respected in the Media Arts. Most of the best universities for your major are all “art schools”.</p>
<p>UCLA is a dream come true for Media Arts students but you did not apply to the right college. NYU happens to be highly ranked in multimedia (but just that). I would reconsider my major if I were you.</p>
<p>I’m pretty much undecided about my major (hence I’m so in love with Brown’s Open Curriculum!) and at the same time have an interest in arts. I was thinking if I applied to a specialty school or college it’d be more difficult to learn about things outside my major.</p>
<p>Yes, I did research about my universities and although Berkeley is not very well respected in the Media Arts (confirm?), its overall academics is excellent and I won’t be surprised if I find a totally new interest there.</p>
My favorite teacher also recommends Berkeley over other schools including some privates (she personally prefers big universities) and says that Berkeley is a really cool, “interesting” place. I’ll definitely think over.</p>
and although Berkeley is not very well respected in the Media Arts (confirm?), its overall academics is excellent and I won’t be surprised if I find a totally new interest there.</p>