<p>I briefly visited UCB about a year ago, and it didn't impress me that much. However, I wasn't there very long, and considering its prestige and the good reviews I've heard from others, I feel as though I should give it another chance to make an impression on me. So, what do you like about the university? Did you like it from the start, or did it take some time to grow on you? If I was to visit the campus again, what parts should I focus on to get a real idea of what the university is like?</p>
<p>depends, what are you interested in? any specific major? what kind of activities do you like? etc etc.</p>
<p>I want to be a biology major. I am pretty sure I want to go to med school after I get my undergrad degree, but I know a lot of people change their minds about their majors. I just really, really love bio. I had an internship in a research lab and I really enjoyed that. </p>
<p>Outside of school, I’m really social. I like to go out with my friends a lot. I also really like seeing plays and dance recitals. I suppose I’m kind of into the arts. I also like sports, especially soccer and basketball. I like to watch football, too, but that’s more about the marching band than the football team. </p>
<p>Hopefully that helps?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1020033-top-ten-reasons-why-you-love-cal.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1020033-top-ten-reasons-why-you-love-cal.html</a></p>
<ol>
<li>The campus</li>
<li>The history behind the university</li>
<li>The rivalries with Stanford and USC.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Beautiful campus & awesome views</li>
<li>Lots of amazing research going down</li>
<li>Proximity to SF</li>
<li>Big selection of classes</li>
<li>Motivated students</li>
<li>School spirit</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>only 1 semester left</li>
</ul>
<p>EDIT: Go to UCLA.</p>
<p>
If you are basing this on the social aspect, I may have to disagree. I guess this is just Los Angeles in general and there’s the stereotype that we’re all shallow, superficial, and materialistic. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I can say that this is true to an extent. I’m from East LA, a poor working class neighborhood. Coming from East LA to UCLA (located in the west part of the city), I really do notice the difference in the people. From my own observations, the stereotype is not far from the truth. Maybe I’m just being mean, but when I see girls all dolled-up, wearing heels, and in semi-formal to formal clothing, EVERYDAY JUST to go to class OR EVEN TO THE LIBRARY, I begin to lose faith in our ability to break the stereotype. </p>
<p>Given this, people always walk with this “I’m so much better than you” expression on their face and will neither make eye contact as they pass you nor respond to a friendly opener if you are not one of the “cool” kids. Thus, if you are one of the minority nerdy engineers, you will have a hard time making friends with most people. I have yet to make any friends and this is the end of my first quarter, but I may not have been trying hard enough, since I have been busy studying. Overall, I think academics is a more important aspect in your college decision.</p>
<p>^^lolol</p>
<p>(10 char)</p>
<p>I was actually applying to a transfer program at another school I’m interested in, not because I don’t like Berkeley but because of the program that they have there. And in the app, it asks, why are you transferring? And I was dumbstruck. There’s nothing that school has that berkeley DOESN’T have besides this program of course. Berkeley literally has EVERYTHING. Once you come here, you’ll learn there are so many clubs that are things that you might’ve wanted to do in the past but never really had the opportunity or whatever, there are TONS of languages to learn (not just french and spanish), TONS of study abroad countries, etc. I’ve also had a good experience with GSIs and professors when I needed help as far as my grades. Ultimately, this school IS really better than you would think. People only know about it’s prestige, and it IS prestigious for many reasons.</p>
<p>
I stayed 2 years at UCLA and 2 years at Berkeley. Believe me when I say: Go to UCLA and you’ll be happier 
Oh, and this is not based on academics. Berkeley has good academics (in some cases better than UCLA though it doesn’t really matter for undergraduate), but not much else.</p>
<p>EDIT: Well, I have to admit, everyone is different. Go to Berkeley if you are the kind of person who enjoys, for example:
- Staying in a ghetto city full of homeless people where it’s scary to go out at night even for guys
- Having no “real” diversity except at a very superficial level
- Eating cheap and sucky food except for very few decent places of which you’ll get sick pretty quickly
- Having no decent nightlife except when you go to SF (which you can’t do very often)
- Daily dealing with podheads and hippies who may or may not be students, who knows
- Getting a lower GPA than anywhere else, especially if you are premed
- Being surrounded by tons racially segregated groups living in their own bubble world until graduation and knowing **** about real life.</p>
<p>Be happy in Westwood instead ; )</p>
<p>Soda Hall is the best thing about Berkeley =)</p>
<p>lol is UCLA really that great? As far as safety and walking around homeless, yeah it’s scary but Berkeley provides Bearwalk! : ] They’ll take you anywhere, although if you want to get food they usually aren’t willing to wait 2 mins for you to order and walk back with you. But besides that, it’s not too bad. I guess I try not go out much at night but usually if you bring a friend, you’ll be fine. But yeah other than that, he’s pretty spot on. The different ethnicities group together which is so annoying but you’ll find people who won’t also. White people only hang out with white people, blacks with blacks, asians with asians.</p>
<p>
Best time of my life.</p>
<p>Berkeley on the other hand made me depressed. Just…need to…get out…ASAP…Please. : )</p>
<p>I don’t know what you’re imagining UCLA to be like but the racial breakdown there is the same as it is here. None of my friends there think the social scene there is any better than at Berkeley. They’re actually jealous that Berkeley has a frat row and easily accessible/free parties every weekend.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Lights on 24 hours a day and open 24 hours a day. Also has students in it 24 hours a day.</p>
<p>but I kind of agree with some things he wrote</p>
<p>I had the choice of UCB and UCLA (like many of you) a while back and Thomas’s posts sadden me. </p>
<p>Anyway, Soda Hall and RSF are my favorite things about UCB.</p>
<p>
I don’t need to imagine anything since I spent 2 years living there.</p>
<p>Oh yes, RSF is nice but compared to UCLA’s gym it pretty much sucks ; )</p>
<p>ohhh yes soda hall… and the all nighters spent there…</p>