I was admitted into The University of California Berkeley and decided to attend their summer bridge program, but I hated every second of it. I disliked the campus and the people there. I was extremely depressed, I cried every night there. When I returned home, I told my parents about it and they didn’t seem to care. They want me to return and attend the university in the fall. The main reason why I accepted to attend was because the people around me were telling me how great an opportunity this was. I never really liked it though, and now that I actually spent time there I can confirm how much I dislike it. However, my parents are forcing me to attend this fall semester. I suggested a community college, but God forbid I attend a community college. I’m only seventeen years old, I have no idea what steps to take next. Should I attend a university that I hate?
Attending a bridge program and going to a full university is quite different. Give it a little chance. Did you visit before you applied?
Your parents are paying the bill, correct? You’re kind of stuck.
Keep yourself busy on campus and you won’t notice the buildings and some of the people there. Volunteer on campus to meet like-minded people. You never know until you try!
As a parent myself, I can see why your parents want you to attend UC Berkeley. It’s a big enough school that you should be able to find a niche with people you like. I wonder if you’re suffering from anxiety and/or depression about this big life change you’re about to make. It would certainly be understandable and I know the prospect of starting college can be really stressful. Berkeley has an outstanding reputation and you’ll have so many opportunities open to you if you attend. There is such a massive difference between Berkeley versus a community college that I just can’t recommend you forgo Berkeley. I recommend you try to adopt a positive mindset which will increase the odds of a positive experience. Maybe go online and find student organizations that interest you so that you can meet like-minded people. If you really dislike Berkeley after giving it a solid try, you could always apply to transfer out after your first year which will give you better options than community college. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find happiness wherever you end up.
I think you are being childish. Go and give it a chance this fall. It will open far more opportunities for you than a CC would.
Allow yourself time to adjust. Find your people, get involved in the clubs, branch out and discover the beautiful city that is Berkeley. I’m a huge proponent of community college, but I really believe you should give Berkeley a fair chance. That means a positive, open mind and a fair effort. Community college will always be there—Berkeley probably won’t be.
I’d try to get an appointment with the Tang center scheduled to help you address your anxiety about starting college though. It might help.
Will you commute or live in the dorms?
Have you chosen your classes yet? If not, try to look for the smallest class size possible and don’t overload for your first term.
Look into clubs that look appealing, contact them already.
Did you get along with anyone on your bridge program? If only to commiserate with bridge partners about the workshops and classes? 
Berkeley is an amazing opportunity. Take advantage of it. 
There will be way more students on campus in the Fall term and you have a much better chance at finding your people. As stated above, look at clubs and groups where you share a common interest with other students. That’s always a good starting place.
Were you homesick OP? If so, that’s a natural thing for many students going off to college for the first time.
I agree with the other posters, to go in with an open mind in the Fall and if you truly hate it, look at transferring to a different 4 year program for next year.
I would go in with the mindset to give it your best try for a year and if things haven’t improved then talk to your parents about transferring. You’ll probably find them much more open to your ideas once you’ve shown them that you gave it a legitimate try.
To which other colleges & universities did you apply ?
And to which other colleges & universities were you accepted ?
Berkeley is a “love it or hate it” environment. Your feelings are not unusual, but it was your responsibility to create options.
Can you defer enrollment and take a gap year? You are 17. It might be nice to just be a bit older starting college. Don’t take any classes in that gap year. Get a job or do volunteer work. Maybe visit a few other places and consider applying. If your grades and test scores were good enough for Berkeley, you are likely to be admitted at other places that you might like better.
You need to talk with someone professional about the crying every night. If whatever caused that can’t be ameliorated, you are not going to settle in well if you do go to Berkeley this fall.
OP: To be a bit more clear in response to your question: “Should I attend a university that I hate ?”
It depends upon why you “hate” this school & upon what your options are.
A gap year might be a wise choice if your numbers (SAT/ACT & GPA) qualify you for automatic scholarships at some out-of-state university honors colleges.
Another consideration is your intended major and/or career goal.
Berkeley is an outstanding school, but the environment is not for everyone.
^^^ UC schools do not offer the option to defer enrollment with very few exceptions. Not wanting to go yet is not going to be one of the valid reasons
What didn’t you like about the campus? the people?
What do you think you would like in a campus? Classmates?
Would this have happened any any college? Is it anxiety? Depression?
I would talk to your parents about this situation. Tell them that you understand that UC Berkeley is a fabulous school and a fabulous opportunity…but it is not the right opportunity for you right now.
Ask them to help you brainstorm other ideas…like a gap year, or applying to another UC or?
Have you ever been away from home before, like at summer camp?
Have you ever been to UC-Berkeley’s campus before ? If so, it should be clear that it is not for everyone.
The bridge program is residential on campus to help with the transition.
“Should I attend a university that I hate?”
You probably shouldn’t as if you’ve already developed such a negative attitude towards it, it will bias your experiences there. But you need to figure out why you chose the college in the first place and see if those reasons are still valid. If you chose because your parents forced you to attend, that’s one thing. If it’s because you saw it as a good fit, that’s another.
There is a thing called “confirmation bias,” which is when we interpret experiences or information in a way that confirms earlier beliefs. You spent a few weeks at a school you dislike and not surprisingly came away with the opinion you had before you went there. What did you dislike about Berkeley? There are usually several hundred students at the summer bridge program. You disliked all of them?
It’s interesting to me that you didn’t like the college before you attended the program, but you don’t seem to be pining away after a more selective/OOS/unaffordable school; you seem to want to attend a community college. What is it about community college that appeals to you? They may have smaller class sizes and you’d be able to live at home, but you’d lose the opportunity to receive merit aid at 4-year schools. How would you pay for your last 2 years of college? Transfers don’t generally get much aid.
Your prents are “forcing” you or they are telling you it’s time to enter the next phase, face the challenges, and grow? I agree wth others that, though UCB isn’t perfect, it is a good place to grow, big enough to find your friends. And summer is not the academic year. It’s not evenfully staffed with your profs.
In fact, many summer programs are high school-plus, not the full college experience.
I am not clear as to why you applied in the first place. There must have been some kind of attraction to the place.
Water under the bridge at this point, though. Is it too late to apply rolling admission somewhere else? If so, I would plan on attending and transfer out ASAP. Its going to be a rough time ahead for you, I’m afraid.
I wanted to ask the OP the obvious question - do you not like it because you feel like everyone else is smarter than you? I ask that because I see some kids with that fear on this site, not only with this school but with Ivies and the like. To that point, I’m pretty sure UCB wouldn’t have admitted you unless they thought that you could handle the work.