<p>Look, I'm gonna tell it to you how it is. And this is coming from someone who has done his fair share of partying throughout the past few years.</p>
<p>Berkeley....well, first off I have to start by saying that its an amazing place. There's so much going on at all times that its almost overwhelming. Whether you're into organized dance groups (of all persuasions...hip-hop, swing, etc..), slam poetry, cultural organizations/events, hippie smoke-sessions and protests, co-op extravaganzas....its all happening, every weekend, at the same time. </p>
<p>The key is to actively seek it out. There are many people that take advantage of the myriad things to do at Berkeley (and mind you, all of the activities I mentioned make up Berkeley's "social scene"- its not just about partying). But at the same time, there are many that don't take advantage of what's offered and they end up...well, unhappy.</p>
<p>Take me for example:</p>
<p>My first year I did the typical dorm-room shuffle, sneaking in alcohol into my room to have a few drinks with friends, crashing frat parties every weekend, etc etc...</p>
<p>My second year I moved into an apartment with three friends from my dorm building (Norton Hall-Unit 3 for those keeping score...BEST building on campus!!! woot woot!). Anyway, it took a while to get used to the apartment life, you feel MUCH more isolated, you don't have the lounges to hang out anymore, don't have the luxury of strolling into your best friends room at 3 in the morning to play super smash bros. Soooo, you wind up making the most of it (i.e. finding a friend who is over 21 to buy you a ton of booze, and you gradually drink it with your other roommates and whoever happens to drop by). The cool thing about second year is that not only are YOU living in an apartment, but your friends are as well. Sooo, you get to not only enjoy the frat parties every Thursday, Friday, Saturday night. But you can also go to your friends (and friends of friends) apartments and feel special partying there. The first few times you go to apartment mixers you feel all grown up, and I feel that this is a very important part of the Cal experience, hahaha.</p>
<p>2nd year is also the year that you discover Co-Ops, as a few of your more liberal friends have surely skipped the apartment life for a life of...well, I shouldn't pass judgment. Everyone has a different opinion on what Co-Ops are like, find out for yourself. Anyway....I have to admit, I had a LOT of fun at Co-Ops 2nd year, so definitely make sure you have some friends who live in Co-Ops. </p>
<p>Anyway, by third year you're feeling very jaded. Very. Trust me. Sure, its good to be back from school after a summer of (whatever amazing thing you did over summer), but you soon realize that not only are your classes harder, but you don't like many of the things you liked before. Scariest of all: you HATE frat parties.</p>
<p>I dunno if its just me, but I can't step into a fraternity anymore without feeling...old. The girls all look like they're barely 16, or are the hardcore girls who have burned out and look like they're 46. 2-3 years of hard partying at frats definitely takes a toll on ones body, girls especially, so if you run into any 3rd-4th year girls at fraternities....well, lets just say that you won't mistake them for freshmen. </p>
<p>But, aha, there is a savior. In your third year, just as you are ready to give up on this "social scene" you discover the magnificent wonders that come with hitting the big TWO ONE! 21 baby, champagne falls from the heavens, confetti bursts from every corner. YOU ARE AN ADULT! The first thing that happens when you turn 21 is people hand you flowers and beer, things become easier to bare, and you return to your freshman year bliss. </p>
<p>You start frequenting Bears Lair (if you are a disillusioned ex-fraternity frequenter who wants to maintain some of that same atmosphere while feeling a bit more mature). I have to admit, Bears Lair is just good ol' fashioned raunchy fun that you won't find anywhere else (well, perhaps Kip's, but Kip's is a whole other topic). Bears Lair is everyones favorite guilty pleasure, no one likes admitting they go there, but on Friday at 5 oclock they are always loyally there, celebrating the wonders of "Beat the Clock". (no, I will not tell you what beat the clock is, you have to find out for yourself).</p>
<p>Without going into too many details about the other bars that offer a wonderful respite from the fraternity scene, you have Becketts (a wonderful Irish bar on Shattuck that is one of my favorites), Kip's (its a Berkeley institution, the place to be on Thursday nights), Blake's (never liked Blake's, but they have live performances every once in a while), The Down Low (Salsa dancing every Wednesday night, live performers on weekends), Triple Rock (for the sophisticated yet very frat-like MBAs...its cool cause they have good beer here that they brew themselves), The Graduate (down on College Ave...its actually my favorite bar in berkeley...cheap drinks, GREAT crowd), that cool pool hall on Shattuck and Dwight that I forget the name of...good liquor selection, but a bit overpriced...annndd last but not least, you have Jupiter's (great pizza, no hard alcohol, fun place to go with friends for a not-so serious night out).</p>
<p>Aside from Berkeley bars though, the Berkeley "social scene" extends to San Francisco, where there are A MILLION great night clubs, bars, and anything else you want in between. There are always world-famous DJs spinning at the local clubs (David Guetta, Benny Benassi, etc...) It's not too hard to get in, so that's cool. There are a lot of cool hipster joints to go to if thats your thing. There are also a lot of good bands playing at all kinds of venues across Berkeley/SF, so if this is your mix then thats cool too.</p>
<p>But yea, going back to the main point of this long winded post (there's a reason this post is long, I want you newbies to make an informed decision on what you're getting yourselves into), there are differences between the social scene at Berkeley and UCLA. Quite simply, if going to really chic and hip parties is your thing- then UCLA is your place.</p>
<p>BUTTT< ask yourselves, fellow nerds, are you really all that cool to get into those chic parties? Were you the toast of your high school, throwing wild keggers? No? Then what makes you think that you're suddenly cool enough to be allowed into these fancy-shmancy parties that you currently envision yourselves going to? Also, do you really have the dough it takes to get into the ultra-hip LA night scene? Not only does it take a huge cover charge, bribing the bouncer, getting on the guest list, having a sweet ass ride (because admit it, you're not gonna pull in front of the club where Paris Hilton parties in your parents station wagon), and the bankroll to buy 12-20 dollar drinks. You got all that? Cause if you do...then by all means, go to LA. </p>
<p>LA is LA baby, a town where money is an afterthought...as another member stated, "you're right in the middle of Beverly Hills, baby".....and while that may be true, whats also true is that you're a broke ass college student. </p>
<p>Now I'm not saying that SF is radically different from the LA night scene, but there's much less of an attitude, its less show-offy and much more laid back.</p>
<p>Plus: one of the most important differences when comparing the social scenes is quite often forgotten- GAMEDAY. Gamedays at Cal are amazing (if you're into that sort of thing). Wake up early, attend a barbeque, drink beer to your hearts content, then WALK to the stadium, jump around till you get dizzy cause you're under the sun for hours while also drunk....then head home for a quick nap before you start partying again.</p>
<p>At UCLA, you have to DRIVE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR to get to "your" football stadium....you have to wait an hour to get into the parking lot, and then another hour to get out. Drive ANOTHER hour back to UCLA...and then realize that all your friends went home cause they live in LA and want their mommy to do their laundry for them.</p>
<p>Talk to your friends at UCLA, kiddies. How many of them are really living the wham-bam-glam life that you envision? </p>
<p>Side note: a good way to avoid the third-year jaded college student saga is to study abroad. Highly recommended. Even though I did not do this, I'm currently living at the International House, which is in my opinion the best place to live in Berkeley (apartments, fraternities, dorms, co-ops included). I-House= THE BEST!</p>
<p>But yea, I'm gonna stop for now. Correct me if I'm wrong about anything I wrote...but please, lets try and be civil. I have much love for UCLA, I've hung out there quite a bit and would have had just a good a time had I gone there. BUTTT, I'm really happy with my decision to go to Cal.</p>
<p>(P.S. I'm currently a 3rd year at Berkeley....to avoid questions from ppl asking what year am I)</p>
<p>anywho, fire away with comments/criticism/questions. I'm all ears.</p>