University of California - Berkeley

Visit Report by diamondprynzez (Member since December 09 2006 with 306 posts) Visit Date - May 2007

4 of 4 people found this visit report helpful
Visit to University of California - Berkeley in May 2007 by diamondprynzez (Student, HS Class of 2005)
Visit Activities:
Information Session: Yes - As a transfer student, the info session didn't offer new info that I didn't know already. Since I go to a CCC, Cal representatives came to our campus and basically gave the same info. Classroom Visit: Yes - Large classes filled with 400 students hanging on every word of the professor. Typical of any public university in my POV.
University of California - Berkeley Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 2 - Fair - Nothing special here; I noticed people keeping to themselves and unwilling to help you if you're obviously lost. Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 3 - Good - Staff consistently made a concerted effort to be friendly. One even approached me and asked if I needed help-- and walked me to my destination. Appearance of Campus: 3 - Good - The buildings are beautiful. Lots of trees, a creek, but the most prominant feature (the clock tower) could use some restoration. Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good - The buildings were beautiful, and the campus was very clean for the most part. Dormitories: 1 - Poor - Dorms are obviously not Berkeley's fortay. However, for meals, they offer organic and vegetarian options... something of a rarity on other campuses. Security/Safety: 2 - Fair - The nice features of the campus, ie the trees make for a less safe campus. Not comfortable to walk around when it gets dark and there are not a lot of people. There are security services, though. Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good - I think the campus is beautiful-- most of Berkeley's bad reputation aesthetically comes from the city of Berkeley itself.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent - There are a ton of places to eat and lots of places to shop. If you're one for diversity, Berkeley is the place for you. City/Town/Community: 3 - Good - Berkeley is a bustling city with great public transportation, 10 miles away from downtown SF. Berkeley is also a very progress city politically. Easy to be a part of social movements.
Campus Visit Notes for University of California - Berkeley:
Visit Description: For my first visit, I used BART, which is the nicest public transportation train system in the country. If you don't have a car, BART is your way around the bay area. With San Francisco about 10 miles away, its very tempting to go to the city on a regular basis. BART is fairly easy to use. The first thing I noticed is that Berkeley is a very vehicle-unfriendly place. This is a big drawback because if you live nearby, and you have a car, you have to constantly worry about it. I've also heard stories where it's a spare the air day or "ride your bike to work day" and those who bring cars get punished by the environmentalists, who slash tires or wreck people's car in some way. I guess that also says something about the people who attend Berkeley. The school is filled with people who are clearly passionate about what they do. So this isn't a school where you work hard to get in, and just kick back and chill out during your time at Berkeley. However, there's plenty of time to relax-- I saw lots of people sleeping and lounging on the several grassy areas of the school. Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments: Gourmet Ghetto nearby. Tons and tons of yummy places to eat!
4 of 4 people found this visit report helpful